Choosing Your Hybrid.

Hybrid cars are becoming the new rage in the auto market. With rising oil prices, buyers are looking out for ways they can save on their earnings. Thus, while choosing a car, more and more people are opting for hybrid cars.

The question is: Is ANY which hybrid car the right for you? The answer is no. There are several breeds of hybrid cars in the market today from sedans to SUVs to trucks. Choosing the car that best suits your requirement can be a tricky task. Here are a few pointers that may help you make a suitable choice.

The price: Hybrids cost $3,000 to $5,000 more than their conventional siblings. Hybrids are available in a range of $19,000 to $50,000. At the bottom of the range is the Honda Insight, followed by the ever popular Prius from Toyota. Ford's Escape Hybrid starts at $26,000 for two wheel drive and over $28,000 for the four wheel drive model. The Honda Accord is a little dearer at around $30,000. The RX400h from Lexus is at the higher end of the price chart, at $48,500. (Note: Prices may vary from state to state)

The size of the car is a key issue when choosing the right one. Take into consideration the number of persons that may occupy the car at the same time, The leg room, the boot capacity and overall space. These things have come into consideration due nowadays as more and more automakers have started making hybrids.

For example, the Honda Insight is a 2 passenger vehicle with sporty looks. This, though very fuel efficient, may hardly satisfy the needs of a family car.
The Honda Civic, on the other hand, is a is a compact sedan with a seating capacity of 5. It has the same outer as well as inner appearence as the conventional civic excluding the trunk which is a little smaller in the hybrid version as it is occupied by the battery pack.
The 2004 toyota prius is a 5 passenger hatchback that is a little more roomier than the earlier, 2000 model. It is one of the most popular hybrids till date.
The Honda accord hybrid is a mid-sized sedan which has a power packed 255 hp engine capable of high speeds.
SUVs were a rare commodity till recently when Ford introduced the Escape in 2004. Many new models are coming up such as the Toyota Highlander, Lexus RS 400h and the toyota Marnier.

Gas Mileage, Well, who doesn't need the mileage? Automakers are toiling hard to come up with cars that are more and more efficient in terms of mpg. As a matter of fact, any hybrid car would be more efficient than any other conventional car running on the road. The Honda Insight is the best car in terms of mileage, with EPA estimates at about 60 mpg and 66 mpg on the highway. The Prius from Toyota has the distinction of being one of the few cars that more efficient in the city than on the highway. The reason? The stop-and-go conditions of the city make more use of toyota's fuel saving technology than the highway conditions. EPA estimates give is 60 city mpg and 51 mpg on the highway. The Civic Hybrid gives 46/51 miles to the gallon in the city and on the highway respectively while the Accord Hybrid goes 29/37 mpg respectively. Clearly, these numbers are much more than their conventional counterparts. Hybrid SUVs fall in the lowest mileage class with the Escape from Ford at 36 city/31 highway. The Lexus RX 400h has estimates of 28 mpg in city and 30 mpg on the highway. Thus, making your choice can be a little easier taking into consideration your driving conditions.

Appearance. What kind of design one likes depends what statement he/she wants to set. The kind of statement one wishes to set depends on one's character. Why else do you think the Ferraris and the Porsches get customers?! Jokes apart, one has to decide for himself what car would best portray him as a person.

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