Is The Prius Main Appeal Political?

The September 3rd issue of Newsweek magazine carries an article on the Honda and Toyota hybrid vehicles. It contains some interesting revelations. According to Newsweek, the primary reason that the Prius has outsold, by far, the Honda hybrid vehicles is political. It seems that people who buy the Prius buy it because they believe it makes a political statement.

Though Honda was first to the market with a hybrid, the Insight, when it prepared its next generation of hybrid vehicles, the company viewed them as a drivetrain, not a separate type of vehicle. Hence, Honda made the Civic available with a hybrid drivetrain option, as it did with the Accord and even the Prelude. In outward appearance, the hybrid Hondas were distinguished from conventionally powered Hondas only by small exterior badges.

Toyota, on the other hand, created an entire new vehicle around the hybrid concept, the Prius. The Prius looked different than other Toyotas. It was immediately recognizable as a hybrid. That, it turns out, was its chief marketing advantage.

supermoto - 8/29/2007 2:23:09 PM

0 Boost

Far fewer people would have bought these vehicles in CA if it weren't for access to the carpool lane. From the economics of it, these cars certainly don't make sense. You need to drive over 100k miles just to break even from the increased purchase price. People buy these cars so the feel superior.

CBR2200 - 8/29/2007 2:41:06 PM

+1 Boost

The Prius is slow, ugly, expensive, and doesn't produce enough of an MPG benefit to even begin to cover all the extra "global warming" affects it takes to produce it. This car is purchased exclusively by ignorant wanna-be tree huggers. Anyone who does a little research will see that this car hurts the planet more than your average small sedan.

JWalkerLegrande - 8/29/2007 3:09:18 PM

-4 Boost

You could just sum up the whole thing as: Toyota has had much better marketing & communications regarding "hybrid drive".

1970toyotamarc - 8/29/2007 3:31:26 PM

+3 Boost

Since the vast majority of you have never driven a Prius, I will sum up why it sells so well.

It is a great car.

Earth shattering, I know. Go figure, a great car sells.

Amazing mpg, near zero emissions, spacious, solid, reliable, luxury touches, damn cool looking, and decent performance, all for a reasonable price. Show me other automobiles that combine all that and I bet they sell well too. It's not rocket science.

BMW740Z4 - 8/29/2007 10:04:31 PM

-2 Boost

The Prius is arguably one of the ugliest cars on the market. One of my partners secretaries drives one - a vegan and nutty as a fruit cake.

enthusiastx11 - 8/30/2007 12:28:33 AM

-2 Boost

it's ugly, gets unimpressive MPG if you actually step on it (i don't know anyone who's averaged over 45mpg, most less than that), and it's like driving a go cart with 14 inch wheels.

it's purchased largely for political reasons.

Lavic - 8/30/2007 12:15:59 PM

+3 Boost

I drive a Prius on an almost dailly basis for work.

"Amazing mpg, near zero emissions, spacious, solid, reliable, luxury touches, damn cool looking, and decent performance, all for a reasonable price. Show me other automobiles that combine all that and I bet they sell well too. It's not rocket science."

We only use it in city driving where it is the most effecient and it returns 5.5 L/100 km (42.7662879 miles/gallon(US)) far from the 4 L/100km (71 MPG US) advertised. It holds 4 people or 400 kg of stuff. It is conviently "solid" but so is my 1998 Accord. Reliable, sure, if you consider having to change the battery at 40 000 km. It has radio controls on the steering wheels if you consider luxury touches. "Damn cool looking" beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Decent performance, it is slow as hell. The other cars in the fleet are Cavaliers (2003 being the newest) and they are blowing its doors off.

This car is a political statement on wheels.

Maybe you should drive the car for a while before judging it fanboy.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/29/2007 5:08:33 PM

-2 Boost

In my opinion the Prius is the only car in the world that appeals at no level at all.

Looks? nope
Build quality? nope (this is not the same as reliability)
Performance? nope
Value? nope
Sex-appeal? nope

Prius drivers think they can change the world because the only pollute 104 CO2 in the air. Yet the energy required to build one Prius is almost 2.5 higher than a comparable European hatch with a small diesel engine. The small diesel also has a decent transmission so it makes driving fun and produces more useable torque than the Prius.

John_Stossel - 8/29/2007 6:04:37 PM

+4 Boost

Stop comparing the Prius to Euro-hatches. The Prius is LARGER IN SIZE than a two-door Ford Focus, and even its stablemate the Yaris. Take the electric motor out of the Prius and you'e got a car similar in performance to all these cars, but it'd still be larger in physical size.

People who actually buy the Prius know what it is good for and enjoy the major aspect of better fuel economy and lower emissions. 40mpg is incredible vs. 12 in a Suburban. And as Will said, let's not forget that these things can achieve a higher mph than nearly every Euro hot-hatch.

...and "Sex-appeal?" Name another small car WITH sex-appeal? Don't even try to say the 1-Series or A-Class because they, like all small cars are ugly as sin!

Give me a break!

BMW740Z4 - 8/29/2007 10:06:39 PM

0 Boost

It's cost effective until the Lithium battery wears out....then it get's real expensive. Let's hope that nobody wants one for much more than a 100,000 miles

enthusiastx11 - 8/30/2007 12:23:51 AM

0 Boost

yes, to answer the question.

celebrities, bankers, rich realtors all drive these cars for political reasons. then they fly in private planes and park their priuses in front of a huge house that requires a small power plant to cool and light. the prius makes them feel better for all their excesses.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/30/2007 11:36:45 AM

0 Boost

Me too.

Lavic - 8/30/2007 12:18:01 PM

+3 Boost

I just want to add that I have to drive the car. So be nice to my face.