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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
djSyndrome @ Oct 8th 2007 5:35PM
They can't run this ad anyway - it's using 2007 EPA numbers. The 2008 EPA rating is 45mpg highway.
Dave T. @ Oct 8th 2007 5:36PM
It's also using the 2007 mpg figures. 51 is now 45 mpg using the 2008 measurements.
Matt @ Oct 8th 2007 5:50PM
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.
Kaptain75329 @ Oct 8th 2007 5:55PM
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 @ Oct 8th 2007 7:10PM
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 @ Oct 8th 2007 7:12PM
My second comment was in response to Ethan.
Weird how the comments ordering got screwed like that..
tankd0g @ Oct 8th 2007 9:00PM
Perhaps you've forgotten about the Insight. Don't feel bad, the rest of the world did too.
Chris @ Oct 8th 2007 5:52PM
I just wish they would get rid of those ugly-ass rims.
Ethan @ Oct 8th 2007 6:09PM
They're designed for function over form, but yeah. They're still pretty goofy.
Aetius @ Oct 8th 2007 5:57PM
Umm...if anything, the Civic's front is more wedge-shaped than the Prius
Ethan @ Oct 8th 2007 6:10PM
Ummm... wow, how did that get way over here? Was meant in reply to the "ugly-ass rims" comment.
Scott Hunter @ Oct 8th 2007 6:11PM
Yeah....and the Honda Insight is a *real* looker...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Insight
Chuck U. Farlie @ Oct 8th 2007 6:18PM
Odds are Honda was hoping we would have forgotten about the Unsight(ly).
RWD fan @ Oct 8th 2007 7:32PM
Exactly, that Insight looked like something Woody Allen would drive in Sleeper.
iDevin @ Oct 8th 2007 6:17PM
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.
iDevin @ Oct 8th 2007 6:19PM
Nevermind my link, Autoblog's didn't work at first and now it does.
Carlos @ Oct 8th 2007 6:39PM
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.
tbyron @ Oct 9th 2007 12:08AM
the Ferrari F2007 has a version of 'em too
Fat Bastard @ Oct 8th 2007 7:08PM
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.
TIMMAH! @ Oct 8th 2007 7:39PM
It'd be nice if they made the Prius look 'cool' instead of 'green'. The 'green' look seems to be 'utilitarian', 'simple', 'boxy'. Why not make it look like a MR2/xA/Celica merger? The flat, vertical sides have really got to go.
Also, with all this electric motor tech, it seems that performance now is more about how the electrical control logic is programmed rather than about the limits of the hardware. It would be cool if you could have a switchable "sport" mode that would give you awesome acceleration from the torquey electrical motor at the expense of great mileage. This would be great way to pwn the EPA numbers by being able to put out great "published" mileage ("econ" mode), but also be able compete with the fastest sports cars ("sport" mode.) You can leave it up to the driver how poor mileage they want to dial in at the expense of fun.