« Buy Used Hybrid Car | Home | Biodiesel Cars Available for Rent - Eco-friendly travel tip #2 »
2007 Hybrid Car
In the past, selecting and driving a hybrid car required the purchaser to make some sacrifices. The vehicles were typically smaller than a midsize sedan, did not carry a long list of creature comforts and often featured styling only an aerodynamics expert could love. For those not willing to make these sacrifices, the choices were vehicles with good mileage and vehicles with poor mileage. Great mileage was out of the picture. 2007’s lineup of available hybrid vehicles shows those choices are no longer necessary.
The Toyota Camry Hybrid is a roomy, five passenger sedan suitable for carting kids around or several business travelers. The deep, 10.6 cubic foot trunk easily accepts groceries or luggage. A powerful electric motor pairs with the 2.4 liter inline four-cylinder found in the standard Camry. This combination keeps the Toyota Camry Hybrid ahead of most 4-cylinder family sedans in terms of performance and on par with many six-cylinder family sedans while maintaining fuel mileages in the mid to upper 30’s.
The Nissan Altima Hybrid features a Toyota licensed Synergy drive. Toyota helped to develop the electric motor and computer controls. These are joined to a modified version of the 2.5 liter four-cylinder found in the standard, non-hybrid Nissan Altima. The combination yields a strong 198 horsepower that is then fed through a CVT, or continuously variable transmission out to handsome 16 inch wheels.
A strong point of the Honda Civic Hybrid for many is that, with the exception of a few gauges, the car is very similar to a standard Honda Civic, one of the best-selling compact cars in America. On the Honda Civic Hybrid, a powerful electric motor pairs with the 1.3 liter inline four-cylinder found in the standard Honda Civic. This results in a peak power output of 110 horsepower. The gasoline and electric motor feeds into a continuously variable transmission. This combination keeps the Honda Civic Hybrid on par with most 4-cylinder compact sedans in terms of performance while maintaining fuel mileages in the low 50’s.
The second generation Toyota Prius debuted in the 2004 model year with a four-door hatchback and seats up to five people. While the Prius’s hybrid powertrain has a 1.5-liter gasoline-fueled engine, drivers still have more than sufficient power, efficient fuel economy and reduced tailpipe emissions.
If it’s a SUV you’re looking for, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers an available 3rd row seat for seating up to 7 and all wheel drive to power through the mud and snow. The 288 volt battery and three electric motors add a hefty punch to the vehicle’s spirited 3.3 liter V-6. The combination adds up to a prodigious 268 horsepower while sipping gas at the rate of 31 miles per gallon highway and 27 miles per gallon in the city. That power gives the Toyota Highlander Hybrid the ability to tow up to 3500 pounds with authority.
The Saturn Vue Green Line uses a unique gasoline electric hybrid system. Termed a “mild” hybrid, the Saturn system eschews the complicated Synergy drive favored by Toyota. Instead, the Saturn Vue Green Lines starts with GM’s 2.4-liter Ecotec inline four-cylinder engine. This engine is then modified by removing the starter and alternator. A new 5-kilowatt starter-alternator is fitted to provide motor assist and battery charging capabilities. In addition, this unit also acts as the starter when battery power is applied and the engine is off. Battery power comes from a large 36-volt Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery located just below the floor of the cargo area. All in all, this approach yields a impressive mileage in the mid-30’s.
With so many versatile models to choose from, it’s clear to see that in 2007, the line between fuel efficiency and desirable cars has been erased.
Topics: 2007 Hybrid Car |