If you are looking to get a new hybrid car it really does pay to check out all the details.  Hybrid car buyers often get set on a certain mile per gallon rating and don’t consider in the cost of the vehicle to determine the actual savings they will realize by getting better miles per gallon with a hybrid or all electric car.

For instance if you get a car that get’s 50 miles to the gallon and costs you $30,000 vs a car that gets 40 miles to the gallon and costs you $24,000 that means you will have to go through 1714.29 gallons of gas before you break even.  That’s an extra 68,571 miles you can drive on the car with less mileage and still come out ahead.

Also one needs to consider their driving habits.   Some people just are made to be jackrabbits, you know the people who floor it when the light is green and slam on the breaks when it’s red.  That isn’t overly conducive to getting the best miles per gallon out of your car.   I worked with a woman who had the same model year and make of prius that I had.  She got right around 38mpg and I was usually around 48 or more.   The “or more” was my driving style.  So for her, having a prius that didn’t come close to meeting the estimated MPG ratings wasn’t the cars fault, it was her driving style.

If you intend to get a hybrid, think about why you are getting it.  If you are a leadfoot, they might not be the ideal car for you.  On the other hand if you just want to wear your car out faster and defeat it’s whole purpose, by all means go out and buy a new Hybrid vehicle.

So with all of that said, what kind of car do you need.  That’s based on a couple of factors.

1) What is your typical commute, are you someone who drives mostly in town, short distances?  Or are you someone who does a mix of highway in-town driving, or mostly just freeways.  You’ll want to look for a car that best fits that need.

Example: If you are driving mostly in-town short distances a car that uses mainly electrical power for the first part of the drive might be the best car for you.  On the other hand if your drive is longer then one with more speed and a mix is a better choice.

2) How many people do you usually take in the car, that can determine if you want to have something in a more full size hybrid sedan or just you and the spouse in which case a smaller car, or smart car might work for you.

3) What kind of commute do you have all in town, some highway, all highway.  This is part of the comfort of the car, I wouldn’t want to commute 50 miles a day in a smart car, but a Toyota Camry Hybrid I’d have fun driving anywhere in.

4) Calculate your estimated savings.  Unless you are just in it for the coolness of going green and money doesn’t matter, get a Tesla, for the rest of you calculate your savings to get a car that also saves green in the pocketbook.

Our next article will go over specific makes and models of hybrid and plugin cars.

We hope this helps you.