Civic vs. Prius
Here's a table comparing my car options: Honda Civic hybrid vs. Toyota Prius. Blue indicates the side I prefer in each comparison. (The color may not show up in LJ, and may not show up in some browsers even on my journal page, 'cause I'm using slightly nonstandard HTML; sorry.) In some comparisons, I have no particular preference. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as just counting up which side has more preferred choices, 'cause some of these items are much less important than others. Still, I figured it would be a useful exercise.
Civic | Prius |
---|---|
good visibility from driver's seat | relatively poor visibility from driver's seat |
38ish mpg in my tests | 44ish mpg in my tests |
rear seats don't fold down | rear seats fold down |
seat slightly cramped | seat fine |
headrest fine | headrest slightly annoying |
looks like a normal car | looks sleek and stylish and futuristic |
elegant dashboard display | less-aesthetically-pleasing dashboard display |
speedometer numbered only in 20mph intervals | speedometer shows precise speed |
odometer increment is 1/10 mile | odometer increment is 1 mile |
low-tech controls/dashboard | fancy high-tech controls/dashboard |
lower price | higher price |
fits easily in compact car spaces | feels a little cramped in compact car spaces |
probably available now | probably 2-8 weeks' wait |
nice blue | nice black or maybe pale blue |
automatic (CVT) or manual | CVT only |
smooth starts and stops | occasional engine roughness at stops |
I'm sure I'm missing some things, but that'll do for a start.