So, you want to buy a hybrid?

So, you want to buy a hybrid?

The other day as I was listening to the radio, the host started talking about cars and the hybrid was mentioned. I was just mostly ignoring it, as I do most advertisements, but all of a sudden it hit me. Why is this guy raving about hybrids when the same guy on the same show exposes the "oil crisis" and the "green movement"for what they are? Well, of course, it's a paid advertisement and he's making a buck ... but by misleading people? Whoa ... something is amiss here. So I decided to do what 90% of us lazy Americans are noted for NOT doing ... I'd investigate some facts on hybrids.

Just by browsing the dealer web sites, which will give me very biased numbers in their favor, I created a spreadsheet and did some comparisons of some hybrids and their non-hybrid counterparts. I took very conservative views. I took each vehicle, calculated the base price and found the difference. I then figured how many gallons of gas at $4 per gallon I could buy with that amount of money. Then using the MPG ratings for the non-hybrids, I calculated how many miles I could drive the non-hybrid on the savings in money. Below is what I came up with.


Nissan Altima versus Nissan Altima Hybrid

Cost*........ $20,470.00 versus $25,480.00
Difference ..... $5,010.00
MPG-City ...... 23 versus 35
Difference .... 12
MPG-Hway ...... 32 versus 33
Difference ..... 1
Drive 2WD on both
Gas Price ..... $4.00
CPM-City ...... 17.391 versus 11.429
Difference...... -5.963
CPM-Hway ..... 12.500 versus 12.121
Difference .......-0.379

Free Gas......................... 1,253 gallons
Free MilesCity.............. 28,808
Free Miles Hway........... 40,080


Ford Escape versus Ford Escape Hybrid

Cost* ..... $19,140.00 versus $26,640.00
Difference .....$7,500.00
MPG-City ..... 20 versus 34
Difference ...... 14
MPG-Hway ..... 28 versus 30
Difference ..... 2
Drive ...... 2WD on both models
Gas Price ..... $4.00
CPM-City ....... 20.000 versus 11.765
Difference ........ -8.235
CPM-Hway ...... 14.286 versus 13.333
Difference .........-0.952

Free Gas .................... 1,875 gallons
Free MilesCity........... 37,500
Free Miles Hway ....... 52,500


Toyota Matrix versus Toyota Prius Sedan

Cost* ...... $16,190.00 versus $21,100.00
Difference ...... $4,910.00
MPG-City ..... 21 versus 48
Difference ...... 27
MPG-Hway ....... 29 versus 45
Difference ....... 16
Drive .... 2WD on both models
Gas Price .... $4.00
CPM-City ......... 19.048 versus 8.333
Difference .......-10.714
CPM-Hway ....... 13.793 versus 8.889
Difference .......... -4.904

Free Gas 1,228
Free MilesCity 25,778
Free Miles Hway 35,598

Honda Civic Sedan versus Civic Hybrid Sedan

Cost* ..... $15,010.00 versus $22,600.00
Difference ........ $7,590.00
MPG-City ...... 26 versus 40
Difference ......... 14
MPG-Hway ...... 34 versus 45
Difference ........ 11
Drive ..... 2WD on both models
Gas Price ..... $4.00
CPM-City ..... 15.385 versus 10.000
Difference ....... -5.385
CPM-Hway ...... 11.765 versus 8.889
Difference ....... -2.876

Free Gas 1,898
Free MilesCity 49,335
Free Miles Hway 64,515

Tahoe LT1 versus Tahoe Hybrid

Cost* ..... $37,610.00 versus $50,490.00
Difference ....... $12,880.00
MPG-City ........ 14 versus 21
Difference ........ 7
MPG-Hway ....... 19 versus 22
Difference ......... 3
Drive ...... 2WD on both models
Gas Price ...... $4.00
CPM-City ....... 28.571 versus 19.048
Difference ........ -9.524
CPM-Hway ......... 21.053 versus 18.182
Difference ...... -2.871

Free Gas 3,220
Free Miles City 45,080
Free Miles Hway 61,180

* Starting price - no options. Costs do not include tax, licence, insurance or financing costs
CPM=Cents Per Mile
Free Gas=gas (gals) that could be bought with extra money
Free Miles=number of miles (city/hway) driven on gas that could be bought by extra money


Depending on how much you drive you can drive a non-hybrid vehicle from one to 4 years without spending a cent on gas!! These prices also do NOT include the higher cost of maintenance for the hybrid, and from what I hear it is significantly higher. Think about it, folks!!

So, tell me again why you want to buy a hybrid?