Top 5 Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars combine the conventional car system with rechargeable energy to achieve what many people feel is the “best of both worlds” from their car, a vehicle that’s not only economic and environmentally friendly, but also doesn’t suffer from the drawbacks of all electric cars, such as poor range. Hybrid cars have been growing in popularity since the first units rolled off the production lines, but that’s also meant that a lot more manufacturers and models are giving the technology a try. With so much choice, many consumers might find their first hybrid car purchase to be a little daunting, so here are some of the top choices when it comes to buying a hybrid car today or in the near future.
The Toyota Prius
It might sound like an obvious choice, but there’s a good reason the Prius is still the best hybrid car available. It’s been labeled as the most fuel efficient car in the US, as well as one of the cleanest vehicles available. Toyota announced last year that worldwide sales of the Prius had crossed the one million mark, and the car is still going strong. Its name is synonymous with hybrid cars in both the US and Japan, and is sold in more than forty countries worldwide.
The Prius is currently in its 3rd generation with the NHW20, the second generation of the car to be sold in the United States. However, the new ZVW30 Model is coming out this year. The new model features a more efficient body design, and, incredibly, improves even further on fuel efficiency of the older model. The new Prius can achieve up to 50mpg, 4mpg more than previously. It’s also faster; total horsepower is 134hp from both engines combined, compared to the third generation’s 110. The upgraded 1.8 liter gasoline engine further improves the fuel economy of the car because it requires no belts at all.
You can find more information about the new model of the Prius, which will be out later in 2009, at: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=126123
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Voted Car of the Year in Family Sedans by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada in 2007, the Camry is an incredibly popular choice. It’s also economically sound; the price between a hybrid and non-hybrid version of the Camry is so negligible that the usual decision of having to weigh spending more cash on a hybrid instead of buying an electric car isn’t one you’ll have to worry about.
The Camry Hybrid features a combined engine power of 187hp, helped along by an impressive 2.4 liter four cylinder engine, which allows the car to go from zero to 60 in a quick 8.4 seconds. It also has a healthy fuel economy of around 34mpg, and its gasoline engine is the cleanest possible in terms of air pollution, so it’s environmentally sound as well. For more information, see: http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/camryhybrid/2009/review.
Honda Insight
The 2010 model of the Insight has had some significant changes over the older model, and it’s set to make the car an even more popular choice for hybrid buyers. The car has moved from a two door model to a four door hatchback, and it uses Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist, which allows the Insight to run at speeds up to 30mph without any help from the gas engine.
Making the Insight larger and increasing its capacity has made it a far more useful prospect from most car buyers, now rivaling the Prius for price vs. fuel economy. Although the Insight isn’t as fast as a Prius, it remains an incredibly respectable mpg, going well above 40 in many road tests. It’s also a few thousand dollars cheaper than a Prius, making it the perfect choice for people not willing to spend quite as much of that initial large cost on their first hybrid, but still wanting excellent fuel economy.
The Insight is available as a base LX model or a slightly more featured EX trim. It’s out later in 2009, and you can find more information at: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=139686
Nissan Altima Hybrid
The 2009 Altima is an excellent choice for people that want to own a hybrid with a little more kick and personality than the other models available. Although the 2009 model remains unchanged, the Altima’s excellent design and sport-style handling still make it a potential contender for anyone buying a new hybrid. The Altima has also been tagged the hybrid for people that don’t want hybrids – an excellent, economical car, but with a design and driving style so similar to a gas car that it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference.
Thanks to a licensing agreement between the two companies, the Altima shares many of its parts with the Toyota Camry. It has a Nissan engine however, and with a 2.5 liter four cylinder gas engine under the hood, it actually has superior acceleration without sacrificing the fuel economy of around 34mpg, far better than the 23-31mpg offered by the non-hybrid model.
The 2009 model is out now, but it’s currently only available in states that have adopted California’s higher emission standards. Further information can be found at: http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/altimahybrid/2009/review.html
Ford Escape Hybrid
Hybrid SUVs may be the killer automobile of the next decade, convincing many families of the potential of the hybrid car without the worry that their designs will be too compact for their day-to-day lifestyle. The Ford Escape was the first SUV Hybrid ever, and while it might have competition these days, it’s still on top.
The current hybrid is still the most fuel efficient SUV on the market today, delivering close to 30mpg – far better than the average all-gas car of the same size. Unfortunately, the car's unibody construction and all-wheel-drive system are limiting to anybody who would like to take the car off-road. Still, with a combined horsepower of 177, the Escape Hybrid is actually faster than the regular four cylinder Escape!
The Escape Hybrid has remained mostly unchanged since the original 2005 model when Ford decided to update the entire line, hybrid included, although this has mostly included interior and design tweaks rather than any major changes to the car systems, but if something isn’t broke, why fix it?
Please visit the following link for more information: http://www.edmunds.com/ford/escapehybrid/review.html
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