Prius α vs. Fit Shuttle Hybrid

2012 Toyota Prius Alpha

2012 Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid

Well, it all goes to this. The Toyota Prius α (Alpha) was launched since May 13, 2011 and the Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid was launched since June 16, 2011. Both of them are hybrid MPV (multipurpose passenger vehicle) but which of these hybrid MPVs are fresh to be "my pick" and how are these two differ? Let's find out....

CASE ONE:

Toyota's Prius α (Alpha) is the MPV spin-off to the third-generation Prius hybrid car. As a hybrid car, the Prius α provides the fuel economy of 31.0km/L in 10-15 Mode and 26.2 in JC08 Mode. Once more, the 2ZR-FXE engine provides a power output of 99PS in standard and it can be boosted up to 136PS if the 60kW 3JM electric motor is active. On the styling cues, the Prius α matches the same Prius DNA because of its triangular silhouette and the interior design is somewhat a technological breakthrough. The new One-dial Air Conditional Control takes control of the Prius α's room temperature. The Prius α comes in either a 5-seater or 7-seater. The Prius α 5-seater is packed with the nickel metal hydride battery while the 7-seater is packed with the new Lithium Ion (Li-ion battery). What surprises me on the 7-seater variant of the Prius α is the panoramic roof called Skylight Roof, available exclusively on the Li-ion battery-powered Prius α 7-seater. Because of the trouble caused by the March 11 disaster and the curious case of "parts shortages", delivery time for the Prius α takes about one year, so you might need to wait a longer more time to get your own Prius α.

CASE TWO:

The Honda Fit Shuttle was the replacement of the axed Honda Airwave MPV and this is the MPV spin-off to the second-generation Honda Fit. I'm talking more about the Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid MPV because we're dealing with the rivalry between the Toyota Prius α (Alpha) and the Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid. Unlike the Toyota Prius α soon to be exported worldwide as the Prius V (5-seater) and Prius Plus (7-seater), the Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid is not intended for export purposes and it's available only in Japan. Unlike the Prius α's one year delivery, the Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid's delivery time takes about two months, that's 10 months short so there's a chance for buyers to get their own Fit Shuttle since orders reached to about 7000 customers. On the stats, the Fit Shuttle Hybrid gets a fuel economy of 30km/L, which is 1 km/L short than the Toyota Prius α. The Fit Shuttle Hybrid is available only in 5-seater and it comes with the nickel metal hydride battery. No 7-seater, no Li-ion battery just how the Toyota Prius α had. Besides, the styling on the Fit Shuttle Hybrid is just too bulgy and obese.

In my verdict, I prefer the Prius α rather than the bulging Fit Shuttle Hybrid because it is economical, stylish, and comfortable, but I have to wait until next year to get it. In the meantime, I have to make do with the bulging and obese Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid. What do you think?