THE COST OF HYBRID VEHICLES
With the winding road of 2007 before us and more and more people gaining interest in a cleaner and healthier environment, hybrid vehicles are becoming increasingly more popular and more available.
Dealing with an economy where our wallets are growing thinner and issues of cost effectiveness and return on investment are fueling national decision making. Americans are wondering if hybrid vehicles are really worth the higher cost.
There is no doubt that higher gas mileage means lower emissions, which equates to cleaner air and a healthier environment. We can all feel good about that. But, there are still heated industry debates on whether a hybrid vehicle is an economically sensible choice for the American car buyer. [click to continue...]
The Chevy Aveo is the “lowest-priced” new car in the US. It can seat a 6′3″ adult comfortably (yes, I’ve actually been in one) and gets great gas mileage. It comes with GM’s 5-year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty and scored 5-stars in the NHTSA frontal crash test. MSRP: $9,995 - $12,835
Hyundai’s quality has steadily improved over the years and they were the first with a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Great gas mileage and six standard air bags make the Accent a great value. MSRP: $10,415 - $14,015
The Kia Rio was awarded “Best In Initial Quality” by J.D. Power and Associates for the subcompact segment. two years in a row. This sporty subcompact gets great fuel mileage and comes standard with many features. MSRP: $10,770 - $13,495
With 4 sporty models to choose from in 2008, the Toyota Yaris is both fun to drive and loaded with options. Sporty seats, an amber-illuminated control panel, and MP3/WMA playback capability will appeal to the younger set, while the 36 mpg mileage rating will make anyone happy. MSRP: $11,150 - $13,525
Billed as “The Next Generation Small Car” the Nissan Versa offers the most overall interior space in its class. Best-in-class rear leg room and comfortable king-size front seats offers plenty of room for up to to 5 adults. A 33 mpg mileage rating allows drivers to get 400 miles out of one tank of gas. MSRP: $12,550 - $14,550
Sportier styling and standard features including a 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, 60/40 split-folding rear seats and a six speaker stereo system with audio inputs for your MP3 player make the Kia Spectra an attractive option. Excellent fuel efficiency, 35mpg, a 5-star frontal crash safety rating from NHTSA, and a 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty program make the Spectra a steal at $12,895. MSRP: $12,895 - $15,995
The Chevy Cobalt is available either a sedan or coupe with eight available models to chose from. The Cobalt is the second Chevrolet vehicle to make our 15 under 15 and one of only 4 domestic brands on the list. The base 2.2-liter 145hp four-cylinder engine delivers enough power to get up and go and still provides better than average fuel economy. Some criticism has come from the sparse interior and hard plastics, but road noise is good and the seats offer a comfortable ride for most passengers. MSRP: $13,175 - $20,495
The 2008 Hyundai Elantra is classified by the EPA as a “mid-size car” putting it a class above Civic and Corolla. Highlights of the Elantra include: most interior room in its class, more standard safety features than the Toyota Corolla, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, and excellent fuel efficiency ratings averaging 25 MPG city / 33 MPG highway. MSRP: $13,395 - $16,895
