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Hybrid Car Cost- How much do hybrids really cost?
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.
With a hybrid car cost starting at $26,200, 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.
The Nissan Altima Hybrid’s hybrid car cost starts at $24,990. 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 Honda Civic Hybrid’s car cost starts at just $22,600. 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.
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. Starting hybrid car cost for the Toyota Prius is $22,175.
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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is available for a hybrid car cost of $32,490.
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. This results in a low hybrid SUV cost of $22,370.
The Ford Escape Hybrid is an excellent choice for comfort, convenience and space. Seating for 5 and room for golf clubs means everyone can tag along for family fun. The Ford Escape Hybrid has a low hybrid car cost of $25,075 while its sibling, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid is available at $25,765.
Lexus hybrids include both the GS 450h sedan and the RX 400h SUV. The Lexus RX 400h debuted in 2006 and borrows heavily from the advanced hybrid powertrain developed in the Toyota Highlander. New to the Lexus lineup this year is the hybrid GS 450h. The GS series has been the sport sedan of Lexus’ stable. Lexus felt it would be great to offer a hybrid sedan, but refused to compromise the handling, power or ride quality of its prestigious GS line. The result is a slick sport sedan with a 3.5 liter V6 and electric motor tucked under the hood. The hybrid car costs for these vehicles are $41,180 and $54,900, respectively.
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 and with reduced fuel costs and substantial tax credits, purchasers can keep more of their money in their pockets.
Topics: Hybrid Car Cost |