Although several years ago not many people were willing to buy a hybrid car, things have changed since gas prices keep going up. In addition, this technology is now considerably more affordable than it was a decade ago which means prices have dropped significantly. As a result of these changes, hybrids are now being seriously considered whenever time comes to purchase a new vehicle, especially since in some areas buyers benefit from various incentives which lower the price tag even further. Not only these provide a lower fuel consumption which will save the driver a lot of money in the long run, but at the same time they also do less damage to the environment.
On the market right now there are various hybrid models to choose from, with the Ford Fusion Hybrid being one of the recent entries in this segment. It’s available for less than 40,000 USD and can be considered the ideal car for a regular-sized family with up to two kids. There’s also the more popular Toyota Prius C subcompact which looks sportier compared to the regular Prius and has very good fuel economy numbers.
If you are willing to spend more and are searching for ultimate luxury, have a look at the outgoing version of the Mercedes-Benz S400 which will do 21 mpg US in the combined cycle. The new generation will be offered in an S300 BlueTEC Hybrid variant sporting a hybridized 4-cylinder, 2.1-liter engine churning 204 HP, along with a hybridized S400 Hybrid with a V6 3.5-liter packing 306 HP. No fuel consumption figures have been released but it’s safe to say these will be better than the outgoing model.
If safety is your top priority, opt for the Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid which has a 2.4-liter, 5-cylinder diesel and an electric motor, a setup which enables the car to return 130.6 mpg US (156.9 mpg UK or 1.8 liters / 100 km). It has CO2 emissions of 48 g/km and can travel on electric power for 31 miles (50 km). Sometime in the future it will be available with a hybridized gasoline engine as well.
