Five on Friday: Top Five Hybrids
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It’s becoming more necessary than innovative or trendy for car makers to release hybrid vehicles of their top sellers, and in the next few years, it’s likely that even more hybrid models will be available. Even BMW uses some hybrid technology, though they don’t call it that, or market it as such.
So what are the top five hybrids currently available?
Here’s our list:
- Toyota Prius - it accounts for half of all hybrids sold, even though it wasn’t first on the market (Honda has that honor). It’s also the most aerodynamic of all the hybrids, with only a 0.26 drag co-efficient. Fuel efficiency: 55 mpg (combined).
- Honda Civic Hybrid - the Prius’s closest runner up, the Honda is smaller, and not as comfortable inside, or as aerodynamically designed. Still, it averages 50 mpg.
- Nissan Altima Hybrid - its only available in eight states right now, which is too bad because not only does it get a respectable 39 mpg, it’s also got a 20-gallon gas tank, making it possible to go about 700 miles between fuel stops.
- Toyota Camry Hybrid - it’s ironic that the Camry ranks below the Altima in terms of emissions control, because they both use a Toyota engine, but it’s true. What’s also true is that, like the Altima it gets about 39 mpg, and unlike the Prius it’s shaped like a normal car, and not a compact car either.
- Ford Escape Hybrid - yes, it’s an SUV. Yes, it’s a hybrid as well. The FWD version gets 34 mpg, while the 4WD model gets a still-impressive (for an SUV) 31 mpg. It’s also been re-designed for the 2008 model year, to be quieter inside. Never a bad thing.
Those are my top five. What are yours? Would you buy a hybrid? Why or why not?
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