Which Is The Best Hybrid Car For You?

The envelope is in, and the winner is...? The judges are getting their honoraria's worth with the kind of decision they need to make to come up with in their selection of the best hybrid car there is. But it seems they'd really have a hard time deciding, what with the array of hybrid cars that are now on offer to, competing to be the top car in terms of safety, fuel efficiency, emission, comfort and technological innovations.

The Criteria

In choosing a hybrid car, what considerations will you look at? Of course one will not opt for a hybrid if not for the fuel efficiency, otherwise, any other stylish sedan notwithstanding how much gallons of fuel it consumes will be a candidate for one's choice. So the kind of fuel consumption savings and efficiency will definitely be a prime consideration. Relative to this, the best hybrid car will have to have the lowest, if not zero, emission of toxic waste gases. So this criterion is in.

But how will we choose the best hybrid car then? We can probably start by segregating these hybrids, say separate the coupes and sedans from the SUVs and vans. Then segregate them further by dividing the cars into compacts, mid-sized sedans, and so forth. Segregate the pickups from mid- to full-sized trucks. Separate the vans from the mini-vans. The lists goes and on just as the list of available hybrid cars continues to lengthen.

Then you can probably go to the level of body styles, drivetrains, engine power, transmission size and drive, and a host of performance criteria to look for.

Price may be farther down the list, as hybrid cars will almost surely compensate for the initial higher cost through fuel savings and other economy features.

The Semi-Finalists

Some say the Toyota Prius actually started the race and all, and as such a pioneer deserves a place in the hall of fame of hybrids. The Prius starts at a suggested retail of $22,175, and comes with a savings bonus as an ECO-nomic car of around $2,000. Then there are tax benefits, too, for choosing an environmental-friendly car. EPA estimates come in at 55 miles per gallon for combined city and highway driving, and the AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle) rating.

What about the mid-size sedans, with more room than the Prius? There is the 2007 Hybrid version of Toyota Camry, which starts at around $26,000. Although the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Honda Civic Hybrid are also in the running, the Toyota Camry consistently figures in surveys made of satisfied hybrid users. The Camry Hybrid attains 34 miles to the gallon as far as EPA ratings go.

Let us go now to sport utility vehicles. The Ford Escape Hybrid is great, but price considerations and its full-SUV features make it less popular than the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid, a more compact contemporary, that's priced reasonably at around $23,000, not to mention the tax benefits it gets for being a "green" SUV. Surveys show that this hybrid is comparable to other same-sized SUVs in terms of fuel efficiency and emission-levels.

Compare the Ford Escape Hybrid now to another Toyota SUV, and you get the 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid winning by an edge, if car reviews are to be believed. Reviewers say the performance and efficiency of the Highlander makes it a number one contender for the best large-type SUV of the hybrid kind. At estimated price of $32,500, the EPA ratings of 25 or 26 miles to the gallon for city and highway driving are manageable, if one looks at the long-term fuel savings.

The Verdict?

The title of best hybrid car will always be relative - relative as to the type of considerations the buyer and driver will look for in his hybrid. But with the plethora of hybrids out there, it should not be that much of a problem to find the best one for you.

About the Author

Visit Green-Hybrid-Cars.com for useful information and resources about best hybrid car, hybrid Honda cars and the Lexus SUV hybrid.

Honda - Changing The Wat They Market The Civic

This is another article, in a series of articles, breaking down and critiquing, automotive manufacturers marketing brochures. Point of sale (POS) materials account for millions of dollars a year in the automotive industry. We want to look deep inside these marketing brochures and examine the sales and marketing angles for each particular model.

In this article, we are going to take a closer look at the 2008 Honda Civic. Honda has an 18-page color brochure dedicated to selling its ideas, attempting to readjust the way you look at today's Honda Civic.

When you think Honda Civic, what comes to mind? We think, great gas mileage, dependability, practicality, simply a smart purchase. Those qualities and ideas are still part of the overall Honda Civic DNA, but Honda wants to change the way you think about the Civic. Honda is going after an entirely different market.

"Spontaneity, Intensity, and Fun"...these are not yesterdays advertising keywords associated with the Honda Civic.

Immediately on page 3, Honda asks you to "Go Ahead, Open It Up". Let's see what this baby will do. "Killer Looks", "Next-Big-Thing-Technology", "Burn Up The Pavement", just a few terms I'd not generally attach to the Civic. The folks at Honda are pushing this vehicles driving experience and persona in an attempt to lure in an entirely different demographic.

There is no doubt, the Civic has grown up. The thought of a navigation system in a model lines lower end cars may seem a bit much, but Honda decided to devote an entire page to their version of navigation. Leather interior also earned a complete one page spread, in an attempt to further move away from the traditional Civic market and towards a more bold and aggressive buyer.

"Lots Of Thrust, Little Thirst"...This is a bit closer to the Civic marketing we've all become accustomed to. Gas mileage and a little zip, that's my good old Civic.

Honda went back to its roots in a three page spread exclusively marketing the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid. This is what I expect from Honda in regards to the Civic. The hybrid version of the 2008 Honda Civic makes perfect sense for this model. Ever the practical choice for fuel savings, initial investment savings, and overall automotive cost, the Civic now extends into environmental "Green" savings with the Honda Civic Hybrid. They appeal to your intelligence, "Hybrid: A Smarter Way To Drive". And they appeal to your overall concern of the environment in the classic way Honda always has.

The Honda Civic Si Coupe is the portion of the brochure that you would expect some content relating to power and style and verve. "Obey Your Wilder Side" is a perfect lead in to this trim level of the Civic. The Si has always had a following with the younger, "Generation X" demo, and Honda has done a great job of reinforcing this Civic model again to its segmented audience.

Naming one of its color, Habanero Red Pearl, was another nice touch.

Safety only earned one page of the brochure and there is only one page describing the "DNA" of the Honda Civic.

Honda is making a very conscience effort to expand its market for the Civic. This could be a bit of a risk for a model that has been more successful than anyone at Honda could have ever imagined. I'm sure the likes of the Mazda3 and Nissan Sentra have the marketing department at Honda rethinking the whole Civic thing. But, a niche is a niche is a niche. They are stepping outside the area that has worked so well for them in the past. It will be interesting to see if they expand or decrease their market share for the Civic with this approach.

About the Author
Dan Mercurio is president of Elite Search Engine Marketing specializing automotive marketing and SEO/SEM. Let us show you we can efficiently and affordably administer a quality search engine marketing campaign for you as we have for Honda Jersey City New Jersey.

Hybrid Cars From Honda: Fuel-Efficient And Stylish

Hybrid car technology is continuously advancing with better hybrid vehicles launched into the market each year. Hybrids like the Honda Accord and Honda Civic are proof of Honda's focus in developing fuel-efficient and low-emission cars.

Honda hybrids carry the same power, efficiency and sophistication that the Honda brand is well known for. Honda has ensured that it is well positioned to compete with hybrid leader Toyota in getting a share of the world's increasing demand for hybrid cars.

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda has come a long way in hybrid technology. The 2003 Honda Civic has been one of the most successful hybrid cars released in the US market. It was modeled after the 1972 Civic sedan, a compact, fuel efficient car that still holds its value compared to majority of the compact sedans offered in the market.

The 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid which offered fuel-savings and low gas emissions was modified into the 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid which allowed a comfortable ride for five passengers. This 2007 Civic hybrid model gets 49 miles per gallon in city-driving, and 51 miles per gallon in highway driving. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 11.65 seconds.

Other features include an independent front strut suspension with an anti-roll bar. It is equipped with independent double wishbone rear suspension, plus gas-pressurized rear and front shocks. It is set with front coil springs and 4-wheel ABS brakes.

The 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid has a more futuristic-feel to its exterior; and doors are more spacious to allow easier car entry and exit. Its wheels are low-rolling resistant; and it comes with an optional voice-activated navigation system, first row LCD monitor, and an XM satellite radio.

2006 Honda Accord Hybrid
The competitively-priced family sedan, Honda Accord, was introduced to the public in 1976. In 2006 small modifications were made to the Accord, such as an enhanced 4-cyclinder and V-6 engine; and a restructured instrument panel. The Accord became one of the more popular of the Honda hybrid cars when it was also sold in a hybrid version.

2007 Honda Accord Hybrid
The 2007 Honda Accord is a certified gas-saving hybrid car with its mix of gasoline and battery-driven engines.

On the outside, it is still a four-door sedan with optimum interior freight volume of 11.2 cubic feet; total exterior length of 191.1 inches and 71.6 exterior body width; and stands at 57.2 inches.

Under the hood, however, it has a 253hp, 3.0-liter V-6 engine with the capacity to run from 0 to 60 in 7.25 seconds. Optional add-ons include a voice-activated air conditioning and navigation systems.

About the Author
Visit Green-Hybrid-Cars.com for useful information and resources about hybrid cars Honda, Lexus SUV hybrid and Chevy Tahoe hybrid.