What I find kind of amusing about this article is that when the 8th-generation Honda Civic arrives this Fall, you'll get a car that is almost as roomy as the current Prius, gets decent performance (thanks to a new 140 bhp 1.8-liter I-4 engine with variable valve timing), better fuel efficiency than the current Civic, and costs several thousand less than a Prius. And you don't have to deal with the hassles of the longevity of the hybrid drivetrain, either.
You gotta love the Civic. One of the most reliable cars in the world. I particularly like it because it is practically invisible, especially if it's black. I drive in Atlanta traffic every day, and I drive fast. Up to about 100 it handles like a dream, after that it can be a little scary. My only regret is that it doesn't have enough giddy-up. I've driven my 97 for 119K and have only changed the tires, oil (strictly), filters, and brake pads.