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Choosing a Hybrid CarHybrid 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. Hybrid Cars are rightly called the cars of future. With the fuel problems of the world getting graver by and by, the emergence of hybrid cars seems to be a feasible option to the conventional ones. The use of hybrid cars is being promoted all across the world and the potential car buyer is getting inclined more and more towards this eco-friendly option. If you are one of them, here are a few things you have to keep in mind while choosing a hybrid car for you. The price You should accept the fact that hybrid car is a dear deal at present. Though highly advantageous, hybrid cars prove high on pocket. As compared to the conventional gasoline vehicles hybrid cars cost $3000 to $5000 more and come with the price tag ranging from $19,000 top $50,000. The cheapest among the hybrids is the Honda Insight which costs around $18200 followed by Toyota Prius ranging from $22,800 to $28070. The price tag for two wheel models of Ford Escape starts from $26,000 and that for four wheel drive models starts from $28000. Honda Accord is a bit dearer a deal which costs $ 30,000. The all new RX 400h from Lexus comes for considerable $48,500 and ensures its place at the higher end of the price chart. However, these price tags change from state to state. When you decide to buy a new hybrid car, fix your budget first and then you have loads of options to choose from depending on your needs and preferences. The size When it comes to selecting a hybrid car model, the size of the car is indeed one of the deciding factors. There are many car models available in the market which come with enough leg room, head space and boot space. The selection of the hybrid car model will depend on the number of passengers that will be traveling in the vehicle and then you should go for the model that would meet your needs. For example, the Honda Insight is a car with trendy and sporty looks; but can accommodate only two passengers and so cannot serve as an ideal family car even if it is exceptionally fuel efficient. 5 passengers can sit in the 2004 model of Toyota Prius hybrid hatchback. The 2000 model was less roomy and the former has been the most popular hatchback hybrid version till now. If we think about Honda Civic, it is compact sedan which can merrily accommodate 5 passengers. The car has been designed with same exterior and interior features but the trunk in the hybrid version is just a bit smaller and the battery pack occupies the space instead. Your Normal Driving Habits This is one of the most important points you should consider while choosing your desired hybrid car model. Just think about your normal diving habits. You have to figure out your daily travel; whether you need the vehicle for short distance travel or for the long drives. This will help you decide the car model depending upon the average it offers. Comparison There are a number of websites dealing with the comparison between the different models of hybrid cars, trucks and SUVs. You get the detailed information regarding the exterior and interior features, fuel efficiencies and prices of different variants of these hybrid vehicles. The government and consumer websites are the best in this regard as you can get the most authentic information there. Gas Mileage Mileage is the most important criterion that decides which hybrid model you should go for. The leading car manufacturers are trying to build cars that would be more and more efficient in terms of mileage. A hybrid car proves to be far more efficient than the conventional car at the outset. Hybrid cars have a mechanism whereby the power during braking which otherwise would have got wasted, gets stored in the car battery and can be used when needed which helps the vehicle offer more mileage than the conventional vehicles. Just to make your search for model giving impressive mileage easier, here are a few options. The best model in terms of mileage today is the Honda Insight with about 60 mpg in cities and 66 mpg on the highway as per the EPA estimates. Exceptionally the Toyota Prius gives more mileage on the urban roads than on highways. The reason is crystal clear. In the stop-and-go conditions of the city the fuel saving technology in Prius is used more than the highway conditions. EPA estimates in the city is 60 mpg and 51 mpg on the highway. In case of the Civic Hybrid you get 46 miles on urban roads and 51 miles on highways and Accord Hybrid offers the average of 29 and 37 mpg respectively. These numbers are indeed much more impressive than the conventional counterparts. Hybrid SUVs are the vehicles that belong to the lowest mileage class with the Ford Escape offering 36 mpg in the city and 31mpg on the highways. The Lexus RX 400h comes up with 28 mpg in city and 30 mpg on the highway. Looks The exterior and the interior features of the hybrid car is yet another important point to think of when it comes to choosing the hybrid option of your choice. Owning a hybrid car in itself is a prestige issue at least as of now as it proves you to be conscious of environmental conservation. However, even while choosing from various hybrid models, you should go for the most elegant make which would catch the eye of all at the outset. These are some of the criteria that would help you choose the right option from the list of tempting hybrid car models. I am sure they will make your choice easier than even before. | ||
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Hybrid Car Links
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