The original hybrid concept has been perverted into pickup trucks�big luxo barges�and even sports cars.
But if you want a hybrid to sip gas � oh yeah, they do that too -- you�ve come to the right place.
I�m B.C.
from CNET Car Tech with the Top 5 2011 Hybrid cars, listed by the holy grail: EPA average fuel
economy.
Start your engines.
#5 We have a tie right off the bat, between the Hyundai Sonata � and the Honda CR-Z.
37 MPG average.
But these guys couldn�t be much more different: The Sonata is Hyundai�s bread & butter car, taking on
Camry and Accord while offering more style than those two � while the CR-Z is this sort of a hybrid
reincarnation fo the CR-X that competes directly with little strange Japanese toys and such.
#4 is the Ford Fusion and/or Lincoln MKZ hyrid.
39 MPG average.
We like these guys because they have
Ford�s SYNC technology in the cabin and a really livable hybrid powertrain under the hood while not being
small, goofy looking or screaming �Hey I drive a Hybrid!� Of course, some of you want your car to do
that, so let�s move on�
#3 is another tie: Delivering 41 average MPG both are the Honda twins: Insight and Civic.
The Insight is
a hybrid only model that was Honda�s answer to the Prius.
Except they didn�t seem to hear the question
right, but we�ll get to that in a minute.
The Civic Hybrid puts the company�s technology to work in a real
familiar package that works.
#2 brings us to Toyota land � but not the Prius: It�s its bougie cousin the Lexus CT200h.
This guy is real
new and delivers 42 MPG average.
They market it as being a �darker shade of green� with sporting
intentions, some of the slickest cabin tech in a hybrid car right now and the hope that it doesn�t wallow in
relative obscurity like their other compact hybrid, the HS250h which just missed our list BTW.
Before we get to #1 I can tell you what car it won�t be: The Chevy Volt.
Yes, it does have both gas and
electric power, but it�s not really a hybrid since it drives electric all the time, so it goes on our Top 5
electric cars video, once there are 5 good ones to put in there.
Stay tuned.
And another note if you think
hybrids are a fad: So far in early 2011 they lead the automotive recovery in sales growth, up 39% over a
year ago compared to 27% for car sales overall.
OK, the #1 hybrid based on EPA average fuel economy for 2011 is�.no surprise: The Toyota Prius.
This
guy is a double whammy, shattering the competition with 50 MPG average and, as a result, outselling all
other hybrids combined.
It also sports some cool cabin tech and is just about to become a whole line of cars
with the V mini-minivan Prius�the Prius C sporty version�and a plug-in Prius all on the way.
So now you're ready to make your choice, hit the road, look at the rest of us scoldingly, and drive like a,
well, Prius driver.
Oh, God, here comes the email.
For all our Top 5�s like this, head to top5.cnet.com.
I�m B.C., etc.
