Hybrid Cars Save the Green?

Hybrid cars such as those from Toyota, Honda, Ford, and others all have better gas mileage figures than their conventionally powered counterparts with very little sacrifice in performance. However, prices are considerably higher. Furthermore, prices for hybrids are rarely discounted and almost never see the kinds of promotional sales programs that frequently apply to other models. This makes the actual price difference between hybrids and conventionals even more dramatic.

The question then becomes: Do long-term fuel cost savings justify the added front-end cost of purchasing such a vehicle? Each situation is different but, in general, when the math is done, the break-even point doesn't occur until many years down the road. In most cases, this point will not occur within the time that the original buyer owns the vehicle, assuming it will be traded or sold within a few years as most cars are.

Therefore, if your motives are to help keep the environment green, then hybrids are for you. However, if your goal is to help keep your pockets green (with money), you may want to do the math to determine if this will be the case in your particular situation.