Are Hybrids Just Suffering A Set Back Or Has The Rest Of The Market Finally Caught Up?

This year has been particularly difficult for the auto industry -- with some types of car suffering more than others. And although there’s an unrelenting drive towards greener, more fuel efficient cars with better gas mileage, sales of hybrid cars haven’t been as great as perhaps they ought.

Is the hybrid car dying? Or are there a set of external influences that have combined to create the perfect storm of circumstances to stifle sales? And should we worry?

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Agent009 - 11/15/2011 3:09:33 PM

-2 Boost

I differ with you on that. Why pay $4k to $5k for 3 more MPG? With gas prices remaining low the hybrid will remain a niche player.

The hybrid has to fit into a lifestyle. Slow overall speeds and traffic are the driving force. That is why they excel in California and not so well in Montana.

Our RX450h just got back last night from a road trip to Houston where the average speed was almost 80 MPH. The Hybrid averaged 21 mpg for the round trip. In this case the hybrid couldn't match our ML350 for the same trip at the same speeds. However in Houston traffic the RX450h would have won hands down. So is a tie acceptable for $5K extra?

monster - 11/15/2011 3:55:59 PM

+5 Boost

Agent009, I don't see how it is a tie as you don't always drive at 80mph. The difference between highway and city driving is at least 6mpg. so if you have one full day of city driving you are still ahead. The only time I see it as a tie, I guess a winner for ML350 is when you do highway all the time.

Joe_Limon - 11/15/2011 4:43:29 PM

0 Boost

Did you seriously just compare a loaded model to a base model in terms of price?

ML350 base MSRP = $48,990
ML350 diesel MSRP = $50,490

RX450H AWD MSRP = $46,825

Joe_Limon - 11/15/2011 4:45:11 PM

0 Boost

also the AWD lexus equivalent doesn't get 32mpg in the city, only the weak wristed fwd one does :)

Joe_Limon - 11/15/2011 5:11:13 PM

0 Boost

oh if we want to bring unfair personal biases into our comparisons then clearly the Lexus must be fully loaded to compare similarly to a base Mercedes trim level. lol

thetruth01 - 11/17/2011 5:22:11 PM

+1 Boost

Point 1- new SMALL cars are getting mpgs similar to older hybrids. The current mid-sized Prius gets 50 combined. The new Prius C is projected to get 55mpg. Hybrid technology is still new and the leaps it has traken in just 10 years is staggering. Less weight, less complexity, higher mpgs.

Point 2-Gasoline prices are on the rise again (as are sales of hybrids).

Point 3-Hybrids clearly suffered because of the tsunamis and flooding (Sorry, Joe facts are facts.)

Point 4-As more and more hybrids become cheaper with even higher mileage, a ravaged economy will welcome them. $19000 for a 40mpg Fiesta or $20000 for a 55mpg Prius C? I know what I'd pick.

Point 5-There are not enough plug-ins at reasonable prices to put a serous dent in hybrids. But really, most plug-ins will be hybrids anyway, so this point seems kinda moot.

Point 6-Exactly.