Judged by Fuel Economy
NOT ALL '08 HYBRIDS
ARE CREATED EQUAL

Every week since the beginning of 2008, the news about gasoline prices has gotten more and more discouraging for families owners who love to hit the road. First it was $3 per gallon for regular (remember that?), now the news is that we're sure to be paying an average price of $4 per gallon this summer.  

If your summer travel plans include a trip along the California coast, take note that a gas station there is already charging $5 per gallon. A revolting revelation? Perhaps we'd better get used to it, because five bucks a gallon is not the station's price for premium or super premium, its for regular!

When it comes to fuel prices, the future road appears to be all uphill.

But there is good news in the family car world. The best way to get better gas mileage without sacrificing the space your family needs is by driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Today, that likely means driving a hybrid.

Hybrid technology marries a vehicle’s gasoline-powered engine with one or more electric motors in a computer-choreographed dance that maximizes mileage by limiting the amount of gas used. This is done by automatically shifting power from one motor (gas and electric) to the other  reducing gasoline intake without sacrificing performance. When it comes to fuel-efficient hybrids, the future is especially bright -- and the future is now.

Here’s a look at some of the top, family-friendly hybrids on the market today with their average EPA mileage ratings and bottom-line base price:

SMALL HATCHBACKS

The Toyota Prius (51-60 mpg / $22,175) is the most distinctive-looking of all today’s fuel-efficient vehicles and is the visual personification of the hybrid revolution. Now in its second generation, the Prius features Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which is the benchmark for all other hybrid technology to build upon.

The Prius and the lower profiled Honda Civic sedan (49-51 mpg / $22,600) have been the trailblazers for all other hybrids on the market today. Unlike the proud Prius, the Civic’s design blends in rather than stands out in a crowd, with only the nameplate revealing the hybrid truth. Plus, the Prius, with its rear hatch, offers an interior that is much more family-friendly than the Civic sedan.

The Prius isn’t going to haul large families, dog crates and gear. But it’s just fine for a family of four with perhaps a small dog.

MEDIUM SEDANS

This category has seen the biggest hybrid growth over the past couple of years, with the Toyota Camry Hybrid (38-42 mpg / $25,200) offering a V-6 engine coupled with an electric motor to reduce fuel consumption. For 2008, Toyota dropped its base price on the Camry Hybrid to position it between the four-cylinder and the six-cylinder automatic models.

The highly promoted Chevrolet Malibu’s (24-32 mpg / $22,140) dramatic redesign for 2008 has garnered plenty of attention, bringing the General Motors product out of the shadows of a previously dull design. But the “mild” hybrid version is nothing to bark about fuel-wise, reducing idle time and increasing engine efficiency to add just a couple extra miles per gallon over the non-hybrid version. Continued on the next page.