There are other ways to save money on gas prices, such as buying a scooter. However, with a scooter, you cannot transport your children or other belongings like you can in a car or other enclosed vehicle. Additionally, a scooter can be too warm in the summer and too cold in the winter.
The list of the top 10 hybrid cars for 2010 includes both foreign and domestic vehicles. Some of the vehicles are ones that you might expect when you look for information about hybrid cars. Other vehicles might not be expected on this list. Since many people do not think about hybrid SUVs when they are considering hybrid cars, the list of the top 10 hybrid car models might surprise you.
The Top Domestic SUV Hybrid Vehicles
Most people do not think of hybrid SUVs when they are looking for information about hybrid cars. Since the fuel economy for most hybrid SUVs may be about the same as the estimated fuel economy for a mid-size car, a lot of people do not even consider these vehicles to be true hybrids. However, if you have a large family, or if you need to tow equipment like a fishing boat, you may find that a hybrid SUV will help you save money.
Like Chevrolet® is a division of General Motors, Mercury is a division of the Ford Motor Company. The first two vehicles on the list of the top hybrid car models for 2010 are the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. These two vehicles each get an estimated 28 to 30 miles per gallon. Since the Escape Hybrid comes with Sirius Satellite radio, you can use the Sirius Travel Link to get information on traffic problems so that you can try to avoid sitting in traffic jams. The Ford Escape Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid both start under $30k, though additional options can bring the price closer to $35k.
If you want to drive around in a luxury hybrid vehicle, or if you already own a Cadillac Escalade and do not want to downgrade to a different hybrid SUV, you will be pleased to know that the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has made the list of the top hybrid car models for 2010. The Escalade Hybrid seats up to 8 passengers in comfort. However, this vehicle is more sluggish than the gas powered version. Once you remove the heavy third row of seats and fold down the second row, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid offers over 100 cubic feet of cargo space.
The Top Domestic Hybrid Cars
While you might expect to see cars by Honda and Toyota on a list of the top hybrid cars, surprisingly the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Mercury Milan Hybrid cars have made this list. With an EPA estimated 39 mpg in combined city/highway driving, the fuel economy on these cars is comparable to that of the Toyota Prius. Since the price is lower, you can be sure that the money you save from buying gas will more than make up for the premium that you pay to purchase a hybrid vehicle.
The Top Imported Hybrid Cars
It is not surprising that the Toyota Prius has made the list of the top hybrid vehicles. Since the newest Prius offers an estimated 48 mpg in the city and 51 mpg highway, this vehicle is considered one of the top hybrid vehicles again for 2010. However, the Prius may not have the same high tech gadgets included in other hybrids, the fuel economy and the gadgets that are available more than make up for this lack.
The 2010 Honda Insight has made the list of the safest hybrid vehicles, as well as the list of the top hybrid car models for 2010. With an estimated combined fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon in the city and 43 on the highway, the fuel economy is not much behind that of the Prius. Since the price tag is thousands of dollars less, this car will more than make up for the extra that you would pay to purchase a hybrid vehicle, especially if you include the tax credits available.
The other Honda on the list of the top hybrid car models for 2010 is the Honda Civic. The 2010 Honda Civic earned 5 stars in government crash tests, so you know it is one of the safest cars on the road. With an estimated 40 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, the Civic gets similar fuel economy to the Insight. However, unlike the Insight, the Civic costs more than the Toyota Prius.
Reviews about Hybrid Cars
If you are considering the purchase of a hybrid car, you will want to be sure that you read about the different options to help you decide which one you want to purchase. Even narrowing down the field a bit can leave you with fewer cars for you to test drive. One of the first websites that you should visit for reviews is the Edmunds.com website at http://www.edmunds.com. Though this website does request that you put in your zip code, you do not need to register to read the editor reviews for the vehicles. Additionally, most of the vehicles will have reviews from other consumers for even more opinions on the vehicles that you are considering.
Another website with fairly detailed reviews is the website for Car and Driver Magazine at http://www.caranddriver.com. This website allows you to search for the editor’s picks, as well as other information about hybrid cars for each year they are available. You can even look at the most researched vehicles on the Car and Driver Magazine website.
Surprisingly, one of the last websites that has car reviews is the CNet website. Since there are other reviews on their website, you will have to do a bit of searching to find the car reviews. They can be found at http://reviews.cnet.com/cars-trucks/?tag=rightColumnArea1.0.
|
