Best Hybrid Vehicles: Financially Speaking
No surprise the Prius is number oneCNN has put together a list of the most cost-effective hybrid vehicles based on data from Edmunds.com.
The study assumes steady gas prices and yearly mileage of 15,000 miles. However, a major flaw, in my opinion, is that there is no distinction based upon the type of driving that is done. For example, if you drive any of the full hybrids most often in urban traffic, then the cost effectiveness of these hybrids becomes even more effective. Thus, if you drive a Toyota Prius in predominantly city driving, then the Prius is an even better investment.
Likewise, the study is purely about costs. Thus, a hybrid doesn't have to really save any fuel, it's just about a hybrid's cost-effectiveness versus it's conventional counterpart. Even though, for example, the Malibu hybrid offers "only a modest fuel economy improvement", it ranks as number 2. Finish......
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
1:04 PM
3 Comments:
What is Edmunds comparing Highlander hybrid with? There is no V8 4.0L non-hybrid Highlander to compare with. Simply ignoring HyHi performance gain and calculating hybrid premium based on fuel saving alone is just silly.
The same goes for the Camry and Alima hybrids. Do they compare with V6 version or I4? I bet they choose the 4 cylinder version.
Why not compare V6 Camry and I4 Camry and calculate how long it will take for the extra 2 cylinder premium?
These nonsense comparison has to stop!
Dennis,
Obviously there are numerous problems with this study. Case in point, when the Malibu hybrid can come in 2nd, without providing a significant improvement in fuel economy, something just has to be wrong.
I think the new Malibu is a great looking car, and it will be a big hit and I advocate buying the hybrid version of the Malibu because it does get better gas mileage.
Nonetheless, the Malibu hybrid is not a great hybrid, nor a great financial move. The Malibu is a good hybrid.
For example, while the Malibu hybrid might pay for its cost before the Camry hybrid, it doesn't offer much value after costs are recovered.
Compare that to the Camry hybrid. Once hybrid costs are covered, then you are saving a significant amount of fuel every year after cost recovery - that's a real investment and a real cost-incentive.
Of course, how long will someone keep the car? More variables!!!
As you point out, there are just so many variables involved that its not easy to quantify the cost-effectiveness of hybrids.
Nonetheless, the study does provide some worthwhile data, but it should not be used as key determinant when considering a hybrid purchase.
Hydrogen economy and hydrogen fuel cell cars are surely great. But does any one realize that you need to have PGM metals, platinum and palladium, to have a hydrogen fuel cell economy?
Read it here! This is a great investment opportunity
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