Interesting other hybrids....

[Jus-A-CMax]

So today a 2013 Civic hybrid was riding side by side with Maxine in the morning drive to work.

 

I could not but help admire the new car styling. Honda did a good job for sure. Yeah, its a sedan but I gotta admit it looked spiffy and sleek lines, nice wheels, seemed very stealth like in the dark blueish finish. The interior look a bit Prii-ish with that centre console thing...oh...oh.....I didn't eyeball the driver and nor did he. So..I went to work and decide to google this new car. 

 

Ssssh.

 

IMO, this thing is no better than the Prii in terms of lack lustre performance. Yeah, I know, MPG and performance - oxymoron... :noobie:  Honestly, not knowing about Hondas and I do know they make one hell of a F1 engines...I was thinking this car should do WAY better than the numbers I saw on caranddriver.com.

 

Price wise, its a little less than a SEL CMax. But I do like it has some feature which are additional to the SEL ala rear view camera, lane assist and front colission warning. C'mon Ford, these things I would not mind paying for since I have a pretty high techy CMax anyway....

 

Other than that, its pretty much canned but its a good looking sedan.

 

I was wondering what that Civic Hybrid driver was getting driving these same roads at me? Ha...the thought did creep in to have a cross-window conference (like I did with that white BMW owner about 4 months ago)....and I would have loved to have shouted to him "Yeah...not bad mileage...only doing 85.2 MPG over here..."  ;)

 

 

So, anyone see any other interesting hybrids out there...?

[LordUmoja]

Honda makes the CR-Z hybrid as well. I recently saw one with the full Mugen aero-kit on it which looked nice in a "Fast and Furious" sort of way. It's just a shame its Eco-credentials are so poor and its performance can't cover that up. Also no rear seat means the wifey-to-be says no...

[Jus-A-CMax]

Hmmh...I looked that up after your post...still looks like a Prii in a different skirt on and not that much gain. After looking at this, Ford did the CMax and Fusion hybrids right with FAR more power and higher MPG.

[Jmonty]

for pure electric i'll probably get a Tesla in two to three years, if they release a model that's ~$30k  

 

for now though they are in a way higher class than i care to enter.

[Jus-A-CMax]

for pure electric i'll probably get a Tesla in two to three years, if they release a model that's ~$30k  

 

for now though they are in a way higher class than i care to enter.

I agree...they are suppose to be coming out with a "cheaper" alternative. Who knows by then the My15 would be quite outstanding if Ford heeds even the mere suggestions we put out here...

 

Has anyone seen the Elantra Hybrids?

Edited July 27, 2013 by Jus-A-CMax

[darrelld]

I strongly considered a Jetta Hybrid before committing to the C-Max. The performance and handling are good, if not one best in class. Jetta Hybrid real world fuel economy matches the C-Max according to fuelly and other third party reviews.

 

Looks are subjective but personally I prefer the timeless Euro look over just about anything from the Pacific Rim. Jetta Hybrid options include, HID headlights w/LED (an VAG/Audi original not a knockoff like some brands), the Fender Audio system is another feature that blows away anything else in the class. My wife being the primary driver and neutral in preference to audio systems made this a non issue.

 

The Jetta Hybrid deal breaker for me was a requirement to use premium fuel. In my area premium usually is more expensive than diesel.

Edited July 27, 2013 by darrelld

[Jus-A-CMax]

lol...I still ended up using premium but you're right...thats a huge deal breaker. Gotta :love_shower:  that Fender system though.

 

I am really starting to see more Tesla S cars here in Los Angeles. Darn, they look good...but very limited in the range though. Would not be able to drive to Mammoth especially when its snowing and cold, real battery killer condition and the range of 280 somthing miles ain't gonna fly with heavy load.

Edited July 27, 2013 by Jus-A-CMax

[CassidyB]

I gotta go with the Porsche Panamera Hybrid. The Porsche Driving Experience host hotel is in my neighborhood.. Occasionally Hybrid Panameras and Cayennes can be found in the parking lot.

 

24 HWY for the Cayenne isn't bad.

 

 

https://www.porschedriving.com/Default.aspx

 

 

The only other hybrid we considered purchasing was the Lexus CT200H. I like my C-Max, but the fit/finish of the Lexus product is a lot better. Deal breaker for me, the CT200H's measly 134HP.. I don't know why Toyota isn't using the Camry Hybrid motor in the CT200H. Plus the window sticker had an add on related to tire life expectancy of only 18,000 miles.

[hybridbear]

Having owned a 2006 Honda Accord Hybrid I can attest to how awful the Honda hybrids have been. Their Integrated Motor Assist system is garbage compared to the Ford & Toyota hybrids. The Honda IMA system uses a weak electric motor sandwiched between the ICE and the automatic tranny to provide boost and regen braking. Mostly the Honda hybrids only save gas by turning off the ICE when stopped. The regen brakes in the Hondas are terrible and since the car cannot drive on electric power only at any speed (as soon as you release the brake the ICE comes back on) it means that gas mileage isn't great. The Accord Hybrid however was great on the freeway because 3 cylinders would shut down and it would drive on the other 3 while on the freeway. We were able to get 45 MPG over a couple hundred miles of 55-60 MPH highway across Minnesota in that car. Highway gas mileage was great in that car up to 65 MPH, then above 65 MPH the gar wouldn't really go into 3 cylinder mode because the power demand was too high so then gas mileage really dropped. I could get around 40 MPG on long highway drives at 65 MPH with cruise control. But around the city it would struggle to get 25 MPG driving the same way that we get 55 MPG in our Fusion Hybrid. I'm really curious to see the new Honda Accord Hybrid that uses a two-motor hybrid system like the Ford & Toyota hybrids.

Edited July 29, 2013 by hybridbear

[Jus-A-CMax]

Having owned a 2006 Honda Accord Hybrid I can attest to how awful the Honda hybrids have been. Their Integrated Motor Assist system is garbage compared to the Ford & Toyota hybrids. The Honda IMA system uses a weak electric motor sandwiched between the ICE and the automatic tranny to provide boost and regen braking. Mostly the Honda hybrids only save gas by turning off the ICE when stopped. The regen brakes in the Hondas are terrible and since the car cannot drive on electric power only at any speed (as soon as you release the brake the ICE comes back on) it means that gas mileage isn't great. The Accord Hybrid however was great on the freeway because 3 cylinders would shut down and it would drive on the other 3 while on the freeway. We were able to get 45 MPG over a couple hundred miles of 55-60 MPH highway across Minnesota in that car. Highway gas mileage was great in that car up to 65 MPH, then above 65 MPH the gar wouldn't really go into 3 cylinder mode because the power demand was too high so then gas mileage really dropped. I could get around 40 MPG on long highway drives at 65 MPH with cruise control. But around the city it would struggle to get 25 MPG driving the same way that we get 55 MPG in our Fusion Hybrid. I'm really curious to see the new Honda Accord Hybrid that uses a two-motor hybrid system like the Ford & Toyota hybrids.

 

I have an appraiser workmate, she refuses to drive her husbands Honda hybrid because it could not even climb some simple hills. So she drives a TDI by the way...way  before the CMax.