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What You Should Know Before Buying a Hybrid September 20041. Advertised mileage is a pipe dream.In Consumer Reports road tests, the Civic Hybrid got only 26 mpg in the city46 percent below the estimated EPA rating. But both carmakers and the EPA say the discrepancy is the result of the EPAs 19-year-old lab-based mileage tests, which dont accurately simulate real-world driving. 2. You might have to wait. The Toyota Prius is currently the hardest car to find on an auto lot, with a three- to six-month wait list. Other hybrids arent as rare, but theyre still scarce enough that you probably wont get any special deals. 3. Its not about the money. Even with gas savings and tax breaks, it could take you eight years or more to recoup a hybrids higher sticker price. Youd have to drive the Honda Civic Hybrid more than 140,000 miles just to break even with the cheaper Civic EX. 4. Resale is tougher. Because the technology is still rapidly evolving, hybrids are likely to depreciate more quickly than conventional cars. To gauge what youll get in five years, check out the True Cost to Own calculator at edmunds.com. 5. Theyre not so hot in the cold. Toyota found that the Prius got 26 percent worse mileage at 20°F than it did at 75°F, because chemical reactions in the battery happen more slowly when the mercury dips. SOURCE: Popular Science | ||
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