Raising the price of gas in recent years has made hybrid cars more attractive with each trip to the pump. Their promises of improved fuel economy, reduced environmental impact and cost are hard to resist.
But before you drive a hybrid off the lot waiting to change the world — or at least soften the blow to your gas budget — consider new discoveries from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The organization found that many hybrid models don't save consumers more money or as you might expect.
Engine power vs. price pump
It is important to understand what a hybrid motor vehicle really do it for you. Some will deliver strong fuel efficiency. But others apply new technology to give impetus to the power of the engine, thus offering less environmental benefit and improvement in fuel economy.
For fuel economy, Toyota Prius hybrid — the best-selling far — at the top of the list, with a combined city/highway rating of 50 miles per gallon. Next up are the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Honda Insight, with 41 mpg each, followed by the Ford Fusion hybrid and Hyundai Sonata hybrid, with 39 and 37, respectively. (Check out HybridCenter.org hybrid scorecard to see how other vehicles measure).
The Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, in comparison, both recorded 33 mpg on the highway. That is close to what I have with my trusty old non-hybrid Volkswagen.
That said, getting 33 miles per gallon overall is a significant improvement on many conventional vehicles these days, although 50 mpg obviously seem more convincing. However, in future, the Prius can look like a gas guzzler. Environmental advocates have called on the Government to adopt stronger fuel economy standard of at least 60 mpg for cars coming out in 2017 and later.
Hold your breath about this hybrid
Results vary greatly when measuring the vehicle smog and its contribution to global warming.
If you buy a Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid thinking you're doing the environment a big favor, think again. It is located at the bottom of the list of luxury vehicle, scoring a mere 3.0 to 10 — and only gets 21 mpg in the process. The Touareg hybrid emits even 10 percent less than their global warming pollution equivalent to its conventional counterpart.
Once again, the Prius tops this list, with a score of 9.2, generating about 40 percent less smog stuff that an auto adjust in its size and class. Is followed by the Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid, with a score of 7.2, and 6.5.
Get ready to shell out for ' features '
Finally, the Union of Concerned Scientists looked at the value of hybrids. After all, who wants to spend more than is reasonable for a set of wheels? Manufacturers of some hybrids their pack with "forced features" that you may opt to give up, but that you'll end up paying for it.
Luxury hybrid vehicles is not considered representative "very good" values include the Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Fusion hybrid and the Honda CR-Z. Six models were rated "poor", and the Chevy Silverado Hybrid 2WD and Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid were rated "very poor."
Vehicles just rated as "top" were luxury vehicles: Lexus CT 200 h, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid.
Other costs to consider hybrid
Convincing fuel economy and environmental impact are only part of the equation auto-purchase, regardless of whether you are watching a hybrid.
Total cost of ownership includes a car financing, fuel, repairs, maintenance and insurance. According to Edmunds.com, the Prius will cost a driver 2011 in Washington, D.C., $42,219, compared to $35,841 for the Honda Civic Hybrid and $37,094 for a conventional Toyota matrix.
You should also consider the "recovery" period — the time it will take to the fuel savings offset the extra cost of your hybrid over its conventional counterpart. According to Edmunds.com, the Prius is less than a year; for the Nissan Altima Hybrid, more than a decade.
Even for a car allegedly "green", which is a long time to wait to get back your greenbacks.
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