A Prius-Alternative

2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid

I know that there are a lot of people reading my blog now who own a Toyota Prius. I would now like to take this time and ask a very important question to you owners: WHY? Why did you buy a Prius? Wouldn't it be better to save money on a car that's actually saving the earth rather than ruining it? Now there are a lot of cars that can do the job, but let's say you're the hybrid type of person. You believe in low emissions and fuel saving vehicles. If you fit this description, you might end up with the Prius. But, let's say you're also the fast and sporty type of person. You believe in putting your foot down and really pushing a car to its limits. If you still had your heart set on the Prius, then it's time for you to forget about it. That car will not cut the mustard for you, but there is a car that can, and it's from the company that you least expected. That's right! The Honda CR-Z is the perfect car if you're a mixture of green & sport. It's the first hybrid with a proper 6-speed manual gearbox. It's one of the first hybrids that actually looks really nice. It's the first hybrid with a real sport button.

Sport Button

It's also the first hybrid ever to actually be tunable, as proven here...

2011 Honda CR-Z Mugen

and here...

2011 Spoon Sports CR-Z

and also here.

2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid R Concept

And, the most astonishing part is that if you do tune your CR-Z, you should still average about 40 MPG, making it very good. Now, I understand that the Prius can do more than that, but you won't have as much fun in the corners driving than this car. It's also quite affordable, too, with prices starting at under $20,000. So, if you've been looking for a hybrid that's fuel efficient and also has a dark side, then turn no further to Honda. They've done the CR-Z perfectly.

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More Prius to Love

2012 Toyota Prius V

If you hate the Prius, unfortunately, I have bad news for you: it's gotten bigger and uglier. This is the new Prius V, now on the showroom floors of the NAIAS. It has all the rubbish and technology the Prius sedan has, but with 5-doors and some extra weight. It will also feature Toyota's new Infotainment system called Entune, which includes improved GPS Navigation, new interface, improved Bluetooth systems, and XM Satellite Radio. The Prius V will hit Toyota Showrooms this summer at a somewhat higher price than the regular sedan. I hope you don't get it though. It's just too ugly!

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The Darker Side of Green

2011 Lexus CT 200h

If you hate your ugly Toyota Prius, my advice would be to take it back and get a Tesla. The problem is that Tesla's are expensive. So, what do you do? Turn to Lexus. Their Prius doesn't ruin the earth and is much cooler looking. This is the 2011 Lexus CT 200h, Lexus's 5th hybrid on the market. It's also Lexus's most sporty hybrid on the market. Under the hood is a 134 horsepower hybrid engine with 98 horsepower coming from a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and 80 horsepower coming from an electric motor. This green engine is connected to ECVT (Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission). As a result, 0 to 60 is reached in 9.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 112 MPH. Doesn't sound like much, does it? How about I tell you that this car gets an EPA estimated 42 MPG? What's also interesting is that, like the Honda CR-Z, this hybrid comes with a sport button. So, you can do some fantastic sporty driving, while saving some green, saving the earth, and saving your pocket. And, since it's a Lexus, expect this car to be available with the best when it comes to luxury, entertainment, and detail. The cost of all this: $29,120, which in my opinion is actually good value for a car that looks, handles, and feels better than an ugly Prius.