Buying a Hybrid Car?



Hybrid cars and hybrid SUVs are beoming more plentiful. Here are some articles that will help you compare the hybrid car and hybrid SUV choices. Here's a quick comparison of hybrid cars and hybrid SUVs. The comparison of the hybrids includes:

• the hybrid's name
• EPA gas mileage estimate for city
• EPA gas mileage estimate for highway
• the hybrid's Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).
• The hybrid with the highest fuel economy is on the top of the chart, the hybrid with the lowest fuel economy is at the bottom.
• As you might expect, the two-seat Honda Insight tops the list again, as it has since it's inception.
• As you might also expect, hybid SUVs are at the bottom of the list; the 4 wheel drive version of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Lexus RX 400h. But remember, these SUV are still getting 31 city and 27 hwy, that's pretty darn good for an SUV.

• There are purchase incentives for Hybrid vehicle owners (varies by state).
• There's a federal tax deduction for Hybrid buyers. (In 2004, hybrid vehicle buyers received a $1,500 federal tax break.)
• Drivers don't need to change their habits at all. You don't have to learn anything or do anything different to drive a Hybrid.
• You won't have a guilty conscience for polluting the environment - Hybrids emit up to 97% less toxic emissions and half as much greenhouse-causing carbon dioxide as the average car.
• Their novelty is fun - hybrids are the latest and greatest "gadgets" to have in the automotive world.
• Mileage is noticeably higher, anywhere from 8-10% or 2-3 mpg.
• Hybrids are just as safe as their non-hybrid counterparts. The fact that they run on electricity as well as gas has no bearing on their safety.
• The performance of Hybrids is improving more and more with each passing year, so their efficiency and improvements look bright for the future. You could experience faster commute times due to the ability to drive Hybrids in HOV lanes in some states.
• The Hybrid's battery pack never needs to be charged from an external source - it gets recharged during regenerative braking and by the gasoline engine when necessary. Most Hybrids have special warranty provisions that cover costly add-ons like the battery pack and electric motor.
• Due to a smaller engine, and lightweight materials used in manufacturing Hybrids, they tend to weigh less than their non-Hybrid counterparts Hybrids can run on alternative fuels, decreasing our dependency on fossil fuels, and increasing the fuel options.
• They're politically correct in any circle.