Japanese Demand for the Prius Continues

For the sixth months straight the Toyota Prius has been the #1 selling car in Japan. Like the U.S. Cash for Clunkers program, Japan has been offering tax breaks and government subsidies for the purchase of environmentally friendly vehicles. This increase in demand has boosted Toyota’s profits after three consecutive losing quarters.

With numerous green vehicles on the market, what is it that makes the Toyota Prius so enticing to Japanese car buyers?

• Efficiency - The Toyota Prius gets up to 51 mpg. Gas prices in Japan may be at a 4 year low, but they still average over $4.00 USD a gallon.

• Pricing - Fighting to compete with the Honda Insight, Toyota has lowered Prius prices in Japan to around $19,000. Slightly less than the still affordable U.S. starting price of $22,400.

• Reliability - Long known for dependability, Toyota scored the highest in vehicle satisfaction for reliability in recent AutoPacific and IntelliChoice studies.

• Safety - The IIHS awarded the 2009 Prius top scores of “Good” on all tests.

As hybrid interest in the U.S. continues to heat up, it will be interesting to see if American car buyers follow suit. Do you have a favorite hybrid? If so why?

Small Car Sales Boom: "Small is the new big"

Despite a recent survey conducted on BuyingAdvice that indicated that the majority of buyers are not downsizing their vehicles, USA Today reports that small car sales are on the rise in a big way this year.

The smallest, lowest-priced segment has reported that sales are up almost 27% compared to last year. Models that are enjoying being at the front of the pack in regards to this new buying trend are the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, which are up 70% and 61% respectively. As the head of Dodge. Mike Accavitti points out; small really is "the new big".

Small cars have come a long way in terms of design and performance in the last few years. But, for those who fear that they will have to give up gratifying performance just to save at the gas station, U.S. News & World Report has just released a list of vehicles that provide the most "thrills per gallon". So for those who still need some performance kick, check out recommendations like the Honda Civic Hybrid or the Ford Escape Hybrid-or the rest of their list.

Evolving Nicely: The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

After a one year break, the performance-centered Evo returns this year sporting a new engine and new interior and exterior styling, which it shares with the Lancer GTS. There are a lot of new refinements in the tenth generation Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution including a silkier ride and nice bonuses like a hard-drive based navigation system.

While some followers may feel betrayed by this, the MR is now equipped with an automated-clutching transmission controlled by paddle shifters. If you want to stay closer to the Evo's rougher lineage, opt for the GSR with a 5-speed manual instead. Ample power comes from the new turbo-charged four-cylinder engine. And the Evolution's handling is tighter and can manage sharp corners with ease using the advanced 4WD system, while not compromising much (if any) fun.

Some minor drawbacks are that the interior is a little too sedan-like to perfectly match the Evolution's sportier image. Also, with sporty performance comes less fuel-efficiency at 17 / 22 mpgs. But all in all, the tenth generation Evolution delivers sports car performance for a price that is thankfully less than most sports car brands.

No Real Point of Distinction in the Pontiac G5

Despite its different styling and $500 increase in price, it is hard to think of Pontiac G5 as all that distinctive when compared to its platform counterpart, the Chevrolet Cobalt.

Although the G5 does have better looks and decent power, it just doesn't seem to offer enough to justify the increase in price, or to differentiate itself enough into a needed separate model from GM. Like the Cobalt, the G5 in its debut year has already suffered from some reliability issues. Also safety scores are not perfect for the G5 in either front or side testing; and some key features like traction control are optional, not standard.

We find that the fact that the G5 only comes as a coupe is an admirable point of departure. But if the reliability record is causing you apprehension, you may want to look into the Honda Civic Coupe DX. Or save a bit of money by buying a Chevy Cobalt.

Saturn Brings A European Hit to America With the Astra

After being a hit in Europe for a number of years, Saturn finally replaces the Ion with the US debut of the Saturn Astra. The Astra comes in two hatchback configurations, either with 3 or 5 doors, and is a welcome compact addition to Saturn's lineup adding some European flair.

The interior styling is very strong for its class with elegant looks and a soft feel and materials. Fuel efficiency is rated at a smile-inducing 24/30 mpg for the automatic. The ride in the Astra is backed with smooth suspension and is particularly pleasing with the manual transmission. Some critics and buyers have complained that certain controls are a little too European and take some adaptation from American drivers. Also, there is no center armrest and AC is not standard on the base trim.

Some other compacts you may be interested in are the Mazda Mazda 3 if you are looking for an even sportier ride, or the Honda Civic Sedan if you are interested in checking out a top-selling compact.

Smaller Cars Survive This Past February's Sales Slump

Compared to last February, sales were down about 6.3% this past month. While truck and SUV sales dramatically declined, the small sedan segment gained an encouraging 5% in sales over last year.

The Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and the Chevrolet Cobalt, all reported sales increases over 50%. Based on figures, it seems like the smaller, efficient sedans are beating out hybrid sales this year. As the economy tightens up, maybe it's hard to shell out the extra dollars for more green clout. But it's worth noting, that the Toyota Prius had one of its best sales records last February. So, things may look more somber for hybrid popularity than they are. The two manufacturers who saw a rare increase this month were Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co.

A slowing in sales could result in nice incentives and deals for buyers, (unless you want a small sedan). Make sure you keep your eyes open for special offers. To read more about the sales figures and trends this past month, go to the LA Times.

The Kia Rio5: Affordability Plus A Hatchback

With their debut of the second generation Rio a couple of years ago, Kia stepped the quality of their smallest compact offering up a notch. Now armed with a sufficient ride and features, the BuyingAdvice team thinks the Kia Rio5 may be a reasonable choice if you are looking for a hatchback that will be kind to your bank account.

This year the Rio5 is available for the first time in the lower costing, LX trim as well as the SX. So, you can get savings and a fifth door. Another big bonus, besides the expected 10yr / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty, is that the newest Rio has an excellent reliability record recently. On the flip side, despite standard side airbags, Kia has been struggling with poor side impact scores (3.5 out of 5) in both this model and the Spectra. There are more thrilling rides on the market. However, for the money the ride is quiet and has good response, especially when driving the manual transmission.

A competitor that costs a few hundred less is the Chevrolet Aveo5, but you will lose the standard CD player. If a low price tag is not your primary concern, there are tons of compact models that have more features and style for a little extra money. One example is the Scion xD which costs about $1,500 more, but has ABS and power features.

Volkswagen GLI: Beauty Hiding Under a Bland Exterior

If you find yourself on a Volkswagen lot hunting for an exciting sports sedan, don't overlook the sedately-styled GLI. This car should not be judged by its exterior. The BuyingAdvice Team thinks once buyers climb in they will quickly see that the Volkswagen GLI is a turbocharged sports sedan that's generously equipped, plus it has sublime interior fit and finish.

The GLI's sporty ride with tight handling and communicative steering, more than make up for its generic body style. The ride is quiet and suspension is well-tuned. The GLI comes equipped with some really nice standard features like a 10 speaker audio system, full power accessories and satellite radio, plus a full set of safety features. However, safety scores could be stronger. Also reliability has been a sore spot, but it's been improving recently. It will be hard to find a sportier ride for the nice starting price around $25K.

A few challengers are the Mazda MAZDA6 iSports Sedan, but it has 40 less hp. Another option with AWD is the Subaru Legacy Limited which has a moonroof and an automatic standard, but 30 less hp.

The Not-So-MINI Cooper Clubman has Arrived!

For those admirers of the MINI Cooper but desirous of more rear cargo space, the new Clubman version of the popular retro-styled compact car debuts this year. Although the Clubman's design brings added weight and some visibility issues into the mix, the MINI Cooper Clubman still has great looks, peppy performance, plus a lot more interior space.

With about 10 extra inches in length, the Clubman has 9.2 cubic ft of rear cargo space with the seat up, and when folded down the space goes up to 32.8 cubic ft. This is a significant increase over the MINI Cooper's stats of 5.7 cubic ft and 24 cubic ft. with the rear seat down. The Clubman has new side and rear door styling to make accessing its new-found space easier. However, the center pillar where the two side-hinged rear doors meet causes a visibility issue that would take some adapting to. When compared to the Cooper's performance, the added weight is noticeable during acceleration. But performance has enough kick and the ride remains fun and agile.

The Volkswagen New Beetle S costs a couple thousand less and has 30 more hp, but less cargo room and gets 8 less miles per gallon. The Honda Civic Coupe EX-L has leather seats and about 22 more hp for about the same price.

Volkswagen Rabbit Hops Up With Its Newest Generation

Volkswagen's compact hatchback returned to its "Rabbit" name here in the US when the newest generation rolled out about three years ago. For some reason, "Golf" just never struck us here at BuyingAdvice as having all that much youth appeal, no matter how much VW explained that it was German for "Gulf Stream". For some of us, it will always be just a past-time for retired men wearing plaid pants.

Naming confusion aside, the newest generation of the Volkswagen Rabbit offers one of the nicest set of features, interior fit and finish and ride in the entry-level segment-all for a fairly reasonable price.

The Rabbit has a roomier feel inside than its slightly bland and smaller-looking exterior might lead you to believe. In fact, everything is nicer on the inside of the Rabbit, including a pleasant interior with a European blue-lit flair. The hp has moved up about 20 hp this year, and recent tuning adjustments were made to make the ride smoother, quieter and more comfortable. The starting price is reasonable for this segment, and a lot of desirable standard features are included up front. Standard features include unexpected things like outside heated mirrors, cruise control, satellite radio and a premium audio system with an auxiliary jack.