Hybrid Cars 2011

One of the latest developments in automobile technology are hybrid vehicles. Today, you will find many hybrid cars and SUVs in the automobile market. These are the best fuel-efficient vehicles running on roads, without compromising on engine power and comfort of travelers. These machines run on a system which employs the functioning of both an internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor.

Best Hybrid Cars

Toyota Prius
The currently available 3rd generation 'Prius two' variant has an impressive mileage of 51/48 MPG in city and highway respectively. You need to pay a starting price of about $23,000 for this hybrid car. The Toyota Prius is incorporated with a 1.8 liter DOHC 16-Valve engine and a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor, which collectively gives a power of 134 hp.

Honda Insight Hybrid
The Honda Insight is considered to be the closest competitor to the Prius. For a mileage of 40 MPG in city and 43 MPG on highway, you have to pay a base price of around $18,000. The main technical specs comprises a 1.3 liter i-VTEC engine with the Honda Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system which generates a decent 98 hp.

Honda Civic Hybrid
If you are thinking to buy a sporty, good-looking inexpensive sedan, which has a good mileage; Honda Civic Hybrid is the most recommended. This Honda car is powered with a 1.4 liter 8-Valve SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine which supplies 110 hp and the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system. The base price of this hybrid vehicle is reported to be about $24,000.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is fitted with a 2.4 liter In-line 4-cylinder DOHC engine and a permanent magnet high-power density motor system, both of which give out 206 hp. This car from Hyundai has a 6-speed automatic transmission. The company claims the mileage to be 35 MPG on city roads and 40 MPG on highways. The cost of the Sonata Hybrid comes around $26,000.

BMW ActiveHybrid 750i
This BMW car has a 4.4 liter TwinPower Turbo V8 engine with an electric motor, which give a combined power of 455 hp. It comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Being a top class luxury car, it has other features such as Lane Change Warning, BMW Night Vision, and camera systems. Coming to mileage, it is approximately 17/26 MPG in city and highway. The price of this car is claimed to be starting around a substantial $102,000.

Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid
This is one of the best luxury hybrid cars. It is incorporated with a 3.5 liter V-6 mild-hybrid engine which gives a power of 295 bhp. It has a 7-speed automatic transmission gearbox. It is believed to give a mileage of 19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. The base price of this luxury car is considered to be about $91,000.

Lincoln MKZ HYBRID
This is another high-end car from the Lincoln brand. It houses a 2.5 liter 16V Atkinson I-4 engine and a Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous Motor which generates a power of 191 hp. The estimated mileage is 41 MPG in city and 36 MPG on highways. You may have to pay a starting price of about $35,000 to purchase this front wheel drive car.

This is a small list of the best hybrid cars available. There are many other good ones such as Lexus HS 250h, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, etc. The hybrid car market is expanding due to the increasing demand from potential car buyers.