Compact Hybrids

Small sedans and hatchbacks from Toyota and Honda

If fuel economy is your top priority, the2009 Toyota Prius (*Est. $22,000 to $24,270) is highest rated, by virtue of its 48 mpg EPA estimate in city driving (45 mpg on the highway). Test drivers report gas mileage in line with those EPA estimates. The Prius hybrid hatchback also produces very low amounts of tailpipe emissions and is widely considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly vehicles in that respect. Compared to the average new car, pollution is cut by almost 90 percent, according to calculations by Toyota, and the Prius meets California's SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) and PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) standards.

The Toyota Prius is generally considered a compact hybrid car, although its interior volume allows it to be officially classified by the EPA as a midsize car. Edmunds.com endorses the 2009 Prius as one of its Top Recommended Hybrids, and Cars.com names it Eco-Friendly Car of the Year as well as a Best Bet. Editors say the Toyota Prius has decent cargo space and room for four adults, although headroom is tight for 6-foot-plus passengers. Reviewers praise the Prius' hatchback utility, excellent build quality and overall reliability. Government crash-test scores range from very good to excellent for front, side and rear impact (the Camry's ratings are just a bit better).

A unique, recognizable exterior design is one of the Toyota Prius' hallmarks, and it's paired with a modern-looking interior; testers and consumers like the fact that everyone knows it's a hybrid car. But the exterior look is also polarizing; some like the aerodynamic design, but others don't. On the road, the Prius is knocked by some critics for lackluster acceleration and dull handling. ConsumerGuide.com's road testers rank the Prius below the class average (compared to other midsize cars) when it comes to performance.

With a goal of improving those shortcomings, Toyota has introduced the redesigned 2010 Prius, reaching the market in May 2009. This third-generation Prius has already earned scores of positive reviews from auto writers for its stronger performance and other improvements. It's slightly bigger and has a more powerful 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, which makes for better acceleration and more comfortable highway cruising. Combined with a stronger electric motor, total combined horsepower is up to 134 (compared to the 2009 Prius' combined output of 110 horsepower). Despite the 2010 Toyota Prius' additional under-hood punch and an extra 122 pounds of curb weight, its EPA mileage estimates jump to an unsurpassed 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway.

The 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid (*Est. $23,650) is built on the standard Civic sedan platform. Fuel-economy numbers for the Civic Hybrid are 40 mpg in city driving and 45 mpg on the highway, according to EPA estimates, slightly lower than the Toyota Prius. Reviewers report getting between 37 and 47 mpg in mixed driving.

The Civic Hybrid earns many recommendations, including top picks from Cars.com, Kelley Blue Book, IntelliChoice, Kiplinger's and ConsumerGuide.com. Six airbags are standard equipment and the Honda Civic Hybrid performs well enough in independent crash testing to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick designation. Reviewers like the Civic Hybrid for many of the same reasons that make the nonhybrid Civic a top pick for scores of auto writers. It's solid and well-executed, with generous interior space and comfortable seating for four adults. However, the Civic Hybrid has less trunk space than the Prius and its rear seats do not fold down for expanded cargo capacity.

Whereas Toyota's hybrid system (dubbed Hybrid Synergy Drive) features a separate electric motor assisted by a gasoline engine, Honda uses a somewhat simpler system: a gasoline engine assisted by an integrated electric motor when additional power is needed. Honda calls this setup Integrated Motor Assist. The Civic Hybrid's gasoline engine displaces only 1.3 liters, combined with a 20-horsepower electric assist motor for a total output of 110 horsepower (the same as the 2009 Toyota Prius). The Integrated Motor Assist system allows the Civic to be powered by electric power alone under limited driving conditions, such as low-speed cruising, but not when starting from a standstill. Performance of Honda's hybrid engine almost universally fails to impress reviewers. At Edmunds.com, testers found the Honda Civic Hybrid takes 13.5 seconds to reach 60 mph -- painfully slow acceleration for some real-world driving situations such as merging onto freeways, editors say. The 2009 Toyota Prius is only marginally faster, consistently posting numbers in the 11-second range.

One criticism levied against the Honda Civic is that it doesn't tout its hybrid status the way the distinctively styled Toyota Prius does. Honda's solution has arrived in the form of a new hybrid car: the 2010 Honda Insight (*Est. $19,800 to $21,300), which reached dealerships in March 2009. With a silhouette surprisingly similar to that of the Prius hatchback, reviewers point out that Honda has managed to undercut both the Toyota's price and unique look. The Honda Insight is powered by an updated, 98-horsepower version of the Civic Hybrid powertrain, achieving 40 mpg city/43 mpg highway according to EPA estimates.

In comparison tests between the 2010 Honda Insight and the 2009 Toyota Prius, the Insight seems to have the edge. Edmunds.com comments, "The 2010 Honda Insight's emphasis on affordability as well as fuel economy puts more dollars in your pocket than the 2009 Toyota Prius." A Popular Mechanics comparison also gives the win to the Insight, noting, "Just as the Prius feels sterile and appliance-like, the Honda is engaging and, dare we say, fun." The tables turn when the 2010 Honda Insight is matched up against the equally new 2010 Toyota Prius. Both Edmunds.com and Popular Mechanics give wins to the improved Prius. Reviewers feel the Toyota's roomier interior, composed, quiet ride and superior fuel economy are worth its projected higher sticker price.