In the early 2000s, if you wanted to buy a hybrid car, it wasn't hard to make up your mind. After all, there were only one or two options.
But by 2010, there were 23 different models for hybrid and electric cars, and 108 different kinds of hybrid cars, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars and fuel cell vehicles are predicted to be on the road in 2015 (Hybrid Cars, 2010).
Today, people aren't only interested in hybrid cars, they want the best hybrid cars--and that involves a certain amount of personal and public research.
Before looking at the particulars of what makes the best hybrid cars so special, let's look at what hybrid cars are, and what they aren't. Hybrid cars aren't an instant cure for air pollution and global climate change; they won't give you 100 miles per gallon and get the United States off foreign oil overnight.
That said, hybrid cars can reduce vehicle emissions. For example, the Toyota Prius, frequently rated as one of the best hybrid cars, is estimated to produce less than half the carbon dioxide the Ford Taurus does--4,979 pounds a year, compared to 11,517 pounds (Hybrid Cars, 2011). It also cuts carbon monoxide production reduces hydrocarbons.
Hybrid cars can also greatly improve fuel economy, sometimes doubling it, depending on the kind of gas mileage you get now, and how you drive.
To find the best hybrid cars, determine your personal reasons for buying a hybrid car, and which reasons are most important. Here are some common reasons for going hybrid:
How you drive, and how much you drive, will also affect whether a hybrid car is right for you and, if so, which one. If getting off of oil and protecting the environment matter more to you than price, you might be drawn to one of the new all-electric cars. If price is more of a determining factor than MPG, maybe one of the new gas-electric hybrids will be the hybrid car for you.
Some new plug-in hybrids will travel for miles on electricity alone. The newest models can travel for 50 miles on an electrical charge that costs about 80 cents. People who drive less than 50 miles per outing could find this the right car.
However, if you mainly drive for long stretches on the highway, even the best hybrid cars might not give you significantly better mileage than a fuel efficient gas or diesel vehicle.
The key is to be clear on your needs, habits and priorities before you start looking at hybrid cars.
Cost is one of the issues that arise with hybrid cars, and it's true--hybrid cars can cost more. The question you need to ask yourself is: Is this extra hybrid car cost worth it?
For some drivers, the answer is "yes," due to the savings on gas, lower depreciation and the environmental and social benefits associated with hybrid cars. However, if you're purchasing a hybrid car and hoping to make up the extra cost quickly, pay special attention to the kind of hybrid you buy.
So-called "mild hybrids," which don't use an electrical engine and save fuel and reduce emissions by shutting off the engine, don't result in the fuel savings a full hybrid does.
Watch the price at the pump, too: The higher gas prices are, the more quickly you'll recover the increased hybrid car cost.
Keep in mind that as technology continues to evolve, and as more and more people buy hybrid cars, the premium hybrid care cost is likely to come down.
Hybrid cars are reported to have fewer over-all maintenance problems than other cars. Talk to your mechanic before buying a hybrid, as the types of maintenance issues you experience over time with a hybrid are different than those common to traditional cars.
Although batteries for hybrid cars are more expensive than gas engine car batteries, they're usually on warranty for at least eight years or 80,000 miles. Fans of hybrid cars point out that replacing a hybrid car battery costs about the same as replacing a transmission on a gas-powered vehicle.
Although the best hybrid cars have come a long way since the earlier models, hybrid cars are still not renowned for their space, visibility and performance capability. They're also not as plush inside as traditional vehicles.
The ride is different with hybrid cars, since they have smaller tires. This may be hard for some people to get used to, along with the way hybrid cars idle and stop.
Some of the best points about hybrid cars include:
Some of the negatives associated with hybrid cars include: