Hybrid Car Comparison: Hybrid Idols
I know you’re feeling the competition. The things are starting to heat up and everyone is on the edges of their seats as the competitors line up and show their stuff. Hold on a second; don’t get confused, we’re not talking about the Olympic or a new season of American Idol. Taking the center stage is the new set of road rovers, they are called the hybrids. Let me clarify, they are not mutated humans who shoot acids out of their body or shapeshift and transform their arms into weapons. They are simply — cars.
The increasing demand for environment friendly automobile and non stop gas price hikes paved the way for intensive development of hybrid vehicles. Currently there are more than 20 hybrid models to choose from and few more to be released in the next couple of years. Now that’s heaps of assignment to be done if you are planning to get a piece of the hybrid experience.
So let us narrow things down to help you decide on what exactly fits you.
Fuel Efficiency
The two main banners of hybrid cars are fuel efficiency and tailpipe emission rating. Fuel efficiency is rated by number of miles per gallon or mpg. This figure varies on the road conditions and situations. Fuel consumption in the city is totally different from cruising down a highway. Another consideration is the volume of vehicles in a certain location. Now let us check some of the most fuel efficient hybrids out there.
Topping the list is Toyota Prius, hailed as the most fuel efficient mass-produced car in the market today. It has a combined rating of 46 mpg for city and highway driving. Honda Civic Hybrid is a close second placer with combined 42 mpg rating. And for a decent third is the new comer Nissan Altima Hybrid with 34 mpg.
Emission Rating
Emission rating is a category that tests the level evaporative emission from its fuel engine. Low emission vehicles are granted with a title of PZEV or Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle, a title almost automatically awarded to hybrid vehicles due to the electric motor installed with it. Some vehicles can be awarded with a better rating called AT-PZEV or Advanced Technology PZEV. But the highest honor is called SULEV or the Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle. Here is a short selection of low tailpipe emission vehicles.
For a company, it’s the Lexus that gets the upper hand in this category. All their hybrid cars are certified SULEV. Just don’t look at their fuel mileage because it’s a disappointing under 25 mpg. The second cleanest car is inside the Nissans garage. The Altima Hybrid is rated AT-PZEV. And the rest will settle for the third with PZEV.
Net Power and Acceleration
For the skeptics, it’s the part that they scrutinize the most. Is the power really compromised in bringing an environment friendly vehicle?
Since a hybrid uses two power sources, the power analysis will be the combined or net power of the two sources. The winners in this leg are the Lexus. The Lexus LS 600h L lead the way in the daylight at 430 hp. Now that’s a lot of power on 5-liter V8 engine. That is as powerful as 6-liter V12, while its acceleration from 0-60 distance is an impressive 5 seconds. Just right behind is its comrade Lexus GS 450h. This dude generates 339 hp coming from the two sources, the gas engine powers 208 hp and the electric motor powers 197 hp and a 0-6- performance of 5.3 seconds. Last on this category is the Nissan’s Altima Hybrid with 198 hp with acceleration of 9 seconds.
Price
Now, this is where the real deal comes in. How much do they cost?
Although a number of tax incentives are given to these types of cars, they are still pricey toys. The cheapest among them is the Toyota Prius with retail price of $21,300 and by far holds the most number of units sold. Next is its close competitor from Honda, the Civic Hybrid with the tag price of $22,600. And capping off the list is the Nissan’s Altima Hybrid sold at $25,100.
So overall the, based from this short analysis on hybrids, Nissan Altima Hybrid looks very competitive in everyway. But there is no better way than having a test drive by yourself and experience first hand the hybrid craze.
