Fuel for discussion
Buying a hybrid is getting a little more complicated
Still considering buying a hybrid car, even though gas prices are down and the economy's sinking? Apparently, some of your neighbors are, too.
As green car technology advances and automakers increase production on their most fuel-efficient models, analysts say they expect to see more drivers in gasoline-electric hybrids and other alternative-fuel vehicles. In fact, between now and 2015, sales of hybrids and other green vehicles are predicted to jump from about 4 percent of the market nationwide to about 10 percent.
"It's about going from, say, 600,000 vehicles a year to probably a couple of million," said Bruce Harrison, associate director of IHS Global Insight, a Lexington forecasting firm. "That's a lot of people buying hybrids."
And there's a lot more to choose from than the
But before you trade in your Subaru Impreza or Volvo station wagon for a newer, greener model, auto specialists say there are a few things to consider.
First, do you actually need a hybrid car?
Chintan Talati of Edmunds.com, an automotive information website, said some older model vehicles already are fairly fuel efficient. If your 10-year-old car averages 25 to 30 miles per gallon, he said, there's probably no reason to shell out money for a premium- priced hybrid - though depending on which one you buy, a hybrid might qualify for a tax credit of up to $3,000.
New hybrids range in price from $22,000 for the Prius to $105,885 for the Lexus LS 600hL. It can cost between $200 and $13,000 more for a hybrid version of a model also sold with a conventional engine, according to Edmunds.com.
But if you're downsizing from a larger car, Talati said, you might just consider buying a fuel-efficient gas-powered model like the Honda Civic or Chevy Aveo.
"You can just save a ton of cash upfront on the price of the car," Talati said.
Second, are you trying to make a green statement with your car?
If you want your transportation choice to scream "I care about the environment," but aren't quite ready to trade your current car for a monthly T pass, then you should look at a Prius or Insight. The latter is scheduled to hit Honda dealerships in April. Neither has a conventional-engine equivalent, Harrison said, so there is no mistaking them for a traditional gas-powered car.
"The 80-mile-an-hour Prius going by me on the highway - realistically, why was that car purchased?" Harrison asked. The answer: image.
"There's no question that this person is driving a hybrid. They're making a statement," he said. "If you were driving a hybrid Camry, you'd have to see that little [hybrid] badge to know what it was."
The Prius and Insight also have the highest gas mileage figures - almost 50 miles per gallon in the city with the Prius, and an estimated 40 miles per gallon in the city with the Insight.
Finally, which hybrid model is the best fit for you?
"They need to consider how much they're driving and how much space they really need," Talati said of drivers considering a hybrid. "Americans these days tend to look for the bigger vehicle. But do they really need it?"
That depends, in part, on how many passengers you have and how you drive - whether that means long hauls on the highway or short spurts around town.
Many hybrids are more efficient in the stop-and-go of city driving, though some models now have slightly better gas mileage ratings on the highway, according to the website www. fueleconomy.gov, which lists the federal Environmental Protection Agency's mileage estimates for different hybrid models.
Hybrid versions of the Honda Civic, Saturn Aura, or Chevy Malibu are all good choices for highway driving.
According to www.fueleconomy.gov, each gets more miles per gallon on the highway than in the city. For instance, the Civic averages 45 miles per gallon on the highway, versus 40 in the city.
And if you absolutely need a larger vehicle, Talati recommends checking out the hybrid Ford Escape sport utility vehicle, which gets 34 miles per gallon in the city, and 31 on the highway. And it's premium price over the regular Escape is reasonable for the vehicle type, he said. At a starting price of $29,645, the Escape Hybrid is about $6,000 more than the regular Ford Escape XLT, and it's eligible for a tax credit of up to $3,000.
Still not sure whether to go with a hybrid? Talati says it's fine to wait, especially considering how quickly car technologies are advancing.
"There's a lot of uncertainty," Talati said. "We don't know what the next big thing is going to be, whether it's electric, whether it's hydrogen . . ."
Erin Ailworth can be reached at eailworth@globe.com. 