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I need help in deciding either to wait until the new Sonata hybird come out in Feb or to buy a 2010 Prius II now. My concern is with trunk space and visiablilty of the back window. I coach Golf and need to get up to 4 sets of clubs in the trunk with 4 people.....Can anyone tell me how many sets you can get in the trunk alone? Should I buy the prius now or wait for the Sonata to come out? I not sure about its trunk size either? Or maybe even wait until the Prius Alpha comes out...it might be too expensive?
HELP':D

I'm betting the Sonata is the car you want. Four sets of clubs might be a little tight in a Prius.

Four sets of golf clubs in any car may be a chore. Better look at a mini Van? H

Well, if he hasn't checked the Prius out, I'd suggest taking 4 sets of golf clubs to a Toyota dealer. :D

Welcome to CleanMPG!
Great choices on possibilities for your job. Thanks for not running out and buying another Suburban,

If I have time tonight or tomorrow, I will run out to my brother in laws and put his set in and calculate how many more will fit.

4 sets in the Prius MIGHT fit. You could get 6 sets in if the rear seats were down. I have seen small sets and the big sets. I'm guessing yours would be the large size. I would doubt them to fit in the Hyundai.

The new Prius is going to be the Prius v model. It would be the one I would recommend. I don't think the price will be much higher. But it will be the first in its class. So who knows?

I don't think the Prius is going to fit 4 sets of clubs plus 4 adults. I haven't tried, but I don't think the hatch area is going to be wide enough. May as well take a set to the dealer and find out, though.

I would say the Sonata hybrid is a no-go for four sets of golf clubs in the trunk. Along with the hybrid battery pack forward and over the rear axle area, the 12V battery is stashed in the right rear corner, effectively narrowing the trunk floor.

This would not be a good car for Robert DeNiro's "Analyze That" Paul Vitti character, who states, "Look at the size of this trunk. You can put three bodies in there."

Here's a photo I took last year at the NY Auto Show:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/649/SHtrunk1.JPG

After I posted the picture above, I started to wonder whether a Ford Escape hybrid wouldn't be a suitable choice. There is room for four average size adults, and it has more cargo area behind the second row (30.9 cu ft) than the Prius (21.6 cu ft).

Don't let the EPA numbers on the Escape hybrid worry you. A few members here are really making them "sing".

And the Escape hybrid seems to be holding up well under the brutal abuse of taxi cab service in New York City. If these cabbies can't kill them, nothing can.

To all of you who have responded to my questions, i can't thank you enough. The picture of the sonata hybrid trunk makes me wonder? I would be curious as to how many carry golf golf bags can fit into a prius. Wow this is a great site. Jack

I have an idea.

As an instructor, you may have more than one set of clubs - the one you use and the other one you share with newbies who may accidentally take a swing at a sprinkler head instead of a golf ball. Measure them for length, width, and height. Then stop by a Toyota and a Ford dealer, and measure the cargo area for length/width/height. Then you can mathematically calculate whether the clubs would fit or not, as long as the other sets of clubs are no larger than the measured set(s). If it looks like it's a close fit, then it's worth stopping by the dealer and loading the clubs into the trunk for an actual test-fit.

The picture of the sonata hybrid trunk makes me wonder?
One other variable in the equation is the gooseneck hinges for the Sonata trunk. The open position shows available trunk space, but when you close the trunk, those curved metal hinges are going to crunch down whatever is below them. With golf clubs running the full width of the trunk, and stacked two over two, you may not be able to close the trunk because of the space needed for the goosenecks.

I don't believe the Escaped would work. My brother-in-law just traded in his Ford Escape (standard) for a Ford Sport Trac so he could haul more clubs.

I was recently talking to a friend from high school about the Toyota Highlander Hybrid he was driving. He is a Territory Manager for Cleveland Golf and they bought 66 of them a couple of years ago when gas was nearing $4. He said it is full of golf gear when he is on the road.

B.I.L. was not at home so I messaged the Cleveland rep. He said a set is an average of 47" x 16" x 16" I just measured our Gen III and it is only about 40" between the taper over the rear wheels. The 2/3 side of the seat is only 26" so the whole seat would have to flip down and you would be limited to two people in the car.

I talked to my brother in law and the only way to get a set of clubs in the Escape was to put them in the cargo area diagonal.

Sean fitted his wifes Fusion Hybrid with a cargo tray to hold his wife's hockey gear. Maybe that would be a solution.

Actually, two hockey bags will fit in the trunk, but the sticks have to go inside.

The tray is for when we want to go on trips and just can't get everything into the trunk. We used it once for a pavilion tent which was simply too long to fit inside and it worked well. I'm sure that golf bags could be strapped onto a tray like ours.

For reference, her Fusion trunk measures at 52" long, 24" deep, and 20" high. You might get one bag in there.

"his wife's hockey gear"

women play hockey?, do they get into fights? :D

women play hockey?, do they get into fights? :D

Yes... and yes. :p

Yes... and yes. :p

As with many sports traditionally viewed as male, female participation is increasing.

A good thing it is too. The USA used to think that cheerleading counted as female participation.

As I always say, I'd much rather watch bull dykes playing sport than pretty girls dancing.

The Prius' load floor may be dimensionally a bit smaller than the Sonata's, but since it's a hatchback you can go taller and stack the bags on top of the other. Probably can't do that in the Sonata. The biggest issue is the longest dimension of each car's cargo floor, though: if you have to go diagonal, 4 bags will be a no-go in either vehicle.

The Prius' load floor may be dimensionally a bit smaller than the Sonata's, but since it's a hatchback you can go taller and stack the bags on top of the other. Probably can't do that in the Sonata. The biggest issue is the longest dimension of each car's cargo floor, though: if you have to go diagonal, 4 bags will be a no-go in either vehicle.

I measured ours and the sloped hatch roof makes stacking 2 16" tall bags out of the question and it won't work diagonally since the wheel wells are directly behind the seats.

Others have responded well to your concerns, so I will leave that alone.

Here is what I was thinking... I assume you are not only buying the car so that you can use it just when you go golfing/coaching but also for regular and daily use. So also look at other aspects of the vehicle to see if it fits your needs and requirements, other than the trunk problem about four golf bags.

I also wanted to suggest fusion hybrid, as its got better ratings that Sonata in the stop and go and also has higher combined rating than Sonata hybrid. Also, personally speaking, I would root for the home team and since there's a viable option available from the domestics now, I think you should give it a shot, if it fits within your requirements, needs and budget.

Happy choosing .....

Also, personally speaking, I would root for the home team and since there's a viable option available from the domestics now, I think you should give it a shot, if it fits within your requirements, needs and budget.

Happy choosing .....

The Fusions, including the FFH, are built in Mexico.

If it's like the rest of the Sonatas the HySH will be assembled in Alabama.

Pick your poison, I guess.

The Fusions, including the FFH, are built in Mexico.

If it's like the rest of the Sonatas the HySH will be assembled in Alabama.

Pick your poison, I guess.

I understand your point, but assembly of the final product is not the only jobs supported in bringing a vehicle to market. More than that, engineering, R&D, testing, marketing, distribution are much more higher paying jobs that actually add more to the economy than just assembly jobs.

I understand your point, but assembly of the final product is not the only jobs supported in bringing a vehicle to market. More than that, engineering, R&D, testing, marketing, distribution are much more higher paying jobs that actually add more to the economy than just assembly jobs.

Marking and distribution will always be done in the country or region of sale.

How much will it reduce your gas consumption?
Where does the cost go?
Where do the profits go?
How much of the exported cost returns?
Do you like the company's development ethos?
How much local wealth is generated by the purchase? (Wealth != money)
How much external wealth is generated by the purchase?
How much local wealth will be generated by the company in the future?
How much external wealth will be generated by the company in the future?
How does the company treat its employees?
How does the company treat the environment?

It's a bit more complicated to me than Ford = US company therefore buy Ford.

A big thanks to all yo,u especially for MaxxMPG for the pictures and data...Im going to the Washington Auto show to check it out in person....Thanks again, Jack

It's a bit more complicated to me than Ford = US company therefore buy Ford.

Same for me, as you said its a bit more complex than: Sonata = Assembled in Alabama, so buy Hyundai.

Looks like we both agree on something... :)

To OP, happy choosing....

Same for me, as you said its a bit more complex than: Sonata = Assembled in Alabama, so buy Hyundai.

Looks like we both agree on something... :)

To OP, happy choosing....

Ah yes, the OP. ;)

Determine your requirements.

Find the car (possibly plus trailer. ;) ) that meets your needs and consumes the least gas/gives you lowest TCO.

Sean's wife plays HOCKEY!:eek:!:eek:!:eek:!:eek:!

Get her signed up with my Vike's. We need somebody tough like her. :woot::woot:

Hi Jeff:

Way OT but she's tough all right! I think you may have met Sean on one of our excursions through Oklahoma at one point or another? Or maybe not? In any case, he's about 6'-5" and if he gave the misses any lip, she'd whack him on the side of the head with her hockey stick :D

Wayne