Please just tell me what kind of use hybrid vehicle to purchase

May 22, 2024 1:08 PM

Whelp, my 2008 Prius transmission just crapped out on me unexpectedly and now I am suddenly in the position where maybe I need to buy a new car. I want a gas hybrid. I hate cars and I hate this whole process. Specs inside.

I was a little bit distressed to realize how few hybrid models have been produced over the last 10-15 years, especially in the non-SUV range. I have been totally fine with my Prius, the only thing I ever wish is that it were 10 inches shorter, for parking in my neighborhood. (Basically I wish my Toyota Prius was a Honda Fit Hybrid, which I believe is not sold in the US market, where I am.)

So, here's the parameters I'm trying to balance.

1. I don't want to spend more than $15,000 on a car, and would rather spend less. Yes, I know this puts me in the 75k to 100k mph range at least, and yes I know hybrid batteries give up. This is all priced in for me, let's not talk about it.

2. My Prius Gen 2 is about 176 inches long and I'd love to fit more easily into a parking space here and there. I sure don't want something longer than the Prius.

3. However, I'd also like to be able to fit my bike in there now and again, and I guess this cargo space need slightly edges out the length consideration.

4. The main thing I dislike about my Prius (aside from having my catalytic converter stolen three times) is how long it takes to accelerate when you press the gas.

5. The only other thing I'd consider is maybe something non-hybrid that gets north of my Prius' 40mph, but I'm not sure that exists anywhere except maybe on paper.

6. I will not consider a plug-in electric. I'm not a homeowner and the infrastructure isn't there for non-homeowners where I live.

7. I bike around town for about half of things, but I need a car, so no car is not an option for me.

I could just put a new transmission in ($3-$4k), or I could just get another Prius, but if someone out there wants to vouch for a Prius C or a Ford Fusion or a Ford C-Max or something I've never heard of that is in the US market, I'm all ears.

posted by kensington314 to Shopping (27 answers total)

The Prius C is a great car, sips gas, has a very reliable powertrain. It’s no faster than any other Prius. I am very happy with mine.
posted by nickggully at 1:15 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I can get better than 40mpg out of a three litre BMW 540, so I doubt your point 5 is really much of a limitation.
posted by rd45 at 1:16 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

Many gas cars get over 40 mpg?
posted by Violet Hour at 1:25 PM on May 22

Best answer: I have a 2016 Ford C-max Hybrid. I love it. It's super torque-y off the line, too. They are out of production, the last year made was 2018 or 2019, and you should be able to pick one up inexpensively.
I get about 37-41 mpg.
It's 173.5" long.
Look for an SEL model with the Sony entertainment center. It's easily identifiable in pictures, and what the SEL+Sony means is a surprisingly high-end suite of bells and whistles that include:
Hands-free kick-open rear hatch
Good proximity sensors and rear camera and...
THE CAR WILL PARALLEL PARK ITSELF. For reals.

Consider it Vouched-for.
posted by ApathyGirl at 1:35 PM on May 22 [4 favorites]

I think you might want to specify if you want a car that will anecdotally do 40mpg or a car with an actual EPA fuel economy rating of more than 40mpg. Because on the actual ratings, I don't think there are any non-hybrid vehicles that reach 40mpg. Or put another way, I doubt there are any non-hybrid cars that have been sold in the US recently that are as fuel efficient as a 2008 Prius.

Would you consider a Chevy Volt? It's a plug in hybrid with about 50 miles of battery range, which gives you some options for charging if that becomes a possibility for you in the future. Acceleration is good, but the length is a few inches longer than your Prius. The 2016+ models get 42mpg.
posted by ssg at 1:38 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

Anecdata: I just did a freeway-and-highway 250-mile road trip in my 2013 Fit gasburner and got a smidge under 40MPG. and I would've been better than 40 if the outbound traffic hadn't sucked so bad.

For city driving, I'm getting nothing special -- 27-28MPG. It's also not a great performer; its acceleration is at best adequate and the ride is rough. You'll feel those freeway ruts in your butt. However, the Fit is the best small car for hauling cargo tho I don't know how its length compares with a Prius.

I wish there were non-petrol options for the Fit in North America. I'd be on that in a hot second. I heart my Fit.
posted by Sauce Trough at 1:49 PM on May 22 [4 favorites]

I love my Toyota Yaris hybrid, which is a small/medium car, four doors, easy to park and sips fuel (average about 55mpg). But I don't know if it's available in the US. Here in the UK there's also an even smaller Toyota, the Aygo.
posted by altolinguistic at 2:24 PM on May 22

Response by poster: I love my Toyota Yaris hybrid, which is a small/medium car, four doors, easy to park and sips fuel (average about 55mpg). But I don't know if it's available in the US. Here in the UK there's also an even smaller Toyota, the Aygo.

I was all over the Yaris idea but sadly they never introduced the hybrid in the North American market.
posted by kensington314 at 2:28 PM on May 22

We've been happy with our Hyundai Ioniq hybrid. They've discontinued the hybrid now (it's now only going to be electric) but there are a few years in there (2017-2021?) with a hybrid model that would now be on the used market. We reliably get 60-65 mpg with it.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:29 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I was all over the Yaris idea but sadly they never introduced the hybrid in the North American market.

The Prius C, mentioned upthread, is a hybrid Yaris.
posted by doomsey at 2:35 PM on May 22 [4 favorites]

Best answer: We have a 2013 Prius C and it really is the car you are looking for. A little pokey off the line, but meets all the other requirements. I can get my 58cm cyclocross bikes in with front wheel on when the seats are down. I could get longer bikes in if I was willing to take wheels off. I usually use a hitch rack.
posted by advicepig at 2:41 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

(I miss my Yaris-based 2002 Prius… it died an untimely death after I gave it away)
posted by doomsey at 2:46 PM on May 22

Response by poster: Wow, I had not anticipated so much love for the Prius C. Generally thought people would say, "It's uncomfortable and small and feels like driving a lawnmower." But people love theirs?!?!
posted by kensington314 at 2:53 PM on May 22

Response by poster: (Is it relevant that I am six feet tall? I forgot to add that detail. Not super tall but it's maybe a relevant party of my own factory specs :). )
posted by kensington314 at 3:00 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I drive a 2014 Prius; my close friend has a 2013 Prius-C. I occasionally drive it, and it always feels VERY small to me, and I'm only 5'6". It might feel a little like a clown car to you! It also has a VERY small amount of cargo space compared to a regular Prius, although if you fold down the back seats, it might be decent.
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 4:22 PM on May 22

Best answer: Before we bought our 2014 Prius (which I love) we also test-drove the Prius C. It was a hassle to fit a saxophone and trombone and a couple of folding chairs in the back. (We toss those in our Prius without a second thought.) I felt bad for the car trying to go up a hill because it seemed to be trying so very hard.

I guess from reading this that lots of people feel differently, but if you like your Prius, I would suggest test-driving a Prius C before pinning all your hopes on one.
posted by MangoNews at 4:42 PM on May 22

Seconding a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid. We have the 2020. It’s the same length as your Prius. Also, I am 6 feet tall.
posted by AndrewInDC at 6:09 PM on May 22

I was once 6 ft tall and was fine in the Prius C. (I have shrunk in my advancing age.) I also commented above about putting my bikes in without taking wheels off. I guess I love a tiny car and great mileage more than the ease of having too much car 99% of the time.
posted by advicepig at 6:22 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

Oh, and I'm also 240 pounds to that formerly 6 feet tall. I'm not a small person and it's fine.
posted by advicepig at 6:22 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

I will suggest as another option the Kia Niro hybrid. I drive a 2019 base model and am quite happy with it. It's nominally about 172 inches long, and I've found it generally easy to maneuver. It's a hatchback which makes it easy to load stuff into. With the rear seats folded down I can fit my bicycle in without too much trouble, and it's very easy to fit if I pop the front wheel off. I do this all the time when I drive to visit my parents. I typically get around 55 mpg in the city, a little less on a long highway drive.

I don't have experience with the Prius to compare the gas pedal response, but the Niro does have a bit of lag in responding to the gas pedal compared to the (fully gas powered) car I used to drive, at least when it's in eco mode. It does respond a bit quicker if you press firmly, and I've gotten used to it so it doesn't bother me anymore, but it is there.
posted by egregious theorem at 8:17 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

Someone upthread mentioned the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) -- well actually it's an EREV, better than PHEV, but I will skip that pedantic detour. But other models suggested upthread are the Hyundai Ioniq (not Ioniq 5!) and the Kia Niro, and both of those are available in PHEV form. And have been out for long enough that they are now available used (e.g. three-year lease returns).

For a PHEV to work well, you need to be able to plug in overnight wherever you normally park overnight, and a regular wall outlet is sufficient. Multi-unit dwellers often encounter problems with this; even if their parking area has wall outlets, the site mgmt forbids it and may have even already disabled the outlets (this started happening in 2011 when the Volt arrived on the market). So if you can't plug in overnight, don't get a PHEV, but if you can, please do! Your net MPG will be astronomical (80, 120, 200, it depends) and thus your net long-term impact on the environment will be far lower than any gas car, including hybrids.

And finally, re your item #4, the acceleration of PHEVs (and EVs, of course) is freaking fantastic. Electrified drivetrains are an absolute thrill, and I'm always stunned when I get back into regular gas cars at how horribly slow they are.

EDIT: aaaand I just saw your item #6, can't plug in at home. Just making sure -- no wall outlet available?
posted by intermod at 9:17 PM on May 22 [1 favorite]

This redriven video - whilst Australian - applies to many cars in the USian market. The reviewer is 6’1 and loves a Yaris
posted by coriolisdave at 12:17 AM on May 23

I have a Kia Niro, too, and if you want punchy acceleration you can switch to sport mode (I sometimes do this when merging). The nicest thing about the Niro compared to the 2008 Prius (which I drove for 15 years) is that it gets great gas mileage on short stop and start trips, not just highway driving. I could never get the Prius much above 41 mpg because I didn't do enough long trips, but the Niro stays over 50 mpg all the time (though it takes a hit in the winter).

I don't know what used prices are like, though. I don't see them on the road much.
posted by rikschell at 4:49 AM on May 23 [1 favorite]

You don't say what your bicycle use case is, but maybe a different bike would make the choice of car easier.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:42 AM on May 23 [1 favorite]

Prius C here too. I like the hatchback much better than a sedan trunk, for cargo.

I also transport things strapped to the top, and it will do that (but I pay less attention to the mileage then).
posted by mersen at 6:28 AM on May 23

Kia Niro, pre 2019 fits your bill nicely. If you can get the EX model (now discontinued- not the "EX premium").... it has a lot of the bells and whistles of the higher end models while keeping the rims at 16" which make the ride and fuel economy better than those with the bigger wheels.
posted by lalochezia at 9:24 AM on May 23

Response by poster: Thanks, folks! I think I'm going to try to check out a C-Max, a Niro, and an Ioniq in the year ranges people mentioned.
posted by kensington314 at 1:34 PM on May 23 [2 favorites]