The start of a hybrid price war?
Two days ago, we wrote about the drop in price of the Prius base model for 2008. It was interesting but not worth much more than a little mention. The Touring edition price was raised so the average pricing actually went up a little. So why did they do this? I was just watching CNET's video review of the Aura Hybrid for 2007. It says GM promoted it as the lowest cost hybrid at just over $22,000. That's no longer true with the drop in price of the base model Prius.
Starting to smell a price war? Maybe not. The MSRP for the normal 2008 Aura is already out. It's almost exactly the same price as the new base model Prius. So GM has two choices right now. Either lose the moniker of lowest-priced hybrid to Toyota or price the Aura 2008 hybrid lower than the normal hybrid. What do you think they will do? The pricing for the Aura hybrid 2008 is expected this fall. So place your bets now.
[Source: Cars.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
G-Daddy 11:35PM (8/01/2007)
"The Saturn Aura - The lowest priced hybrid in its class" pretty much solves the problem...the Prius is quite a bit smaller than the Aura, which competes more with the Camry size-wise (and which costs substantially less than the Camry hybrid, though admittedly the Aura doesn't equal the Camry in fuel economy).
I'm more curious to see how pricing for the 2008 Malibu Hybrid compares to the Aura Green Line, especially considering one should be able to haggle on the Malibu (and/or cash in GM Card earnings on). Since they're basically the same cars from a driveline perspective, the fact that the Aura price won't be negotiable, nor can GM Card credits be used on Saturns, makes me think the Malibu Hybrid may prove to be the better buy.
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AlexP 9:16AM (8/02/2007)
Bland exterior and interior? What? Maybe the interior, but the exterior? No way!
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Mazda 3s 10:03AM (8/02/2007)
#1, the Prius is classified as a mid-size vehicle so that wouldn't work.
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MikeW 12:00PM (8/02/2007)
But the Aura stinks.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=121755
Way wrong axle ratio, and no spare wheel.
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