Know Your Hybrid MPG
Make sure the hybrid is going to reward the pump. The fact that a car hit a hybrid label does not necessarily mean it is fuel efficient. Many hybrid cars only get 26 miles per gallon or less in the city. That is considerably less than the most fuel-efficient hybrids better than 40 mpg. If you factor in the rising price of gas, over time, the difference may be up to thousands of dollars.
Choose a Hybrid with Low Emissions
Besides helping the environment the choice of a lower emission hybrid is an important consideration because it determines the amount of a federal tax credit and the state can claim. Normally the bottom of the emission standard higher the credit will be. But buyer be aware, the federal government suspended a tax credit for hybrids, which the manufacturer has exceeded 60,000 in total sales of hybrids. The Prius is a good example of this elimination. Because Toyota has surpassed the 60,000 mark the Prius no longer qualifies for the federal credit.
Consider Battery Reliability
Choose a vehicle whose battery is proven reliable and has a long standing guarantee period. A hot topic for hybrid owners and enthusiasts is the reliability and cost of replacing the battery used to power hybrid vehicles. Hybrid battery replacement is very expensive, around $ 3,000 depending on the car, however are made to last the lifetime of the car and most manufacturers offer a warranty of 8 to 10 years.
Test Drive for Performance
Common complaints associated with the popular hybrid cars is that the lack of performance. A hybrid of heavy fuel consumption is probably not going to win any race or feel that handle the corners on rails. These vehicles are built not for speed efficiency and most are equipped with 4-cylinder engines. There are exceptions, like the Lexus GS hybrid, but receive less than favorable gas mileage and MSRP are usually quite a bit higher.
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