Safest Hybrids

One of the hottest trends in the automotive market today is the trend toward hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles. Hybrid cars, once the domain of millionaires with a conscience, are now being created by the thousands and shipped out to dealerships who are maintaining long waiting lists for these popular vehicles. While the hybrid car is taking the market by storm, there are a few hybrid car facts that can help the average consumer figure out why they are so popular.

The hybrid car has ascended to high popularity among new car buyers because of growing concerns about the effects of automobiles on the environment. As well, hybrid cars have become more popular among families and those concerned about the fluctuating cost of fuel and the future of the oil market throughout the world. A final hybrid car fact that helps explain its popularity is the increasingly sleek design and customization options offered by auto companies like Toyota and Honda.

Consumers need to consider a number of hybrid car facts and figures before leaping into the new world of hybrid vehicles. In any sector of the marketplace, consumers should be leery about investing large sums of money in the first generation of any new technology. As such, consumers should steer toward more established car companies with second or third generation hybrids. Furthermore, hybrid car safety, driver interface with the vehicle, and fuel efficiency are all very important considerations.


Toyota Prius

The king of the hybrid vehicle market to date is the Toyota Prius, with information available at http://www.toyota.com/prius/index.html?s_van=GM_TN_HYBRID_PRIUS. The Prius has been the favorite hybrid vehicle of celebrities like Seinfeld creator Larry David, and the model possesses the design to please those with an eye for vehicle aesthetics. However, the nice design of the Prius should not get in the way of its safety and fuel efficiency.

The Prius gets an average fuel efficiency of 44 miles per gallon, with electricity built up while braking in order to supplement gasoline usage. The Prius not only passes the environmental test with low emissions and low gas usage, but it is also highly rated by Consumer Reports for its impeccable standard safety package. Toyota offers optional side curtain air bags that add a bit more protection for the family. The Toyota Prius retails for around $24,000, and a waiting list of six months is common at Toyota dealerships.



Toyota Camry

Toyota’s Prius is not the only hybrid car in their expanding roster of vehicles. The Toyota Camry hybrid, which utilizes the same frame as the popular manual Camry, marries everything good about automobiles with the peace of mind needed for the safety conscious. The Camry hybrid receives high hybrid car ratings, with an average of 34 miles per gallon fuel efficiency and low emissions, making it an eco-friendly vehicle. In addition, great steering and high reliability make it safe for the whole family. The Toyota Camry hybrid is more readily available on the market, though it retails at nearly $30,000.


Honda Insight

While Toyota has been publicly growing a strong hybrid presence throughout the world, its main competitor Honda has excelled in quietly building a strong brand name. The Honda Insight is the motor company’s primary hybrid option and one of the first commercial hybrid vehicles on the American market. The Insight is the industry leader in low emissions and fuel efficiency, averaging about 51 miles per gallon of gasoline. The Insight also rates highly in car hybrid safety, with its fantastic steering system and durability. The Insight is being phased out by Honda’s other hybrid vehicles, though its low price of $22,000 MSRP is ideal for entry-level hybrid owners.


Honda Civic

One of the most popular cars over the last year has been Honda’s comfortable and durable Civic. The Honda Civic hybrid, available at http://automobiles.honda.com, is the popular company’s next line in the effort to create a sustainable brand name. The Civic hybrid passes a variety of hybrid car rating thresholds, including its generous 37 miles per gallon fuel efficiency. The Civic hybrid is one of the safest vehicles on the market, according to Consumer Reports in their 2006 review of new cars. Between ABS brakes, curtain air bags, and a durable frame, the Civic hybrid is the choice for the environmentally friendly family.


The Rest Of The Pack

There are a number of other hybrid cars that are vying for the same market share as those provided by Honda and Toyota. Ford Motors has gotten into the hybrid game, offering hybrid fleet vehicles in their now defunct Taurus model and their popular Escape SUV. Consumers should wait for the 2008 Escape model to allow Ford to really work the kinks out. Saturn Motor Company is also working on a hybrid version of their VUE SUV and its other cars. For those interested in alternatives to Toyota and Honda, these two companies seem to be the cutting edge of the major car companies providing commercially viable hybrids at present.