Think you will save money with a Toyota Prius? Might as well buy two Chevrolet Aveos!

We all know that the main reason to buy a Prius is to save the planet and be like Al Gore (minus the private jets), not to impress your peers...but seriously, most people have it in their heads that a Prius is a means to save gas money. But how much money will be saved when you consider the Chevy Aveo, recently refreshed with a nice interior and exterior? Bloomberg has a story on it...

Save with a Prius? Instead, buy two Aveos
By Doron Levin
BLOOMBERG NEWS
04/01/2007

The economics of owning a Prius are worth reviewing.

The vehicle, a modest four-door hatchback, gets an average of about 55 miles a gallon in city and highway driving. It will consume about $696 worth of fuel a year at today's average price of $2.55 a gallon. A Toyota Camry, averaging 28 mpg, consumes about $1,366 worth of fuel a year.

The $670 difference gasoline savings on the Prius over the Camry translates into almost a five-year payback on Prius's $3,000 price premium.

Not too bad for those who are convinced that saving gasoline is a critical national priority.

But if you're crunching numbers, a much better deal might be the conventionally powered Chevrolet Aveo.

The Aveo averages about 30 mpg and thus consumes about $1,275 a year worth of gasoline — $579 more than the Prius and $91 less than the Camry. But at a purchase price of about $12,000, it represents a price savings of about $12,000 over the Camry and more over the Prius.

The numbers are irrefutable.

Article Continues HERE

Chevrolet Aveo Sales Surge nearly 50%

Aveo sales jumped in the U.S. market in March and have been on a roll this year.

2007 Sales were 6,793, compared to 2006 Sales at 4,438. That's a rise of almost 50%.

For the year-to-date, Aveo sales are at 15,228, up 44.1% over last year.

Either people have really warmed up to the fresh styling of the new Daewoo Gentra-based Aveo, or they've come to appreciate the way the car is jam-packed with standard features right out of the factory. Either way, its good news for GM, Chevy U.S.A. and GM Daewoo.

And the 5-door hatch isn't even here yet. By the way, what is up with that, GM?

Source: http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=2&docid=34960