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Jordan H
I am in the market to buy a new car in the up coming year or two. I want a hyprid becuase of the gas milage ect... I don't really want a super small car Honda insight or Toyota Prius more of a standard size, unless it will get wicked good gas milage. Does anyone know if there will be any new hybrids coming out within the next year or so that I should look for?
Answer
Unfortunately, most manufacturers so not announce their upcoming hybrid release plans. Not all hybrids are created alike (some are more geared towards performance (acceleration and available power) than to fuel economy), and some have more hybrid features than others (full hybrid vs. mild hybrid). So, just because it says hybrid doesn't mean that it has "wicked good gas mileage."
So, you would be best to find the best fuel economy vehicle in the vehicle class that you are looking at. For your choices in the US, I'd suggest:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/
I'm not entirely sure what size of vehicle that you are looking for. The Honda Insight was discontinued in the 2006 model year, so you'll only find that 2-seater in the used market. Meanwhile, the Toyota Prius is currently a midsize hatchback, which is the same size class as the popular Toyota Camry, or Nissan Altima, or Chevy Malibu, or Saturn Aura (all of which also have hybrid versions available) or the also popular Honda Accord (which had a performance-tuned hybrid option available in the past, but is now discontinued and only available used). In fact, of the currently available hybrid vehicles in the US for the 2008 model year, the only ones that are smaller than a Toyota Prius are the compact-sized Honda Civic Hybrid and the Lexus GS450h.
If you are planning on the US Federal income tax credit for your hybrid purchase, the sooner you purchase, the better, as there is a sunset phaseout provision set for after a manufacturer has sold a certain number of hybrids. The Toyota/Lexus credits have passed this sunset already (so no more credits), and Honda is currently in the phaseout period...
More info:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157632,00.html
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_hybrid.shtml
Hybrids do cost less in the long term than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybrid-Survey-2006 and http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/HypeOverHybrids )
While Consumer Reports in 2006 only found the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid would pay off within the same 5 year frame. The Honda Accord Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also studied. (I'll note that there was a mathematical error in the initial publication of Consumer Reports' hybrid vehicle cost analysis, which a retraction was published later... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ ) Since this publication, many more hybrid models have become available, so I can't use this to say about hybrids "in general." However, in the US, the Toyota hybrids have sold so many that they no longer qualify for the US Federal hybrid vehicle income tax credit, but Honda and others still have theirs.
Check out the April issue of Consumer Reports if you want reliability information. Here are their top picks for both new and used vehicles:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/used-cars-best-and-worst-406/index.htm
and the Prius was just rated top Green Car for the 5th year in a row: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/2007/04/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm
The Prius is also in edmunds' used cars best bets list as well, and their lowest true cost to own list (2007 and 2008).
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/bestbet/articles/index.html
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2007/index.html
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2008/index.html
Announced hybrids to keep an eye out for are the upcoming plug-in hybrids due out in 2010, a plug-in capable version of the Toyota Prius and the new Chevy Volt.
The hybrid batteries are typically placed behind the rear seat/above the rear axle, and are not prone to damage in a vehicular accident. (Nor is it easy to cut the bright orange HV cables that run under the car, either.) The hybrid battery is disconnected from the rest of the car when the vehicle is off (SOP for first responders is to turn off/remove key to disable vehicle in an accident) and also when the air bags are deployed. Only a poorly-trained emergency department will not approach your vehicle in an accident. (Emergency Responder guides are available from all hybrid manufacturers for free, and most manufacturers also provide free training sessions when asked.)
The hybrid batteries are warrantied (Full, not pro-rated) for at least 8 years/80,000 miles or longer, depending on manufacturer, out to 10 years/150,000 miles if an AT-PZEV model in a CA emissions state.
Unfortunately, most manufacturers so not announce their upcoming hybrid release plans. Not all hybrids are created alike (some are more geared towards performance (acceleration and available power) than to fuel economy), and some have more hybrid features than others (full hybrid vs. mild hybrid). So, just because it says hybrid doesn't mean that it has "wicked good gas mileage."
So, you would be best to find the best fuel economy vehicle in the vehicle class that you are looking at. For your choices in the US, I'd suggest:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/
I'm not entirely sure what size of vehicle that you are looking for. The Honda Insight was discontinued in the 2006 model year, so you'll only find that 2-seater in the used market. Meanwhile, the Toyota Prius is currently a midsize hatchback, which is the same size class as the popular Toyota Camry, or Nissan Altima, or Chevy Malibu, or Saturn Aura (all of which also have hybrid versions available) or the also popular Honda Accord (which had a performance-tuned hybrid option available in the past, but is now discontinued and only available used). In fact, of the currently available hybrid vehicles in the US for the 2008 model year, the only ones that are smaller than a Toyota Prius are the compact-sized Honda Civic Hybrid and the Lexus GS450h.
If you are planning on the US Federal income tax credit for your hybrid purchase, the sooner you purchase, the better, as there is a sunset phaseout provision set for after a manufacturer has sold a certain number of hybrids. The Toyota/Lexus credits have passed this sunset already (so no more credits), and Honda is currently in the phaseout period...
More info:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157632,00.html
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_hybrid.shtml
Hybrids do cost less in the long term than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybrid-Survey-2006 and http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/HypeOverHybrids )
While Consumer Reports in 2006 only found the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid would pay off within the same 5 year frame. The Honda Accord Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also studied. (I'll note that there was a mathematical error in the initial publication of Consumer Reports' hybrid vehicle cost analysis, which a retraction was published later... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ ) Since this publication, many more hybrid models have become available, so I can't use this to say about hybrids "in general." However, in the US, the Toyota hybrids have sold so many that they no longer qualify for the US Federal hybrid vehicle income tax credit, but Honda and others still have theirs.
Check out the April issue of Consumer Reports if you want reliability information. Here are their top picks for both new and used vehicles:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/used-cars-best-and-worst-406/index.htm
and the Prius was just rated top Green Car for the 5th year in a row: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/2007/04/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm
The Prius is also in edmunds' used cars best bets list as well, and their lowest true cost to own list (2007 and 2008).
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/bestbet/articles/index.html
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2007/index.html
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2008/index.html
Announced hybrids to keep an eye out for are the upcoming plug-in hybrids due out in 2010, a plug-in capable version of the Toyota Prius and the new Chevy Volt.
The hybrid batteries are typically placed behind the rear seat/above the rear axle, and are not prone to damage in a vehicular accident. (Nor is it easy to cut the bright orange HV cables that run under the car, either.) The hybrid battery is disconnected from the rest of the car when the vehicle is off (SOP for first responders is to turn off/remove key to disable vehicle in an accident) and also when the air bags are deployed. Only a poorly-trained emergency department will not approach your vehicle in an accident. (Emergency Responder guides are available from all hybrid manufacturers for free, and most manufacturers also provide free training sessions when asked.)
The hybrid batteries are warrantied (Full, not pro-rated) for at least 8 years/80,000 miles or longer, depending on manufacturer, out to 10 years/150,000 miles if an AT-PZEV model in a CA emissions state.
How and when did Hyundai start improving their car?
david
If someone to link me to a page or explain the evolution of the Hyundai cars and how they slowly improved their cars that would be great
thanks
Answer
Here's a couple nice links, essentially the company took on new leadership around 1999 and made a rapid turnaround in quality from that point forward. A rare case of a son taking over a company and actually improving upon it.
http://www.qualitydigest.com/july05/news.shtml
http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/2010/09/face-off-best-brand-turnaround-hyundai-vs-ford.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Motor_Company
Here's a couple nice links, essentially the company took on new leadership around 1999 and made a rapid turnaround in quality from that point forward. A rare case of a son taking over a company and actually improving upon it.
http://www.qualitydigest.com/july05/news.shtml
http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/2010/09/face-off-best-brand-turnaround-hyundai-vs-ford.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Motor_Company
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