I purchased my first hybrid, last year: a Toyota Camry. It has helped to completely change both how I drive, and my driving temperament.
My brother has driven Honda hybrids for over a decade (he's owned four identical G1 Insight, designing major electric upgrades); he recently purchased a Toyota Prius, conceding "the drivetrain design of the Toyota is MUCH better".
Just as one example: while in electric mode, the Toyota engine stops, to 0RPM; the Honda engine must always be moving (when the wheels are) — resulting in increased mechanical friction / wear.
Toyota has used the same transmission style (allowing for the above cessation) since the Prius was first introduced, over two decades ago. The "CVT" [planetary gearsets] is rock-solid.
My only complaint with the two Toyotas I've owned has to do with the Emergency Brake: the Camry simply doesn't have one (it has a "parking pawl," which if you lift either of the front wheels up is entirely defeated; god help you if you need to stop moving after a brake failure [you can't]); the Tacoma has a physical parking lever (left of brake pedal), but its push-to-release mechanism isn't exactly re-assuring... if you need emergency braking while moving, the damn thing will lock up your back wheels with no recourse.
My brother has driven Honda hybrids for over a decade (he's owned four identical G1 Insight, designing major electric upgrades); he recently purchased a Toyota Prius, conceding "the drivetrain design of the Toyota is MUCH better".
Just as one example: while in electric mode, the Toyota engine stops, to 0RPM; the Honda engine must always be moving (when the wheels are) — resulting in increased mechanical friction / wear.
Toyota has used the same transmission style (allowing for the above cessation) since the Prius was first introduced, over two decades ago. The "CVT" [planetary gearsets] is rock-solid.
My only complaint with the two Toyotas I've owned has to do with the Emergency Brake: the Camry simply doesn't have one (it has a "parking pawl," which if you lift either of the front wheels up is entirely defeated; god help you if you need to stop moving after a brake failure [you can't]); the Tacoma has a physical parking lever (left of brake pedal), but its push-to-release mechanism isn't exactly re-assuring... if you need emergency braking while moving, the damn thing will lock up your back wheels with no recourse.