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Honda pokes fun at Prius in new commercial
Hybrid folks, supposedly kinder and gentler people -- at least, to the Earth -- have been calling each other out like crazy lately. Next in line for the slamfest is Honda, making fun of the Toyota Prius "Yes" commercial. The Civic Hybrid "No" commercial argues, among other things, that just because you want to help the planet doesn't mean you have to drive a car that looks like a "wedge of cheese." BURN!!! However, the commercial is for the Honda dealers of Northern California, so it might not be the official company line.
Follow the jump to check out the video.
[Source: eGM Car Tech]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
djSyndrome 5:35PM (10/08/2007)
They can't run this ad anyway - it's using 2007 EPA numbers. The 2008 EPA rating is 45mpg highway.
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Dave T. 5:36PM (10/08/2007)
It's also using the 2007 mpg figures. 51 is now 45 mpg using the 2008 measurements.
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Matt 5:50PM (10/08/2007)
Strange considering research shows the Prius outsells other hybrids simply because it stands out from the crowd -- not because its a Toyota. As a matter of fact, this research reportedly is the reason Honda's next hybrid model is not going to have a regular combustion engine equivalent.
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Kaptain75329 5:55PM (10/08/2007)
I was thinking very much the same thing - I read that Honda wasn't thrilled with the idea that the Prius gets more props just because it's unique and comes only in hybrid form while the Civic tends to get ignored in all the green hype. This was supposed to be the rationale behind Honda going the "Me too" route with a direct answer to the Prius.
Kaptain75329 7:10PM (10/08/2007)
Precisely; it was the same idea with the Insight. Everything -- everything -- was compromised if the engineers thought it would improve gas mileage. From the start, the Prius was the same way, albeit over the years it's becomes less of a compromise car. All the same, that "function over form" image is something Honda lost, and something of which Toyota has exploited to great success. Honda seems to think it's a big deal. The way hybrid buyers are, Honda's probably right, which is why this commercial is even more puzzling.. must have been something the area dealers did on their own.
Kaptain75329 7:12PM (10/08/2007)
My second comment was in response to Ethan.
Weird how the comments ordering got screwed like that..
tankd0g 9:00PM (10/08/2007)
Perhaps you've forgotten about the Insight. Don't feel bad, the rest of the world did too.
Chris 5:52PM (10/08/2007)
I just wish they would get rid of those ugly-ass rims.
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Ethan 6:09PM (10/08/2007)
They're designed for function over form, but yeah. They're still pretty goofy.
Aetius 5:57PM (10/08/2007)
Umm...if anything, the Civic's front is more wedge-shaped than the Prius
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Ethan 6:10PM (10/08/2007)
Ummm... wow, how did that get way over here? Was meant in reply to the "ugly-ass rims" comment.
Scott Hunter 6:11PM (10/08/2007)
Yeah....and the Honda Insight is a *real* looker...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Insight
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Chuck U. Farlie 6:18PM (10/08/2007)
Odds are Honda was hoping we would have forgotten about the Unsight(ly).
RWD fan 7:32PM (10/08/2007)
Exactly, that Insight looked like something Woody Allen would drive in Sleeper.
iDevin 6:17PM (10/08/2007)
For reference here's the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzbHJKZ4fL0
I like both ads because I have both a Prius and a sense of humour.
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iDevin 6:19PM (10/08/2007)
Nevermind my link, Autoblog's didn't work at first and now it does.
james f. 9:24PM (10/08/2007)
I would exactly call the current gen civic "lookers" by any stretch. More like "minivan-inspired". Sure the prius is older and certainly ugly with some minor funky charm. But the civic is forgetable and overpriced like most everything Honda sells stateside.
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Carlos 6:39PM (10/08/2007)
About those rims... I agree they're ugly, but the idea is that closed-disc rims are the most aerodynamic. But that's bad for brake cooling, so they always leave some holes.
High-mileage cars will typically have rims like that. The SC430 too, because for a while Lexus was obsessed about good aerodynamics.
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tbyron 12:08AM (10/09/2007)
the Ferrari F2007 has a version of 'em too
Fat Bastard 7:08PM (10/08/2007)
The only reason the Prius has done so well is because Hollyweird stars took to it and the tools and wanna bes flocked to it. I always get a kick when I tell these stinky hippies that their Prius/hybrid still burns earth killing gas. They just stammer and stutter...frickin idiots.
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