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Blog says no in most cases, but conceeds that you will get ahead if you are seeking a fuel-efficient hybrid. (http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2008/08/hybrid-vehicles.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/08_Prius_Front_End.jpgConsumer Reports - Aug 18, 2008

Sure beats this option (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15108) -- Ed.

Hybrid technology is spreading to both cars and SUVs, but in most cases you’ll pay dearly for the privilege of electric assist, and all hybrids are not created equally.

Using our owner cost estimates, we checked out the actual cost of owning a hybrid over time. Of the seven hybrids we recently tested, we found that three, the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Honda Civic Hybrid, save owners money compared with their all-gas alternatives, while others depend on tax breaks to break even.

Overall, hybrid costs range from $4,250 in savings to a $1,750 deficit over five years, compared with their most similar gas counterparts. The Toyota Prius costs thousands more to buy than either the Toyota Corolla or the Toyota Matrix, but it costs less to own than either: $250 less than the Corolla, and $4,250 less than the Matrix 2.4. … http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2008/08/hybrid-vehicles.html

Hi Chuck:

___I am a bit miffed at this one… While at HF 2008, I gave the TCO presentation of the list and the Prius dominated. Felix of CalCar.org sent me an E-Mail looking for my data and said a Consumer Reports writer was interested in seeing my own analysis. And then this appears :rolleyes:

___Both Edmunds and CR’s were wrong in the past given they had some mythical depreciation number vs. using KBB’s and even those were well below actual for the hybrids and well above for the non-hybrids.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Plus, my 2 friends with Highlander Hybrids never come close to besting me on MPGs (yes we're a little competitive). So I suspect that the CR writer has some bias built into his report. Plus with a sample size of 7, that's questionable as well.

___I am a bit miffed at this one… While at HF 2008, I gave the TCO presentation of the list and the Prius dominated. Felix of CalCar.org sent me an E-Mail looking for my data and said a Consumer Reports writer was interested in seeing my own analysis. And then this appears :rolleyes:

___Both Edmunds and CR’s were wrong in the past given they had some mythical depreciation number vs. using KBB’s and even those were well below actual for the hybrids and well above for the non-hybrids.


But comments are allowed...

But comments are allowed...Thank you for the reminder. :)

It amazes me the hybrid payback premium issue is still discussed to this extent....sense some denial.

this is pretty much what I figured: the "fuel economy" hybrids are very cost effective to own, while the "performance" hybrids are essentially the batter-equivalent of a nitro bottle.

Plus, my 2 friends with Highlander Hybrids never come close to besting me on MPGs (yes we're a little competitive). So I suspect that the CR writer has some bias built into his report. Plus with a sample size of 7, that's questionable as well.

Well they did say "best of any SUV we tested"....guess they didn't test very many.

As an owner of a HiHy, I'd like to point out that Escapes & Highlanders are considered a slightly different size class. If Toyota comes out with a hybrid RAV4 then that would be a better comparison. However I do like the bar the hybrid Escapes set...I'll beat at least one of you one day (shaking my fist in pretend anger).

I really wish the highlander were available as a high powered V4 or a atkinson style V6, then the numbers would be much closer.

So, between you and your friends, who gets the highest % EPA?

I left a comment

I'd like to point out that Escapes & Highlanders are considered a slightly different size class. If Toyota comes out with a hybrid RAV4 then that would be a better comparison.

This is why a hybrid doesn't make "cents" for us. Until there is an economy car which is hybrid or gas prices triple our Yaris is the best choice for us financially. I hope we can bypass hybrids all together and go from the Yaris to a complete solution. Oh to dream.

Looking forward to seeing what Honda does next year....

Well they did say "best of any SUV we tested"....guess they didn't test very many.

As an owner of a HiHy, I'd like to point out that Escapes & Highlanders are considered a slightly different size class. If Toyota comes out with a hybrid RAV4 then that would be a better comparison. However I do like the bar the hybrid Escapes set...I'll beat at least one of you one day (shaking my fist in pretend anger).

I agree that they are definitely a different class of vehicle and the way that your numbers are climbing you should easily beat me before much longer! So, my comment was not meant to be a negative on the HiHy, just noting that their sample set is rather biased.

Plus, I wish I had your extra row of seats when I'm piling the 5th and 6th teenager into the back on top of my battery pack :eek: Luckily they are still pretty light weight and I have some padding on it.

So, between you and your friends, who gets the highest % EPA?

Neither of them leverage the knowledgeable people here, so they are both in the mid/high 20s per tank. They only ever want to compete on a "commute" or trip basis and I usually can hit high 40s/low 50s, if I already know the route well.

I just posted my comment on their site... makes me question other stuff they write about.

It's annoying to see grown adults missing the most important point:
no, not money. POLLUTION.

Well, for alot of us it is about money AND pollution. When gas reaches 7-8 dollars a gallon, it will be about money for most of us.

I dislike the premise of these articles. Owning a car for 5 years. How friggin wasteful! ! Maybe the true cost to own is based on 5 years because that's how long most people own a new car? If you will do the true cost to own comparisons, take it out 5 years, 7 years, 10 years, to at least see what happens at different time points. Or compare true cost to own based on potential, average life of car.

The Prius with most miles died out (killed in crash) with 349,000 miles (it had been bought used at 80K miles for $10K--prices back then for a hybrid!--Think of the savings on the mileage for that one!

It might be five years based on the longest typical car loan.

Normally I'd agree that 5 years is at least 2 years short, but with MPG advancing rapidly, people may want to turn over their cars faster to get better mileage....and that wouldn't be a completely horrible thing.