Help - Prius Prime vs. Clarity PHEV

  • Thread starter Thread starter My Name Is Zorro!
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My Name Is Zorro! said:
I spend my life sitting at red lights or going a couple of hundred yards between lights for miles and miles and miles. It would be nice to be able to be at these red lights and not feel like I am wasting all my gas.
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EV mode is ideal for those circumstances. After driving our Clarity for the last month, we had to use our 4WD vehicle to drive in the snow (don't trust those OEM green tires for the snow!) and I was horrified with the gas consumption. Be warned that a PHEV will turn you into a gas miser in no time flat!
 
PHEV Newbie said:
EV mode is ideal for those circumstances. After driving our Clarity for the last month, we had to use our 4WD vehicle to drive in the snow (don't trust those OEM green tires for the snow!) and I was horrified with the gas consumption. Be warned that a PHEV will turn you into a gas miser in no time flat!
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It really makes you go crazy here out west where 8 out the 10 other vehicles at the red light are F150's or Chevy 1500 crew cab pickups just guzzling the gas...
 
My Name Is Zorro! said:
I spend my life sitting at red lights or going a couple of hundred yards between lights for miles and miles and miles. It would be nice to be able to be at these red lights and not feel like I am wasting all my gas.
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I will say any Prius is good for something like that, too. It usually shuts down the engine when you are stopped and doesn't turn it back on until you go above a certain speed. It is a cheaper option, but not as cool as the Clarity.
 
loomis2 said:
I will say any Prius is good for something like that, too. It usually shuts down the engine when you are stopped and doesn't turn it back on until you go above a certain speed. It is a cheaper option, but not as cool as the Clarity.
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I am still considering the Prius as an option. I really like the tech/dash of the Prius.

I drive really smartly with my Civic, and have averaged 33.2 mpg over the time I've owned it, even in terrible traffic. I make sure to hit highways when possible to help bring up the average, but then I have to pay tolls.
 
My Name Is Zorro! said:
I am still considering the Prius as an option. I really like the tech/dash of the Prius.

I drive really smartly with my Civic, and have averaged 33.2 mpg over the time I've owned it, even in terrible traffic. I make sure to hit highways when possible to help bring up the average, but then I have to pay tolls.
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You could probably hit 50 in a Prius, and I'm not talking a phev Prius, just a normal one. I only get 44-45 in mine, but my mom gets over 50 in hers.
 
loomis2 said:
I will say any Prius is good for something like that, too. It usually shuts down the engine when you are stopped and doesn't turn it back on until you go above a certain speed. It is a cheaper option, but not as cool as the Clarity.
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The only time I noticed our Prius ICE stay on at traffic signals was if the heater was on.
 
JyChevyVolt said:
Zorro should list the following
1. Mile per day driven
2. Budget
3. Have a place to charge at 240 v.
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1) I own my own business. So sometimes 20 miles, sometimes 125. About 75% is heavy urban.
2) Would like to stay under the price of the Clarity Touring - about $37K
3) I have a garage so I can simply install a Level II charger as the circuit panel is literally right in front of the hood of my car.
 
My Name Is Zorro! said:
1) I own my own business. So sometimes 20 miles, sometimes 125. About 75% is heavy urban.
2) Would like to stay under the price of the Clarity Touring - about $37K
3) I have a garage so I can simply install a Level II charger as the circuit panel is literally right in front of the hood of my car.
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I thought hatch was important.

What state are you in?

Volt (4.5 seater)
Niro (ACC on the base)
Ioniq (lots of space)
Outlander (mpg sucks)
Prime (4 seater)
Clarity (not hatch)
Pacifica (lots of problems reported)
 
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JyChevyVolt said:
I thought hatch was important. I would look into leasing since your using it for business.

What state are you in?

Volt (4.5 seater)
Niro (ACC on the base)
Ioniq (lots of space)
Outlander (mpg sucks)
Prime (4 seater)
Clarity (not hatch)
Pacifica (lots of problems reported)
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Hatch would be great. I do use up the space...even if it's just for the bags of mulch I buy to do my yard!
 
If you don't need adaptive cruise control:eek: then the Ioniq plug-in is the best value.

Battery warranty for life. 70% battery degradation covered although not announced.
 
Thanks JyChevyVolt. I'd prefer to stay with either a Prius, Prius Prime or a Honda variant. In my opinion (not saying it is actually true - just my perception) they are the leaders in the price point I am looking at in terms of technology and reputation.
 
Hard to go wrong with either choice. Prius and Prius Prime won't give you the same push off the line as a Clarity does, though. However, if I want to be sure I have room for more than "4 golf bags" - that is - I want room for some bags of mulch and some lumber, other materials, etc. then the Prius will win that battle every time. A hatchback is just more versatile than a trunk. It's a consideration. I had to take a broken trash can back to the city yard in order to avoid a $75 pick-up/delivery fee. It barely fit into the Prius' hatchback (I had to bungee the lid to keep it closed), but it did fit. That same task would be impossible in the Clarity.
 
The Prius Prime has that raised floor in the back because of the battery which loses some cargo space and makes the floor uneven with the seats down. I seriously would recommend a used Prius V. Or that Niro sounds very interesting, especially if you want storage space.
 
If you take the hatch out of the equation, I'd go for the Clarity hands down. I've owned a 2009 Prius, 2011 Prius, and 2013 Prius V, and the Clarity beats them all hands down. The ride comfort, quietness, power (yes POWER), roominess, quality, fit, and finish all outweigh anything in the Prius line, and as for the Prime, 47 miles EV is far better than 25 for practicality. I really liked my Prius, but I wouldn't go back to one now for anything.
 
Did anyone compare the Clarity to the 2018 Camry hybrid?
 
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