Hot Hybrid Buyers Stories
What do you expect from your hybrid purchase?
So, you want to do something to help reduce foreign
oil-dependence, or to help the environment?
Maybe you're
just a technology buff and you believe that hybrid
cars are a bridge to fuel cell vehicles, or cost-effective plug-in vehicles?
Or, perhaps you are a hardcore city driver, progressing slowly through dozens of miles of tough urban congestion every day burning through gasoline as if its free. And you know, that a hybrid car isn't just cost-effective in your type of commute, but money-saving.
The point is, you
have your reasons for buying a hybrid, but not all
hybrid vehicles address those issues equally. The Hybrid
Cars Buying Guide is here to help.
So, why do you want a hybrid?
That's one of the
more important questions to ask when you are considering
a hybrid purchase.
Do you want to save money? Do you just want to reduce your CO2 emissions?
Probably the second most important
question to consider when buying a hybrid vehicle is, in
what kind of conditions will you be driving your hybrid? Mostly highway conditions, or mostly city?
Finally, are you looking for a hybrid compact, a hybrid
sedan, a hybrid SUV or truck, or a luxury hybrid?
For example, in terms of
driving conditions, if you are
mostly a highway driver, then some hybrids address that
type of driving better than others. On the other hand,
if your commute is made up of stop-and-go urban driving,
then other hybrids offer a better solution.
Or, if you want a hybrid truck or SUV, do you need towing capabilities? If so, how much do you need to tow?
Fuel Economy
If you want to use as little gas as possible, then the Toyota
Prius, Honda
Insight, and the Honda
Civic hybrid are best.
If you are willing to plug-in, then a plug-in hybrid like the Chevy Volt is the way to go.
If the Prius or Civic, and other compact hybrids,
are too small, check out the Ford
Fusion hybrid, the Toyota
Camry hybrid and the Nissan
Altima hybrid, or the recently added Hyundai Sonata hybrid and the Kia Optima hybrid which have hit the hybrid market with a lot of fanfare.
All of these hybrid sedans
often excellent fuel economy for their size, especially
the Fusion hybrid in the city, at least according to EPA estimates.
On the highway, however,
these hybrids are pretty equal, although the Sonata and Optima hybrids will offer the best highway fuel economy, although they give up a bit in the city compared to the hybrid competition.
As for SUVs, the Ford
Escape hybrid shines very brightly by simply blowing away the competition when it comes to fuel economy. (*** More hybrid SUVs and trucks will be covered later in the article, as this section is purely about greatest fuel efficiency).
And, finally, if you are looking for a sporty hybrid, the Honda CR-Z hybrid is now available.
So how do these hybrids compare?
The Prius is a
bit of a better performer, at least in terms of pure
fuel efficiency, compared to the Civic or Insight hybrids, especially in city driving or any form
of stop-and-go congestion.
The Prius, and all
Toyota hybrids, have larger hybrid batteries than Honda
hybrids, making them
capable of using only electric power at low speeds.
This is what helps make the Prius, and all Toyota
hybrids, so efficient in congestion. It also makes them
extremely green.
Since CO2 emissions are
the worst when idling in stop-and-go traffic,
full hybrids pollute very little in these conditions
because they essentially shut down.
This is why the Prius has become such a big hit with
environmentalists. It achieves incredible fuel economy
and an unbelievable reduction in CO2 emissions.
While the second generation Civic hybrid -- as well as the Insight hybrid -- did increase
the size of their hybrid batteries, both still offer less
electric power than the Prius. Nonetheless, if you drive
mostly on the highway - or at least at a consistent
speed, then the Honda Civic or Insight hybrids are
worthy Prius challengers.
In terms of pure cost-effectiveness, however, many studies have suggested that the Civic and Insight hybrids can actually be better deals than the Toyota Prius.
And the hybrid sedans
The Fusion hybrid is the most fuel efficient hybrid sedan overall, although tests by Consumer Reports indicate that real world fuel economy between the Fusion hybrid and the Camry hybrid are closer than what the EPA estimates.
On the other hand, the Altima hybrid probably provides the most sporty hybrid sedan experience, while the Sonata and Optima hybrids provide the best highway hybrid output.
In 2012 the Toyota Camry hybrid will be upgraded, so it will be interesting to see where the pits the Camry hybrid against this tough hybrid sedan competition.
