For example the Prius first generation with more than 10 years, are still running with the original batterias and still with a great mileage. My Prius 2G with 6 years still makes the original excelent mileage.

For these new Lithium batteries, there is past information to give us that detail. Only Honda can say.

Honda’s steady state fuel economy numbers for their engines are already extremely efficient: you can cruise at 65mph with the Fit’s 1.5L and get over 40mpg highway (the key word is: steady state, the EPA highway test still has various speed swings that simply do not favor Honda engines and IMA). My opinion is that they’ve been focused (and still are) on cost reduction and profits more, and it’s simply that the other auto makers have caught up by using direct injection and other optimizations.

The Civic Hybrid has actually two key improvements, the first is the lithium battery pack and upgraded motor, but the second is a use of an atkinson cycle engine. Both are going to contribute significantly to the _real_world_ fuel economy numbers for the car, despite the displacement bump to 1.5L from 1.3L.

May be you have never learnt how to use your left foot with your right foot while driving, and is satisfied with controlling the car with two pedals. TOO bad. Do Ford or Toyota, up to now, offer a hybrid that can be combined with manual transmission? Sorry, no. And they lack such technology.

So instead of looking into what they’re missing, fans of Ford (or Toyota or GM) retort to internet spec comparison. Too bad, until there’s a comparable product offered by Ford or any other automaker, there simply no competition.

To those less educated, for comparison:
MINI Cooper CVT EPA 28 /36 mpg; Honda CR-Z CVT EPA 35 /39 mpg; (25% and 8.3% improvement respectively)
MINI Cooper M6 EPA 29 /37 mpg; Honda CR-Z M6 EPA 31 /37 mpg. (7% improvement in city driving.) What alternatives does one have who want a M6 in a sporty hatchback? (Especially to those who are concerned of MINI’s checkered reliability history or, worse, burnt by one.)

P.S. Hyundai? Are you serious? It touts its Sonata hybrid for how many months? First, it said it would be released before year end. Then promises in Jan 2011. Where is it now? Hyundai is great, in marketing (only).
I read: “My imaginary car beats your real one every time… It’s lighter, gets better mileage, is faster and looks better. ” So true.

Honda fans can shut me up by showing how Honda’s technology is superior. You can’t, because it’s not. For vehicles that are as small as Honda’s hybrids, the mileage is simply pathetic, as is the performance. The CR-Z is no BMW Active Hybrid, for sure, mileage-wise, but nor is it anywhere close in size or power. It’s a joke as a “sports hybrid” given its inability to outdo the Fusion – or, for that matter, the Camry significantly – in either mileage or performance.

Now, one coming hybrid manufacturer that is no joke and can potentially leapfrog everyone – yes, including Ford and industry-leading Toyota – is Hyundai. But that’s because Hyundai might, and is likely to (at least for a while) actually deliver the better goods – same/better mileage with slightly greater power – at a lower price. Unlike Honda, which had simply been playing tricks with mirrors.

Let’s look at some facts,
A 2009 Malibu hybrid uses a belt-driven motor-generator(BAS) with an ICE engine of 164 hp, and a motor rated at 5 hp. The combined output is still 164 hp ONLY. It uses a (an almost pre-historic one) four-speed auto transmission. It weighs about 3,570 lb in a C/D test/review.
EPA rating: 26 /34. (EPA rating for a 2009 Malibu with 2.4 engine is 22 /33.) The improvement in fuel efficiency is about 4 mpg in city, 1 mpg in hwy.

The 2009 Civic hybrid comes with an ICE of 93 hp, with a motor of 20 hp. (4x that of Malibu hybrid). Combined output is 110 hp. It uses CVT, which is much more fuel efficient than a traditional auto transmission. It weighs about 2,877 lb (about 20% less than Malibu hybrid).
EPA rating: 40/ 45 mpg. (EPA rating for a 2009 Civic with A/T is: 25/ 36 mpg.) The improvement in fuel efficiency is about 15 mpg in city, 9 mpg in hwy. (That is 3.75x and 9x the improvement for Malibu hybrid respectively.)

It is sad that some here are only willing to look on the surface and jump to his/her conclusion without doing a little homework and dig deeper.

Isn’t there an old saying: Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.

“Point 2, Honda has the only hybrids with significant battery quality questions. Another hurdle for Honda to overcome.”

you hit the nail right on the head. purchasing a hybrid is often a premium already… one needs to feel comfortable that they are not getting a potentially unreliable product. this is often judged base on past track records, which honda really needs to improve on (e.g. hch) before i will even think about buying one from them.