Kublai> as mentioned before, the big advantage of selecting Prius (since gen2 of model year 2003) is that it can be diy hacked to plug-in hybrid, i.e. optional full EV driving mode at lower speeds and mixed mode at highway (150-70)mpg..
So with standard Prius you could be half-prepared for that $6-10/gallon superspike, which is likely comming in the future and within the lifespan of that car 8-15yrs.
Also you can shop/budget for the required major upgrade parts step by step along the way, while still driving it like factory hybrid. This is not possible with the Honda hybrids or it's much more complex and not excatly diy type of project.