If you are in the market for a new hybrid vehicle, a vehicle comparison is a difficult and daunting task. With all the new styles and technology that is hitting the markets in recent years, sometimes it makes your head swim just to gather data on the most popular models. This article puts the information for the 5 most requested hybrid vehicles all in one place so you can make an informed vehicle comparison.
Hyundai Hybrid
Hyundai came late to the hybrid party with their offering, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. This 4-door sedan offers a 209 horsepower output and is the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s top safety pick. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offers a lithium-ion battery system, gasoline direct injection (GDI), Hyundai’s Blue Drive system, a six speed automatic transmission, and an awesome and stylish look. The Hyundai Hybrid Sonata offers 35 miles per gallon in city and 40 miles per gallon highway driving. This great little hybrid starts at just $26,700.
Nissan Hybrid
Nissan only brought one offering to the hybrid consumer table. The Nissan Altima Hybrid is the one and only vehicle from Nissan that is a hybrid car. Nissan licensed the Toyota hybrid technology and adjusted it just a little bit. Then they put that hybrid system into their most popular selling car of all time, the Nissan Altima. The result is a good looking, popular, and clean machine. This car was only offered in 9 states when it was first released and was never offered by dealers in other states. The Nissan Altima Hybrid looks sporty and fun. Delivering 198 horsepower and 33 miles per gallon, this car is a sure crowd pleaser. The base model of the Nissan Altima Hybrid starts around $26,800. You can add Special Edition Packages of varying levels and top out your Nissan Altima Hybrid at $35,000. The Altima Hybrid has 6 air bags, the LATCH system for ease of use with child safety seats, the Vehicle Dynamic Control System, Traction Control System, and the Electronic Brake force Distribution system. With all this class and safety, Nissan Altima Hybrid looks pretty good.
Hybrid Vans
Consumers all over the world have been clamoring for hybrid vans since the first hybrid vehicles were introduced. While there are currently no hybrid vans available in the United States, Toyota has released a hybrid van in Japan. Toyota has announced they are slated to release the Toyota Sienna Hybrid in Europe in the next few years, followed shortly after by the release of the vehicle in the United States. The Toyota Sienna Hybrid was released in Japan as a pilot and was called the Toyota Estima. It averages about 40 miles per gallon and seats 8. The Toyota Sienna Hybrid will start around $27,000.
While it may be a few years before the Toyota Sienna Hybrid is available in the United States, there are a few fuel efficient vehicles to compare that are currently available in the states. The Mazda 5 minivan, while not a hybrid, gets about 22 miles per gallon in city and 28 miles per gallon highway driving and starts around $18,000. The Dodge Caravan E85 runs off of ethanol alternative fuel and starts at $22,400. Toyota has a new member of the Prius family, the Prius V. This car has sort of a station wagon design with a Prius ‘updated’ feel to it. The Prius V boasts 42 miles per gallon in city and 38 miles per gallon on the highways. Volvo is currently working on their V70 Plug-In Hybrid. This van will run on diesel fuel and also have a lithium-ion battery.
Mercedes Hybrid
Mercedes takes the word ‘vehicle’ to an all new level. The Mercedes S400 Hybrid Sedan starts at $91,850. It delivers 295 horses and offers 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway. The Mercedes S400 Hybrid Sedan has ultra-low emissions and recuperates energy while the vehicle is breaking. The S400 Hybrid has a 7 speed automatic transmission with closely spaced gear ratios that provide close to perfect responses in varying situations while driving. The steering wheel of the Mercedes S400 Hybrid Sedan has a Paddle Shifter directly behind it so you can shift your transmission up or down with a simple movement of your hand while driving.
The driving system on the Mercedes S400 is amazing. The air system in the semi-active suspension allows for sport or comfort settings. The sport setting lowers the car closer to the ground, creating an aerodynamic vehicle that handles better on the corners and at higher speeds. The comfort level automatically adds more air to the suspension for a smoother ride. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) provides automatic adjustments of the brakes and wheels while you drive. The ESP system also recognizes when you may be approaching a driving situation and reduces power to the engine, while adjusting your brakes and wheels to help you avoid an accident.
Personal Vehicle Comparison
Buying a new car can be a daunting task. Luckily, if you’re perusing the hybrid market, you don’t have hundreds and hundreds to choose from, just a few hybrid vehicle comparisons to make. The Toyota Prius is the most popular and most fuel efficient vehicle on the market today. However, many people don’t care for the egg-shaped body style of the Toyota Prius or the Honda Insight. Now, there are many styles and price ranges to choose from.
If your main concern is gas mileage, you would want to choose a Toyota Prius or the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. If your main concern as a consumer is the price, then you might want to pick a lower end vehicle that might not be as attractive as others. These cars would include the Toyota Prius or the Honda Insight which run right around the $20,000 mark. The Honda Civic Hybrid and the Chevy Malibu Hybrid both start around $25,000 and the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Saturn Aura Hybrid start in the $26,000 range. With all of these hybrids to look at, vehicle comparison comes down to how many passengers do you need room for and where do you want to go.
Learning The Pros And Cons Of Hybrid Cars
Since 1999 when the Honda Insight hit the car markets, consumers have been fascinated with the fuel efficiency these vehicles offer. With the ever rising gas prices, hybrids reached huge popularity in 2007, with over 350 thousand hybrid vehicles sold. Since its introduction in 2000, the Toyota Prius has been the most popular model of hybrid vehicle every year. But what are the hybrid cars pros and cons? Is a hybrid car right for you?
Pros of Owning a Hybrid Car
Hybrid cars are steadily making headway in the vehicle arena. As more and more people become environmentally conscious, the hybrid vehicle becomes more attractive because of its extremely low emissions and small carbon footprint. Hybrid cars have both a gas and an electric engine, resulting in the gas engine only being used when necessary. For the most part, the car runs on the electric engine. When stopped with the engine running, the gas engine kicks in to charge the battery on the electric engine. Because of this dual engine technology, the hybrid vehicle never needs to be plugged in like other electric vehicles.
In addition to a low emissions level, the hybrid vehicle uses much less gasoline than a regular gas engine car does. Not only is this better for the environment and natural resource reserves, but it costs a lot less to drive as well. With gasoline being close to $4 or $5 in some places, a car that uses considerably less gas is quite attractive to drivers all over the world. Depending on how much you drive, you could save hundreds of dollars on gasoline purchases every year just by driving a hybrid car.
When hybrid vehicles first came out, the United States government offered tax breaks on those who purchased the fuel efficient cars. That particular tax break has since expired in December 2010. However, many states took the hint and began offering their own tax breaks for purchasing an environmentally friendly car.
A lot of states are now offering reduced insurance premiums for hybrid vehicle drivers as well as offering licensing reductions for hybrids. Owning a hybrid could save you money at the pump, the insurance office, and the local Department of Motor Vehicles.
Cons of Owning a Hybrid Vehicle
When looking at hybrid Cars pros and cons, the biggest con with owning a hybrid would be the battery replacement. The batteries that are used to power the electric engine in a hybrid vehicle are high-voltage and only last about 10 years. This would not be such a big deal if the battery didn’t cost $4,000 or more to replace. For some models of hybrid cars, the batteries are hard to find and can cost much more than $4,000. Even if you are saving a few hundred dollars on gas usage per year, it would take several years to save up enough to pay for the battery when it dies. Some consumers and experts argue that the hybrid ends up costing the same as a regular vehicle in maintenance and gas usage costs.
The battery is also cause for concern on another front. As if replacement of the expensive battery wasn’t enough, the batteries are extremely high-voltage and cause intense damage to a person in a collision. The battery is placed in the rear of the car, so if the consumer is rear-ended, there is a chance the battery could be shoved to the front of the car and electrocute the passengers or driver of the car. Emergency response teams are now being trained to handle hybrid vehicle accidents so they do not get electrocuted while extracting a rider from the car.
Vehicles that run on alternative fuel are more expensive than traditional vehicles. A Toyota Camry sells for an average starting price of $20,195. While the Toyota Camry Hybrid starts at $27,050 according to Toyota.com. That’s $6,855 more for a hybrid.
Hybrid vehicles are starting to be seen on used car lots now. While this is great for someone wanting to purchase a hybrid vehicle at a steal of a price, there are major things to consider when purchasing a used hybrid car. If the car is several years old, the life of the battery needs to be considered. As expensive as they are to replace, a good deal on a car is not worth it if you will need to immediately replace the battery at $4,000 or more.
Another down side to purchasing a hybrid car is that the resale value is much lower on a hybrid than on a non-hybrid vehicle. While this continues to change as hybrids become more popular, hybrid vehicles are seen as a risk to used car dealers because of the battery life as well as newer technology cars on the verge of release. Different sources vary on the amount of money a used hybrid will bring you on a trade in, but the consensus is that a hybrid will bring you much less on a trade in than a conventional car.
Deciphering Hybrid Cars Pros And Cons
The differences between a hybrid vehicle and a traditional vehicle make the choice hard. The world is becoming more environmentally conscious every day. New technologies are being worked on right now for the next fuel efficient car. Hybrids are a great start to making our environment healthier, saving money on gas and other expenses, and making the drive to work a little quieter.
As more and more hybrid models become available, the decision to purchase a hybrid becomes even more exciting. With so many body styles, seating options, and colors to choose from, consumers can definitely cruise the country in style while still saving money and the environment. Even Cadillac is taking the hint and presenting hybrid options of their most popular luxury vehicles for purchase. While the hybrid Cadillac Escalade only offers up improved miles per gallon of 20 in the city and 23 on the highway, it is an improvement from the traditional Escalade that offers 14 miles per gallon driving in the city and 18 miles per gallon on the highway. While it doesn’t sound like much, every little bit helps and it’s a step in the right direction. Compare the hybrid cars pros and cons and take a step in the right direction.