Driving position & visibility
Extremely comfortable on long trips. Great visibility all around, telescoping wheel, and supportive seats make it easy to find the perfect seating position.
Brand reputation & image
Hybrid fuel economy without the negative stereotypes that follow the Prius.
Discounts & incentives
Bought my HCH in July 2007 when fuel prices were still low - paid invoice with little negotiation effort required.
Cargo capacity
Extremely small trunk with no folding backseat limits versatility.
Interior styling
The futuristic two-tier dash was almost a deal breaker when shopping, but it quickly becomes second nature and actually less distracting than looking down at a traditional speedo. Quality of materials is excellent, buttons have an Acura feel to them.
Powertrain performance
Great fuel economy, but this car is slow! A manual transmission option would be a huge improvement over the CVT. Maintaining highway speed going up hills means pushing the revs up to 4-5k and draining the IMA battery.
Feature availability
2007 models did not offer luxuries like heated seats, leather, dual zone climate control, auto wipers, auto lights, auto dimming or heated mirrors, sunroof, etc. that I miss from my previous vehicle.
Quietness
Typical Honda road noise and engine thrashiness when it is really unwound.