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2010 Toyota Prius Photo

2010 Toyota Prius - Review

MSRP: $21,400 - $28,070 See Local Classifieds
 
3 11,925 views July 27, 2009

Prius_Insight

Prius_Insight

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I had the chance to spend a week driving both the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight. The Prius is the third generation vehicle newly released for the 2010 model year and the Insight is the second generation of the car coming three years after the two-seat first generation was discontinued in 2006.

Although Honda was the first to sell a hybrid commercially, the Prius has steamed ahead with over 1 million in sales forcing Honda to try to come from behind. The new Insight is the automaker’s effort to do that with its affordable “hybrid for everyone,” as they call it. The Prius builds on its existing technological prowess.

Design
Both cars have a distinctive look that lets observers know the cars are unmistakably hybrids,. The hallmarks are the tall back end and the arched shape of the roof line. The Prius has added some new sharp edges and a wider more rakish stance. It actually has a more refined and sporty look, giving it the advantage in the design category.

Interior
The Prius has built on its rather sophisticated technical display which appears to float above the dash. The standard instrumental panel has been removed and a small joystick shifter sticks out of the dash. There is a keyfob to start the car which doesn’t get inserted anywhere, it can be left in the drivers’ pocket. There is a pushbutton start.

The feeling inside is technical and scientific in nature and has an ecological minimalist appeal. The touch screen display is high quality.


 
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Comments (3)

  1. By Astoria Red Posted: 8/5/2009 12:56pm PDT

    Although Honda was the first to bring a hybrid to the US market, Toyota actually had the first commercially available hybrid when the first-generation Prius went on sale in Japan in 1997.
     
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  2. By  Martini Posted: 8/11/2009 10:31am PDT

    No surprise. The Insight was not designed for those tests. It was designed to cost less, pure and simple. In Canada the Insight is $7,000 less than the Prius. Compromises were obviously made to acheive this. The two cars seem similar at first glance, but it's like comparing a Corvette to a Mustang. Yes, they are both sports cars, but one is obviously superior. As much as I want to, though, I can't say this was an unfair test. They were the only two 4-door hybrid cars available at the time.
     
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  3. fb_100000616755577 avatar Prageeth Acharya Posted: 12/23/2010 2:18am PST

    The Prius is way better.. Better gas mileage, better interior, more horsepower, and the Insight's design is borderline copyright infringement. My vote goes to Pirus
    Cheap used cars
     
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