Hybrid car buyer's guide: Which hybrid vehicle is best for you?
So you've decided that you want to do something to reduce foreign oil-dependency, or to help the environment. Maybe you're just a technology buff and you believe that hybrid cars are a bridge to fuel cells. The point is, you have your reasons for buying a hybrid, but not all hybrids address those issues equally.
So, why do you want a hybrid?
If you want to use as little gas as possible, then the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic hybrid are best. These hybrid vehicles look very different and feel very different. Additionally, leases are available for Civic hybrids, but not for the Prius. Both hybrids are in the same price range, but the Prius is a bit of a better performer.
Perhaps a car just isn't an option. You need an SUV. Fortunately for you, the hybrid SUV segment offers the most choices. You won't save nearly as much gas as with the Prius or Civic hybrid, but the Ford Escape hybrid is the most fuel efficient hybrid SUV. This June, the Toyota Highlander hybrid will come to market, offering slightly less fuel efficiency than the Escape, but more seating and more power.
For a large family, the Highlander hybrid is probably the best choice because it will seat up to seven.
The Lexus RX400h hybrid SUV is the least efficient of the SUV bunch, but by far the most powerful, as well as the most luxurious. This luxury hybrid is faster than its conventional cousin, significantly more fuel efficient, and emits far less pollution. Of course this performance has costs and the hybrid Lexus is priced over $10,000 more than a standard RX330.
The Honda Accord hybrid is a different breed of hybrid, but it is best of breed when it comes to Accords. Just as the RX400h, the Accord hybrid is faster, more powerful, and significantly more fuel efficient than its conventional cousin. In urban, stop-and-go traffic, the hybrid Accord is the least efficient of all the hybrids. This hybrid is a highway vehicle.
Each one of these hybrids is a good investment in the future. On average, with tax credits and 6 years of driving you'll recover your hybrid costs, and you'll have helped make the world a better place.
Can you really put a price on that?
So, why do you want a hybrid?
If you want to use as little gas as possible, then the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic hybrid are best. These hybrid vehicles look very different and feel very different. Additionally, leases are available for Civic hybrids, but not for the Prius. Both hybrids are in the same price range, but the Prius is a bit of a better performer.
Perhaps a car just isn't an option. You need an SUV. Fortunately for you, the hybrid SUV segment offers the most choices. You won't save nearly as much gas as with the Prius or Civic hybrid, but the Ford Escape hybrid is the most fuel efficient hybrid SUV. This June, the Toyota Highlander hybrid will come to market, offering slightly less fuel efficiency than the Escape, but more seating and more power.
For a large family, the Highlander hybrid is probably the best choice because it will seat up to seven.
The Lexus RX400h hybrid SUV is the least efficient of the SUV bunch, but by far the most powerful, as well as the most luxurious. This luxury hybrid is faster than its conventional cousin, significantly more fuel efficient, and emits far less pollution. Of course this performance has costs and the hybrid Lexus is priced over $10,000 more than a standard RX330.
The Honda Accord hybrid is a different breed of hybrid, but it is best of breed when it comes to Accords. Just as the RX400h, the Accord hybrid is faster, more powerful, and significantly more fuel efficient than its conventional cousin. In urban, stop-and-go traffic, the hybrid Accord is the least efficient of all the hybrids. This hybrid is a highway vehicle.
Each one of these hybrids is a good investment in the future. On average, with tax credits and 6 years of driving you'll recover your hybrid costs, and you'll have helped make the world a better place.
Can you really put a price on that?
Labels: Accord hybrid, Civic hybrid, Escape hybrid, Ford, Ford Escape hybrid, Foreign Oil Dependency, fuel cells, fuel efficiency, Highlander hybrid, Honda, Hybrid Vehicles, Lexus hybrid, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:25 AM
10 Comments:
Is the Honda Insight still in production? If so, it might still take top MPG honors.
The Insight is still in production and it is the most fuel efficient hybrid; however, it is a special order vehicle.
I also didn't rate the Chevrolet Silverado 'mild' hybrid because it barely qualifies as a hybrid.
I was so excited - I saw the link to "Hybrid Car Buyer's Guide". Great, I thought. Now I'll finally see all the pertinent stats in one place. To my dismay it was too good to believe.
So, why not include a very simple table that has the following columns for each hybrid: MPG city and highway, base cost, typical loaded cost, type of engine, interior volume, availability and comments.
Please, try a little harder because you do have a good site.
Sorry, Doug. For one thing, the "pertinent stats" as you put it, aren't really very realistic.
For example, Prius and Escape hybrids in some ares of the country have dealer add-on fees, so prices are dependant upon region.
Additionally, EPA fuel economy estimates are unreliable. The EPA is off by as much as 30% on all vehicles and hybrid fuel efficiency is dependant upon whether you drive in the city or on on the highway, as well as whether you drive in a hot or cold climate, like to put the pedal to the metal, etc.
While I did consider a table, I decided it was too misleading, especially since EPA estimates have been such a hotly debated item in the press and a table can't explain that issue - which is the fundamental point of hybrids.
I have been working on a revised Buyer's Guide, perhaps it will have a table.
I went hybrid shopping last month, mainly to confirm my intentions to buy a Prius. But I ended up buying the Accord hybrid. Why? I'm 6'4". When I got into the driver's seat of the Prius for a test drive, I discovered that it has a very large and very bothersome center console between the driver and passenger seats. I banged my right elbow against it. It seemed like a very poorly designed interior. Also, the vision out through the rear is so restricted that it really made me nervous. The combination of cramped driver's space and restricted vision left me feeling claustrophobic. It was a relief to get into an Accord, with a conventional, relatively roomy interior with good vision all round. I really wanted to do the right thing and get the Prius because of the great mileage, but I would have been miserable driving it.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Just because you didn't buy a Prius doesn't mean you didn't do the right thing.
You still bought a hybrid. You are still polluting less and using your consumer choices to ask for change, i.e., more fuel efficiency.
I'm only 6 feet tall, so I didn't have the same problem with the Prius interior. In fact, I thought the interior of the Prius is extremely well designed. My favorite is the dual glovebox.
Obviously, however, it is designed to everyone's liking. Perhaps the Prius just isn't a good vehicle for tall people.
The Accord hybrid is an excellent vehicle. Check out the post I made today, http://www.hybridcarblog.com/2005/12/another-reason-to-check-out-accord.html
"not designed to everyone's liking"
What kind of long does the batteries last on a hybred car, the Nissan for instance and what type of warranty does the manufacturer have on the batteries?
The batteries are meant to last as long as the cars.
There are already hybrids that have been on the road for 10 years, with well over 100,000 miles and few have had to be replaced.
the batteries since then have already gotten better.
more important, 10 years from now, it might make sense to replace your hybrids battery - not because you have to - but because the cost will be recovered via much better. battery technology is quickly developing.
Post a Comment
<< Home