Features

• Hybrid cars generally get much better gasoline mileage than cars powered by traditional internal combustion engines. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, of 2010 model cars, the most fuel efficient non-hybrid car was the Smart ForTwo, which received 33 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. By contrast, the Toyota Prius, a hybrid, received 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway.
  
  

Effects

• The fuel economy of hybrids can lead to extensive savings on gasoline and diesel. According to Consumer Reports, purchasing the hybrid Jetta TDI over the internal-combustion Jetta SE will save a consumer an average of $3,250 over five years, if diesel fuel remains at a price of $3.10 per gallon.
  
  

Considerations

• Because a hybrid can save a consumer a significant amount of money on gasoline does not necessarily make it a better financial deal than a conventional car. Hybrids are typically more expensive than their internal-combustion-powered counterparts, meaning that whether a hybrid represents a good deal depends on how much it is used.