A better hybrid than a Prius. By waiting late to get into the truck game, and staying with a more economical model, and staying away from larger SUVs, Honda has managed to avoid following Toyota halfway down the Big Three’s path of sagging sales.
That said, Honda’s hybrid lineup is puny compared to Toyota’s. On Accord vs. Camry, Honda went even more than Toyota did for horsepower. On hybrid-specific vehicles, the Insight was a flop for being underpowered, poorly designed for American markets, and not living up to billing. (I test-drove one for a week and could never hit Honda’s fuel economy estimates.)
That said, Honda has announced plans to launch a Prius competitor next year.
And, going one better than Toyota, Honda plans to have a diesel version of the 2009 Accord. With U.S. clean diesel standards, even with rising diesel prices, this is a great option, and will in fact be about as clean as a Prius on emissions.
That said, I’d like to see Honda make the ultimate marriage and launch a diesel-driven hybrid.
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