Are you rich in the first place? If you don't have problem forking out RM30k if anything goes wrong after warranty ended and this is your spare car, then you can go for hybrid.

If you go for hybrid, you'll have to stick to it for long term till end as its RV will not be good. Those who buy used cars aren't so rich and they ain't gonna risk buying hybrid at the moment.

Remember, warranty is not guarantee and you still have to pay for maintenance and spare parts. Battery is not issue but the electric engine, inverter, high tech electronic components/modules are your concern.

As our local technician/foreman are highly underpaid like blue collar job earning only RM1.5k after working over 5 years despite highly educated, most of them won't stay in the field for long. This means there won't be many experienced engineers in SC and anything faulty, they'll ask you to replace the parts rather than fixing it. Hybrid cars if involved in accident, will have much to worry should there be collateral damage to nobody knows how to fix electronic parts, undetected at that time of insurance claim. This is why they have tax exemption on hybrid cars as they know many won't dare to buy unless rich.

Check with SC directly for the interval service cost and also check spare part price with those spare part suppliers outside to evaluate cost of overall maintenance and ownership before you even think of buying any of the cars.

Are you rich in the first place? If you don't have problem forking out RM30k if anything goes wrong after warranty ended and this is your spare car, then you can go for hybrid.

If you go for hybrid, you'll have to stick to it for long term till end as its RV will not be good. Those who buy used cars aren't so rich and they ain't gonna risk buying hybrid at the moment.

Remember, warranty is not guarantee and you still have to pay for maintenance and spare parts. Battery is not issue but the electric engine, inverter, high tech electronic components/modules are your concern.

As our local technician/foreman are highly underpaid like blue collar job earning only RM1.5k after working over 5 years despite highly educated, most of them won't stay in the field for long. This means there won't be many experienced engineers in SC and anything faulty, they'll ask you to replace the parts rather than fixing it. Hybrid cars if involved in accident, will have much to worry should there be collateral damage to nobody knows how to fix electronic parts, undetected at that time of insurance claim. This is why they have tax exemption on hybrid cars as they know many won't dare to buy unless rich.

Check with SC directly for the interval service cost and also check spare part price with those spare part suppliers outside to evaluate cost of overall maintenance and ownership before you even think of buying any of the cars.

TS, i chose Prius C for you due to the following reasons. (As i have first hand experience with my Prius)

**Pros**
-Reliable Engine (Taken for Prius mk1 1.5L, tuned & upgraded for current Prius C)
-No 1 fuel saver car, easily reach 22-25km/L (~4L/100km)
-7 Airbags
-CBU Japan
-Good CVT transmission (Much better than my mom's CRZ, sorry CRZ fans/owners. They don't jerk and they are very reliable, just look up e-CVT design @Google.
-Great discount now, who knows if the tax exemption will ever be renewed for next year?
-Saves alot of $$$, BN is struggling to keep RON95 @RM1.90
-Regenerative braking, you rarely need to change your brake pads, how cool is that?
-Travel locally more with your family without worrying about petrol price!

**Cons**
-Not very likeable interior, apparently your $$$ goes under the hood more
-Subjective rear exterior design (I don't like it too)
-Not trying to be biased here, but nothing comes up anymore

Prius HSD is about efficiency, though performance aren't really lacking with all that torque from the electric motor, but it isn't exactly cutting everyone else too.

Your $$$, your choice

30k? Honda already said 4k for the battery, and the Prius won't be so much more expensive. Also, the Prius 1 and 3 were very reliable, perhaps the C is too. Toyota has invested a lot into these cars, unlike cars like the Vios which were probably very cheap to develop. The Yaris (Vios hatchback) isn't very reliable, the Prius is extremely reliable.

But yes, mechanics may not be able to handle them...

As for airbags: They work very well, and especially side airbags are crucial IMHO. Of course you do need to wear your seatbelt at all times, while that is important for all cars it is even more so with airbags, as they can kill you if you don't wear your seatbelt (though you'll probably die anyway). Yes, even at slow speeds, like 30 km/h not wearing your seatbelt can be deadly.

As for feeling fast: A Kancil will make you feel like a racing driver at 80. A Mercedes S class will feel slower than that at 250.

my Prius regular maintenance is dirt cheap, may be even cheaper than a Vios as not much wear and tear parts to replace. Beltless operation, electric motor is zero maintenance, in case you never bothered to check. that 30k you mentioned will probably fit more for less known for durability brands that will have gearbox/engine problems. 
(Prius with engine braking tech allows the brake pads to be replaced at 100k miles ~160k km, mine has reached 50k+ and still need not replace)

3 million Toyota hybrids now on the road and Toyota will have problems such as insufficient technician/foreman to service their own hybrid? Like it or not, technicians/foreman will have to upgrade to follow the trend, the same goes with turbo engines. SkyActiv is another new type of engine. People adapt, if they don't they are left out and opportunity arises for others. I seriously we shouldn't be having this kind of thinking and stick with the old NA ICE.

I know generally Malaysians are ignorant about tech, but even in FnF? 

TS, i chose Prius C for you due to the following reasons. (As i have first hand experience with my Prius)

**Pros**
-Reliable Engine (Taken for Prius mk1 1.5L, tuned & upgraded for current Prius C)
-No 1 fuel saver car, easily reach 22-25km/L (~4L/100km)
-7 Airbags
-CBU Japan
-Good CVT transmission (Much better than my mom's CRZ, sorry CRZ fans/owners. They don't jerk and they are very reliable, just look up e-CVT design @Google.
-Great discount now, who knows if the tax exemption will ever be renewed for next year?
-Saves alot of $$$, BN is struggling to keep RON95 @RM1.90
-Regenerative braking, you rarely need to change your brake pads, how cool is that?
-Travel locally more with your family without worrying about petrol price!

**Cons**
-Not very likeable interior, apparently your $$$ goes under the hood more
-Subjective rear exterior design (I don't like it too)
-Not trying to be biased here, but nothing comes up anymore

Prius HSD is about efficiency, though performance aren't really lacking with all that torque from the electric motor, but it isn't exactly cutting everyone else too.

Your $$$, your choice

any more flaming & poisoning?? xD

I was in your situation, between Fiesta and Inspira.

Although in the end I choose the Ford, but sometimes I see an Inspira on the road I wish I bought the Inspira instead.

But I know if I bought the Inspira, everytime I see a Fiesta on the road I will wish I bought a Fiesta.

It's a lose-lose situation  In cantonese parlance, I'm very fan-jin 犯贱

if possible , you wish you have bought both.

I was in your situation, between Fiesta and Inspira.

Although in the end I choose the Ford, but sometimes I see an Inspira on the road I wish I bought the Inspira instead.

But I know if I bought the Inspira, everytime I see a Fiesta on the road I will wish I bought a Fiesta.

It's a lose-lose situation  In cantonese parlance, I'm very fan-jin 犯贱

I was in your situation, between Fiesta and Inspira.

Although in the end I choose the Ford, but sometimes I see an Inspira on the road I wish I bought the Inspira instead.

But I know if I bought the Inspira, everytime I see a Fiesta on the road I will wish I bought a Fiesta.

It's a lose-lose situation  In cantonese parlance, I'm very fan-jin 犯贱

u got problem izit, ford vs proton still need to consider, of coz ford la    handling good yo...

But the Proton is a much bigger car, different segment, and it probably also will handle quite good, right?

I don't think it is so easy to decide which one to go for.

But the Proton is a much bigger car, different segment, and it probably also will handle quite good, right?

I don't think it is so easy to decide which one to go for.

i actually drove my fren's fiesta 1.4 few times, stock handling wise quite good, very agile , but steering feel too light.
suspension quite stiff, even more bumpy after he changed to 205/45r16    during high speed cornering time, dont know why the rear keep jumping, may b too light , i got no idea.

inspira stock wise , handling truly meant to be comfort. stock suspension setup too much body roll, but steering feel not bad due to hydraulic type power steering.

U made the right choice.. Inspira is a proton anyway

u got problem izit, ford vs proton still need to consider, of coz ford la    handling good yo...

But the Proton is a much bigger car, different segment, and it probably also will handle quite good, right?

I don't think it is so easy to decide which one to go for.

For some ppl. The badge is the barrier.
Dares, I am not saying u. Muahahaha

i actually drove my fren's fiesta 1.4 few times, stock handling wise quite good, very agile , but steering feel too light.
suspension quite stiff, even more bumpy after he changed to 205/45r16    during high speed cornering time, dont know why the rear keep jumping, may b too light , i got no idea.

inspira stock wise , handling truly meant to be comfort. stock suspension setup too much body roll, but steering feel not bad due to hydraulic type power steering.

U sure u are a fair non bias reviewer?
I prefer the fair and non bias reviewer ..

Fiesta 1.6 S has different suspension than Fiesta 1.4 LX, but the rear hops as well when cornering on uneven roads. I blame the stiff suspension and the torsion beam