'Hybrid Cars: Are They Worth The Praise?'

Hybrid Cars: Are They Worth The Praise?

By Community Director at 05/09/09 08:49

Hybrid cars are the talk of the motor world. While the automotive industry is rushing to satisfy the thirst for these cars in the market, they constantly preach on their fuel saving advantages without telling the consumers whether this will always be so. Ironically, for the same reason of saving on the gas, the cars cost you more!

Lets take a closer look at the K15 Sierra; GMC's new hybrid in the market. The pick up truck successfully scores a 3 with reference to EPA's 0-10 emissions scale. Note that 0 is the worst score. At 18 miles/gallon in highway and city driving combined it is almost similar to its non hybrid sister; the KI500 Sierra which has a 16miles/ gallon in highway and city driving.

You may ask just as I've asked so many times, what makes K15 greener and fuel efficient than K1500? The same case applies to Chevrolet's C15 Silverdo hybrid which has a 19mpg in comparison to the regular C1500 which has an 18mpg. It is no secret that some of the hybrids being touted as fuel saving can as well be compared with the regular Toyota Corolla having a headwind.

This is not to say that there are no better fuel efficient and greener hybrids. In fact some have demonstrated excellent EPA mileage ratings but when you talk to their drivers, they will undoubtedly inform you that the genuine fuel economy is just as worse.

Are customers being hoodwinked by the automotive industry? Not in any way, car manufactures put a focus on performance and performance justifies the fuel per mileage. For luxury cars, performance is the in thing and the rest follow later.

Therefore, if you are rushing to the hybrids it is better to look for the performance you need and let the fuel economy and the cost of the car fall into place. Alternatively, if the fuel economy is your strong desire, then be prepared to be cut back on other fronts. It's a matter of the priority you give to specific features, nothing more.

 

 

This post is really amzing

Agree. You 'get' what you get. No matter what high dollar hybrid technology is stuffed into a truck, it will still have truck characteristics, and wind drag !! If you want a vehicle that is going to let you haul a family of 5 or make a useful run to Home Depot, don't go looking at the 50mpg econo-boxes or current hybrid vehicles. Don't go looking for a truck to get Prius gas mileage.

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