MotorWeek face-off: Prius, Insight, Fusion, Jetta TDI, A3 TDI & Smart
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I don't know ... most reviews from enthusiast mags say the Gen 3 Prius has a lot more fun and better handling/stability than the Gen 2 model. Looks wise the Gen 3 Prius is also more liked than the Gen 2. I've also read a lot of reviews that say interior materials quality is quite good compared to the Gen 2 as well.
I guess it's a matter of opinion ... many reviews also say the new Prius has better handling and a better interior than the Insight.
I guess it's a matter of opinion ... many reviews also say the new Prius has better handling and a better interior than the Insight.
But I still disagree on the handling....at least in normal day-to-day driving. Handling in the new 3Gen Prius, because of a slightly lower center of gravity and more aggreesive tires, is better than the 2Gen model, but not by much. The Insight, for several reasons, feels more responsive in the steering. The Prius, though, admittedly, blows the Insight away in the quality of the hybrid drivetrain....on that part, you'll get no arguments from me.
Lexus Champion
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From: California
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Its a good car but damn its not some Ferrari you make it out to be.
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Here let me bring this pic then
Instead of hyper miling and watching that MPG gauge all the time, some people actually like to drive normal and have some fun once a while. One other thing I like to point out is that diesel engines are heavy duty by nature and will take much more of a beating, unlike those lawn mower engines they put into the hybrids that is design for high mileage
Who drives these cars hard you ask? Those who don't drive like grannies, love to drive, those who like to autocross, etc.. When you want to drive like a Sunday driving, greenhead grannie to save fuel, you can.. With the diesel powered cars, you can have your cake & eat it too so to speak.
With the diesel powered cars, you can have your cake & eat it too so to speak.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I agree with you to an extent, Mike. The Jetta DOES have Corolla-like styling, and at least a marginally better interior. But, compared to a Corolla, a Jetta does have more responsive steering, with better feel and feedback. It also has MUCH crisper brakes.....Corolla brakes, IMO, feel like a sponge, and take forever to respond. Of course, the Corolla is better in reliability and in ride comfort/quietness.
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I agree with you to an extent, Mike. The Jetta DOES have Corolla-like styling, and at least a marginally better interior. But, compared to a Corolla, a Jetta does have more responsive steering, with better feel and feedback. It also has MUCH crisper brakes.....Corolla brakes, IMO, feel like a sponge, and take forever to respond. Of course, the Corolla is better in reliability and in ride comfort/quietness.
Is it sportier than a Prius/Corolla? Yes but thats not saying much and its NOT why people buy diesels or hybrids for the most part.
This continued posting "oh its sportier, its better" is old, redundant and just out of whack with reality.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
With the exception of the GTI model (VW did some 4-door Jetta GTI's), that's probably true.
It's not in the Mazda6 class. Size-wise, it's much closer to the Mazda3, where, of course, it has to compete with the turbo Mazdaspeed3 as well.
Yes....agreed. I don't worship at the altar of sportiness myself, and, like you, often get tired of its over-emphasis in the auto press and car mags.
Its a JETTA. They buy them for a great interior and they want a German car. I don't recall a Jetta EVER winning a sports sedan comparo and its rarely mentioned with the Mazda 6 or something of that nature.
Is it sportier than a Prius/Corolla? Yes but thats not saying much and its NOT why people buy diesels or hybrids for the most part.
This continued posting "oh its sportier, its better" is old, redundant and just out of whack with reality.
This continued posting "oh its sportier, its better" is old, redundant and just out of whack with reality.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,350
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From: California
People are willing to forgo sportiness for functionality and something that just does the job. I think VWs are ticking time bombs as well when it comes to reliability and durability issues. I know too many people who have managed to screw their VWs up majorly.
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Lexus Test Driver
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From: MA
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I've never had a problem in any Corolla b/c my expectations are for comfort, quiet and quality, not to be a boy racer machine.
Though I've heard decent things about the Corolla XRS but it still does not get my heart pumping.
Lexus Test Driver
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From: MA
WHO CARES???? It is a Corolla, it is the best selling vehicle of all time. It is BASIC TRANSPORTATION. You want sportier, you buy a MAZDA 3, you don't buy a Corolla or a Jetta.
I've never had a problem in any Corolla b/c my expectations are for comfort, quiet and quality, not to be a boy racer machine.
Though I've heard decent things about the Corolla XRS but it still does not get my heart pumping.
I've never had a problem in any Corolla b/c my expectations are for comfort, quiet and quality, not to be a boy racer machine.
Though I've heard decent things about the Corolla XRS but it still does not get my heart pumping.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Though I've heard decent things about the Corolla XRS but it still does not get my heart pumping.
Lexus Connoisseur
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From: USA
The Hyundai Elantra is also a nice basic-transporation car in that class, and, IMO, has a nicer interior than the Corolla, a better warranty, and equals or undercuts the Corolla's price as well. It doesn't quite equal the Corolla's reliability or smooth drivetrain, but is considered better than average in reliability. If I had to choose betwen the Corolla and Elantra, it would be a tough choice.
The reason the XRS doesn't get many hearts pumping, in normal, day-to-day driving, is that it uses an extremely high-revving VVT-i 1.8L four (essentially the same engine as in the old Celica GT-S), that, like the Honda VTEC fours it is pattered after, has very little torque at low RPMs in normal driving. Its HP and torque peaks are both way up there (from 6800 to 7600 RPM), and below 6000 RPM, response is quite flat. To be honest, the average American driver simply doesn't want to drive his or her Corolla around with the tach pegged all the time. That's one reason why the XRS model didn't sell well, and most Corolla buyers who wanted a little more sportiness chose the 5-speed S model instead.
The reason the XRS doesn't get many hearts pumping, in normal, day-to-day driving, is that it uses an extremely high-revving VVT-i 1.8L four (essentially the same engine as in the old Celica GT-S), that, like the Honda VTEC fours it is pattered after, has very little torque at low RPMs in normal driving. Its HP and torque peaks are both way up there (from 6800 to 7600 RPM), and below 6000 RPM, response is quite flat. To be honest, the average American driver simply doesn't want to drive his or her Corolla around with the tach pegged all the time. That's one reason why the XRS model didn't sell well, and most Corolla buyers who wanted a little more sportiness chose the 5-speed S model instead.
Lexus Fanatic
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Yup, my point exactly, who care, its a Corolla. If sporty driving is not on the top of your list of priority, then the Corolla is a good choice and according to the sales numbers, people in the US shopping in the Corolla's price range usually value relaibility more, but thats not the case in other parts of the world.
Also the Corolla is the world's best selling car for quite a few years now. People in other parts of the world then must care about some of the attributes the Corolla has in order for it to sell so well.
Furthermore, the majority of North American consumers do not want a stiff, sporty compact car. With the North American Corolla, Toyota caters to what the majority of customers want *in this market*.
In other markets around the world, Toyota offers sportier and better-handling Corollas where the market demands it.