Toyota Camry

Melanie Broemsen asked:


If you’re an ‘in market’ hybrid car shopper or in the midst of researching a new purchase of an energy efficient car, there are plenty of things to keep in mind.

First, you will want to examine the specific hybrid’s estimated gas mileage - and be sure to ask when the gasoline engine kicks in, too. You may find that if you drive a lot of highway miles at faster speeds and the gas engine kicks in at 35 mph, you may not save as much money on fuel as you expected.

You’ll also want to consider any tax saving credits that being offered. There is a federal income tax credit (up to $3,400) given on the first 60,000 hybrid models sold. After that benchmark is met, the credit is gradually phased out. Fueleconomy.gov maintains a list of eligible vehicles and the current tax credits available, but you should also confirm with your dealership.

Also, you may want to think about hybrid car insurance. Some insurance companies offer a discount on hybrid car insurance - others do not. Hybrid cars are still relatively new to the marketplace, and shopping around for discounts that come with hybrid car insurance will pay off in the long run.

To be truly eco-friendly, you’ll also want to check the green rating for that particular hybrid car. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), four of the top 12 greenest vehicles of 2008, feature hybrid powertrain engines. However, there is a bigger environmental impact to consider. Some of the hybrids feature nickel batteries, which cause more long-term environmental damage than their gasoline counterparts. If you are interested in a hybrid car, be an informed consumer and check the air pollution scores, greenhouse gas scores, and other features that impact the environment.

Be aware that as a result of the growing popularity of hybrid cars, especially the Prius, you may pay over-sticker price because of the demand. You may also have a hard time locating the exact model you want, or be placed on a waiting list.

The best-selling hybrid cars of 2008 include:

Toyota Prius

With a $21,500 base sticker price, the Toyota Prius isn’t exactly cheap. However, it’s still a reasonably affordable hybrid car option for many consumers, especially after factoring in the fuel savings achieved due to the Prius’ 45 city/48 hwy mpg rating by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is classified as the most fuel efficient car in the U.S.

Currently the best-selling hybrid car, the Toyota Prius has been embraced by Hollywood - it’s a favorite among celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Aniston, Larry David, Julia Robers, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow and Harrison Ford.

Many Prius owners claim to achieve over 60 mpg, and those employing hypermiling techniques may fare even better. For consumers averaging much less, the Prius sounds like a gift from heaven. However, the Toyota Prius may take some getting used to.

Overall, getting into a Toyota Prius seems more like entering a spaceship than an automobile. However, once you get beyond its odd shape, you’ll find alarge on-dash computer screen offering instant feedback on your gas mileage, as well as a rearview camera (you’ll need it in this vehicle due to blind spots). And you may miss other options, like a sunroof, which reduces fuel economy, too.

Honda Civic Hybrid

The Honda Civic Hybrid car has an EPA-estimated city/highway rating of 40 city/45 hwy mpg and a base sticker price of $22,600, comparable to that of the Toyota Prius. The Honda Civic hybrid features an Advanced Technology Partial-Zero-Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) rating, which is the most stringent emission standard achieved by a gasoline-powered vehicle in the U.S. In fact, it is classified as one of the most fuel efficient cars in America, along with the Toyota Prius.

In terms of looks, it’s hard to tell the standard Honda Civic from its hybrid counterpart. They are nearly identical.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Toyota Camry Hybrid car has a base sticker price of $25,650 and is a good option for those looking for a little more luxury and fuel efficiency. It looks like the standard Toyota Camry on the road, but offers a quieter ride due to the special acoustic-dampening windshield made to absorb road noise.

The Toyota Camry hybrid car has an EPA-estimated city/highway rating of 33 city/34 hwy mpg rating, which not as good as either the Prius or Civic Hybrid cars. However, as a mid-size sedan, it offers room for the entire family.

Ford Escape Hybrid SUV

Known as the most fuel efficient SUV on earth, the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV has an EPA-estimated city/highway rating of 34 city/30 hwy mpg rating and base sticker price of $26,640. It’s available in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive, and features a tough, rugged look, although technically it’s still considered a cross-over vehicle.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the Ford Escape hybrid is ranked 15 out of 27 in terms of affordable compact SUVs, a few spots below the gasoline version. The new 2008 model was redesigned to provide a more comfortable rise and mature appearance.

Overall, the Ford Escape hybrid has received good, thumbs-up reviews in publications ranging from the New York Times to Newsday.

Hybrid Insurance

You’ll find plenty of information online at FuelEconomy.gov, from a specific vehicle’s energy impact score, carbon footprint statistics and EPA air pollution score to its eligibility for a tax credit. Other helpful green vehicle information is available at the EPA Web site.



Clyde

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


General Motors has been making an effort to revitalize the previously unpopular Saturn brand. The Detroit car manufacturer injected new vehicles to the brand’s lineup as well as providing fuel efficient vehicles to Saturn loyalists. The Saturn Aura has recently been named the 2007 North American Car of the Year and its popularity is steadily growing as it challenges the supremacy of the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry in the midsize sedan segment.

To help the Aura compete with the Camry and Accord, General Motors saw it fit to introduce a hybrid version of the Aura which is called the Saturn Aura green Line. One of its direct competitions, the Honda Accord Hybrid will be discontinued meaning it will take on the Camry Hybrid head to head. One of the Aura Green Line’s advantages over the Camry Hybrid is that it costs less.

This means that while the Saturn Aura Green Line may not have the same fuel efficiency as the Camry Hybrid, its lower price makes up for the disparity in fuel consumption cost.

Compared to its base model, the Aura Green Line costs $2,000 more. The clear advantage that the Aura Green Line has over the base Aura XE is the fuel efficiency. Compared to the upscale Aura XR trim, the Green Line costs $2,000 less. The advantage, of course, of the Green Line is again its fuel efficiency although the Aura XR comes loaded with standard features which are optional to the Green Line.

According to Saturn, the Aura Green Line has a starting price of $22,000. The power behind the Green Line comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a power output of 164 horsepower. The internal combustion engine is coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor which provides the additional power demand.

According to car experts, the Aura Green Line benefits from its European styling which is the result of General Motors’ relationship with Opel. The Aura’s handling is responsive and the suspension setting provides a comfortable ride. In terms of styling, the Aura is a car pleasing to look at. Its headlight configuration gives it a welcoming look especially if fitted with Saturn headlight cover. In fact, some experts in the industry claim that the Aura is more of a European vehicle than a General Motors car.

One drawback seen with the Aura Green Line is its readily-downshifting transmission. With the automatic gearbox, the Saturn Aura Green Line has respectable acceleration from a stationary position. But for higher speeds, the driver should literally push the pedal to the metal to increase the car’s speed. Any lull to the pressure applied to the accelerator pedal would mean a downshift for the automatic transmission.

Another problem with the transmission is that it does not offer smooth gear changes. While the transmission does not necessarily produce seat-jarring gear changes, it does not also give silky smooth gear changes.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Aura Green Line can travel six miles on a gallon of gasoline more than the XE trim level of the Aura. That can be translated to savings of approximately $500 on fuel consumption cost for every 15,000 miles traveled. The Aura Green Line though only has a “mild hybrid” powertrain which means that it cannot run on electric motor power alone even on low-power operations. This results to a lower fuel-efficiency as compared to the Camry Hybrid.



Laura