Are Hybrids Worth It? A Look at the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight & Honda Civic

In a society that is increasingly more aware of environmental pollution, it is important for consumers to consider modes of transportation that serve to decrease adverse effects on our natural environment. Gas powered vehicles emit a substantial amount of toxins known as greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year which are widely thought to cause environmental issues such as global warming. When debating on future transportation, including possibly purchasing more fuel-efficient cars, it is important to decide for ourselves whether the purchase of a hybrid vehicle is actually of some value. A hybrid vehicle is an automobile that uses a combination of gas or diesel power with electric power or another alternative power source. Overall, the positives of a hybrid vehicle do not outweigh the added costs and baggage that come with them, based on the car's usage, cost savings, possible tax incentives, performance, and environmental effects.

When purchasing a new automobile, a potential buy must consider the basis for the purchase. Determining the vehicles purpose and uses is the first logical step to making such a decision. With this in mind, most working class Americans will find themselves with commuting jobs, which potentially could lead to a significant amount of highway miles on the new car. This will most likely be the dominant portion of the car's mileage. For instance, the average American commute to work is 24.4 minutes or 48.8 minutes a day (Buckner para. 1).This highly favors the hybrid, because the top three hybrid vehicles, the Honda Insight, the Toyota Prius, and the Honda Civic, all have highway miles per gallon in excess of 50 ("Gas Mileage").

However, when considering this evidence it is important to understand that the reason these cars are the only three vehicles rated over 50 miles per gallon highway is because of their great aerodynamics ("Aerodynamic Design"). Clearly, it can be said that with better design conventional cars could use the same design schemes, because the aerodynamic packages have little if anything to do with the car's distinction as a "hybrid." When evaluating this, it still comes down to the fact that hybrid designers are willing to design with aerodynamic efficiencies in mind, whereas most conventional cars are not. The highest fuel economy of any non-hybrid cars is 46 miles per gallon in Volkswagen's Golf, Jetta, and New Beetle (Bryan para. 1). This example of a conventional car that has a fuel-efficient design proves that there is not a definitive advantage of hybrids. Considering the high probability of the new car to be used for commuting, it is safe to say that either a conventional car with an efficient design or a hybrid would be appropriate.

The foremost factor on all vehicle owners' minds when shopping for a new car is money. The cost considerations of a hybrid are an even balance between potential gas savings and overall vehicle cost. On average, the hybrid vehicles cost in excess of $4,000 more than a comparable gas or diesel powered car ("Hybrid Cars-Worth it or Forget it" para. 2). Considering the fact that this $4,000 in additional cost must be offset with gas savings, it is difficult to fathom that a hybrid vehicle could offset these costs. For example, as previously mentioned, if a consumer purchased a Toyota Prius and paid $4,000 more dollars than a similar car the Volkswagen Jetta, the consumer would get 5 more miles per gallon on highways and 22 more miles per gallon in the city ("Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars for 2005"). To make up the $4,000 difference the consumer would have to drive a considerable distance, in which case the high cost of maintenance would become a major factor. If a buyer purchased a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid they would pay $6,000 more than they would for a traditional Civic Sedan. However, it is estimated that over five years the gas savings would only amount to $1,376.47 ("Costly Hybrid" para. 6). Without a break-even point in the gas savings to money spent factors, it is difficult to advocate the purchase of a hybrid based on the financial justifications of gas savings.

Similarly, the financial ramifications of a new automobile can viewed from a tax standpoint. Tax incentives for purchasing a hybrid vehicle may be a deciding factor that tips the scales for potential buyers. Tax credits for hybrids currently range from $650 for a Honda Accord hybrid up to $3,150 for a Toyota Prius ("Tax Deduction Credits"). Such a tax break may conveniently offset the added cost that hybrid engines have over traditional gas or diesel engines. However, before getting too excited about the money returning to the consumers' pockets, it is important to note that the majority of the tax breaks for these hybrid vehicles come only if the vehicle sale is a total purchase, not a lease, and if the owner keeps the vehicle and does not resell ("Tax Deduction Credits"). This hindrance on the tax bill hurts the majority of buyers who expect to one day resell their vehicle and see some return on their investment. Therefore, in our analysis we cannot reasonably count the money coming back to the consumer from any tax breaks.

The futures of particular types of cars such as the hybrid and the conventional sedan are a major unknown factor in this debate. Some say hybrids are just a fad and the conventional sedan will always be a staple in the auto industry, while others insist that hybrids are the beginning of the end for conventional sedans and similar older model cars. The vehicle that can sustain its value is likely to be the selection of many buyers. Senior analyst Dan Benjamin states in an article, "If you look at the hybrid market right now, there are not enough to go around, so you would expect resale values will be higher" ("Costly Hybrid" para. 8).With this kind of analysis become more prominent, one could expect a hybrid to hold its value well. This should be taken lightly because hybrids have not been around very long and the resale market has yet to become well established and is still unpredictable.

Along with cost concerns, buyers are inclined to examine the performance of vehicles. Car owners are often attracted to vehicles that have a high performance level with respect to speed, power, acceleration, and durability, particularly American car owners. Traditional gas powered vehicles come with any range of engine power available. The large availability of gas powered vehicles would allow a buyer to purchase a vehicle with any desired level of performance, ranging from high horse-powered vehicles to vehicles that accelerate from zero to sixty quickly. Conversely, the general public views hybrids as unpowerful and slow. This assumption is fallacious and is disproved by newer model hybrids such as the 2006 Lexus HS hybrid, which will exceed 300 horsepower and go from zero to sixty in under six seconds ("Top 10 Hybrid Myths"). With this myth dispelled, as a buyers we must now understand that both conventional and hybrid vehicles offer different dynamics and a wide ranges of power and performance.

In addition to financial and performance factors, consumers are also extremely interested in the environmentally friendly nature of hybrids. The environmental issues all boil down to one factor: the hybrid only reduces the emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, because the higher rated fuel economy allows less gas to be used and thereby reduces pollution. This still does not justify the upperhand being given to the hybrid on this matter, because gas mileages and car designs of gas powered vehicles are improving toward matching that of hybrids. Furthermore, the emissions of traditional cars have reduced to 60-90% of the previous levels during the 1970's and new technology is helping the pollution control trend downward ("Driving Trends"). The downward trend of pollutants coming from gas powered seems to suggest that gas powered vehicles will eventually match the fuel economy of hybrids and thereby render this advantage of the hybrid negligible. However, currently the hybrids are more advanced and help reduce environmental emissions.

In conclusion, it is logical explore new means to improve upon inefficient processes such as that of a gas or diesel powered automobile. However, when examining the full nature of a decision between a hybrid vehicle, which is said to save consumers money on gas and to protect the environment, and a conventional vehicle the question really becomes: will the costs of this new technology and design be offset by the added features and abilities that they provide. After careful review of factors including determining what the car is to be used for, examining the cost savings of fuel economy, the potential tax benefits, the vehicle's performance, and the environmental impact, the conclusion is that simply put, the hybrid technology cannot offset the added costs. The great reduction of negative environmental effects of the hybrid, along with the great performance of some of the models is still not enough to outweigh the added costs. Overall cost of a vehicle up front as well as the designed look of traditional vehicles will continue to dominate the concerns of consumers and is the exact reason why hybrids will never fully take over the market. Personally, I would love to help out with decreasing the environmental emissions; however, as a college student entering into the professional arena, it is imperative that cost be my main concern and facts prove that the hybrid is still not worth the hassle.