hybrid

Hybrid Sales Slump in Face of Increased Competition

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A funny thing happened along the way (back) to $4 per gallon gasoline. The hybrid car is no longer the darling it once was. An excellent article from Peter Valdes-Dapena at CNNMoney spells it out: the sale of hybrid cars in the USA peaked back in 2008.

Take a look at the list of the best gas mileage cars sold in America. The plethora of choices have cut into the hybrids’ market share. An abundance of vehicles with competing technology – namely clean diesel and high-efficiency gasoline engines – have diminished the hybrids lock on the field.

While the hybrids may dominate the high-MPG charts, the cost of hybrid technology can work against its favor with drivers of limited means (as well as those with the ability to perform slightly more advanced mathematical equations). Increased monthly payment costs need to be justified by savings at the pump, week-after-week. If the savings aren’t there, fewer sales will be made.

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40 MPG Cars: 2001-2013

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While fuel efficiency might seem like the latest craze, we’ve been tuned into it for years. 40 MPG cars are nothing new. Other sources may be content to simply throw up a photograph and a paragraph or two about any given economy car. We take the time to put hundreds and hundreds of miles on each and every odometer. We test for real-world fuel-efficiency with a light-footed driving style … because mileage matters.

Link to YouTube 40 MPG Car Review Playlist.

Check out our playlist of 40 MPG Car Reviews!

Through comprehensive testing, we’ve found that a number of cars are capable of exceeding their highway fuel efficiency ratings when driven conscientiously. Some cars rated in the high 30 MPG range can eclipse the 40 MPG mark. It’s all in the way you drive. Over the last few years, we’ve tested a range of 40 MPG (highway) cars, including:

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2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Review

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MPG-o-Matic Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Review Summary:
The mid-size 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sedan shares a proven platform with the Ford Fusion Hybrid and adds an array of luxury features. Lincoln is looking to spur increased acceptance of hybrid technology in the mid-size luxury sedan market by offering the MKZ Hybrid at the same price as the non-hybrid MKZ sedan. If you’re considering a standard MKZ, why not go for the Hybrid?

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2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Review

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MPG-o-Matic 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Review Summary: Though purists may be hard-pressed to call it a true sports car, the two-seat Honda CR-Z is the sportiest hybrid to hit the road in 2011. With a heritage that includes the Honda CR-X Si pocket rocket and ground-breaking Insight hybrid, the CR-Z has a twisty path to follow. While it’s not as fast as the CR-X Si nor as remarkably fuel-efficient as the original Insight, the CR-Z hybrid is an entertaining ride when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. If you like to run through the gears and must have a hybrid, the CR-Z is the only game in town.

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2011 Lexus CT 200h: First Drive

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Lexus CT 200h side view on street

DELRAY BEACH, Fla.—I have to admit, I felt the need to redeem myself. I am a notorious lead foot, and I habitually get low mileage numbers in every car I drive. Even when I try to do well. Hybrid. TDI. Gasoline. It’s all the same. And it’s all bad.

So, when the folks at Lexus announced during the press preview for the all-new 2011 CT 200h that the worst gas mileage they’d seen thus far was around 37 mpg, I considered the gauntlet thrown. I absolutely could not get below that number.

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