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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg Toyota drops current JDM 09 Prius-II to 2010 Insight-II levels in the battle of the hybrids. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=194698)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Prius_lower_price.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - Mar. 16, 2009

2010 Toyota Prius-III – 50 mpg combined and at present prices overseas, may have a starting price of $19,995!

Brand new Prius-II’s for $4,000 off?

According to the Nikkei English News, Toyota is going to cut the price of the current version 2009 Toyota Prius-II HEV to match that of Honda Motor Co.’s brand new 2010 Insight. No Toyota employees were listed in the report but the Japanese Hybrid wars are heating up.

The starting price of the 2009 Toyota Prius-II will be cut to 1.89 million yen ($19,250 USD) from 2.33 million yen ($23, 646 USD) the report said.

Honda Motor Co.'s Insight hybrid hatchback, which made its Japanese showroom debut on Feb. 6, made the top-ten sales ranking list in February with monthly sales of 4,906 units, an industry group reported earlier this month. Toyota’s 2009 Prius-II took a back seat at number 12.

Pricing for the US 2010 Prius-III is rumored to be released in April.

Whoah. That's a serious drop in price!! :eek:

Assuming the report is true, the winner is the consumer ... more choice, at a great price, and it hopefully drives down the cost on the resale market proportionately.

Awesome! Maybe the next round of hybrid competition will bring out a hybrid Fit vs a hybrid Scion. :)

Looks like Honda has really thrown Toyota for a loop. This is going to be interesting.

Good thing we like ours well enough. Resale is going to be so poor we will be driving them into the ground!

Good thing we like ours well enough. Resale is going to be so poor we will be driving them into the ground!

I don't think it is going to be that much of a big deal. The local Toyota dealer by me has at least 35 to 50 Prius's in stock. Want to bet I can get a steal on one come June-July. :woot:

Also you can bet the HCHII is also going to see a price drop with the Prius price restructure.

Price wars, and the consumer wins every time.

So it seems like Honda might have to drop the price of the insight if it really wants to get the mass market. More car for the same money is what people will start to look at. Better gas mileage, more room, yeah, this translates to sub 17k for a new insight.

Given their current pricing, I'd be surprised if Honda lowered it past $18,500.

Given their current pricing, I'd be surprised if Honda lowered it past $18,500.

Well Toyota is doing quite a few surprising things including what we've seen in the Canadian division.

If I'm in the market for a 20k car, I'd opt for the prius over the insight because you wont really feel a $1000 difference over the course of payments or even a full cash payment. The gas mileage difference will definitely show, along with the amenities.

If I can get a brand new Prius III for a grand more than the Insight II, with all due respect to the Insight II, I'd take the Prius.

Well Toyota is doing quite a few surprising things including what we've seen in the Canadian division.

If I'm in the market for a 20k car, I'd opt for the prius over the insight because you wont really feel a $1000 difference over the course of payments or even a full cash payment. The gas mileage difference will definitely show, along with the amenities.

If I can get a brand new Prius III for a grand more than the Insight II, with all due respect to the Insight II, I'd take the Prius.

I think you're right. IMO the Insight II came up short and it will be easy for Toyota to expose this insufficient combination of price and FE.