Best 5 Hybrid Cars: Go Green, Go Hybrid

Go Green, Go Hybrid is what the main motto of hybrid cars. These are the cars which consume less fuel and use electric motor along with the gas engine to generate the power. A set of batteries is used to power up the electric motor which is recharged by the brake regenerative system and by the main engine. Many major car companies are getting into these cars and have already launched few. We had gone through these cars and were able to build a list of Best 5 Hybrid Cars.

No.1 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Ford Fusion Hybrid

Considering all the facts and features, we concluded to put Ford Fusion Hybrid on the top of stack. A power of 191hp is churned out combining both the outputs of gas engine and electric motor. The acceleration is very responsive due to a higher torque of 136@2250rpm. The car is very powerful when compared to the other hybrids and even after with such a powerful engine, the mileage is 41mpg. This is the result of a powerful electric motor, which cruises the car at a speed of up to 47mph without the need for gas power, if driven ideally. The gas engine comes into action when the acceleration level goes high. Due to this factor, the car can cruise for a long journey of 700 miles at just one fill of gas tank. The standard transmission is automatic e-CVT adding more comfort in the long journeys. The intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system distributes the torque as and when required independently to any of the axles giving a more safer and convenient drive.

Ford Fusion Hybrid

The electronics are made very intelligent and attractive too. The instrument cluster is lightened up with dual LCDs at both the sides of the centered speedometer which displays all the important information and alerts in four different modes which can be selected directly from the steering controls.

USNews and Cnet, both rated the car as a No. 1 Hybrid Car for 2010. The car comes with a good host of features that hold this car at No. 1 position. Below are few of the features which make Ford Fusion Hybrid a really featured car:

• eCVT Automatic Transmission
• Regenerative Brakes
• Dual LCD Information Display
• Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control
• Welcome Chime
• Reverse Sensing System
• One 110 Volt Power Point and Two 12 Volt Power Point
• Capless Refuel System
• Steering Mounted Controls with Cruise and Music Controls
• Ambient Lighting
• Automatic Headlights
• 6 Disc Mp3 Player with 6 speakers
• USB and Aux Compatibilty
• 10-way Front Power Seats and 4-way Rear Power Seat
• Heated Seats
• Quad Beam Halogen Lamps
• Hybrid Battery-275 Volts
• Electronic Stability Control
• SecuriCode Entry (Just enter the correct code and you are in)
• Blind Spot Warning System

SHORT INFO

Mileage: 36 City/41 Hwy/39 Combined mpg

Engine: 2.5L Atkinson-Cycle I-4 Hybrid Engine

Total Power: 191HP

Torque: 136@2,250

Price Range: Start from $28,825

Along with these, one can also install the optional features like Moon & Tune package, Navigation System, Rain Sensing Wipers and Sony Premium Audio System with 12 Speakers. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid recently won the 2010 North American Car of the Year award for its refined ride, upscale interior and 41/36 mpg rating.

No. 2 Mercury Milan Hybrid

Mercury Milan Hybrid

On the 2^nd position is Mercury Milan Hybrid, which has almost all the same features as that on the Ford Fusion Hybrid. It produces the same power of 191hp as a combination of 156hp from that 2.5L inline engine and 35hp from that of electric motor. All the features of Mercury Milan are same to that of Ford Fusion Hybrid including mileage, top speed, instrument panel, sound system. Only the major change is the look and feel of car. The reason for being on the second position is the presence of dealers and service station is strong for that of Fusion Hybrid. To read more about this car, read the Ford Fusion Hybrid review once again or visit the official page.

Mercury Milan Hybrid

SHORT INFO

Mileage: 36 City/41 Hwy/39 Combined mpg

Engine: 2.5L Atkinson-Cycle I-4 Hybrid Engine

Total Power: 191HP

Torque: 136@2,250

Price Range: Start from $28,345

No.3 Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius

Moving ahead for the third, we found Toyota Prius, the most suitable for this position generating the highest mileage of 51mpg on highway and 48mpg in city. The car’s rebuilt version of 2010 has seriously changed the way the previous Prius was. The total engine power is boosted to 134hp from the older 110 hp, which resulted in better acceleration and smoother drive. The increase in the engine power has not affected the mileage, and the reason for that is better electronics and advanced engine.

Toyota Prius Interior

The car offers three drive modes- Eco, Power and EV mode. In eco mode, the car goes a lot fuel efficient but with some lack of power. You can drive normally, but if you want power while driving under this mode, you will feel sluggish. The next mode is Power mode which drives the vehicle on gas alone, that is the electric motor gets a cut off and only the 4-cylinder engine kicks in to give out the most power. This mode will use a lot of fuel as the car runs only on the gas engine. The last mode is EV mode, which maximizes the use of electric motor lets the vehicle to be driven at 25mpg to 30mph as maximum and if you try to go above that, you will end up with lot of indicators.

The car has a solar panels at top, but those are just to power the little exhaust fan which automatically operates when the car is not being used to keep the inside cabin at normal temperature. The car is available in 4 trim levels mentioned as II, III, IV and V where II is the entry level model. Below are few features that keep this car at No. 3 position:

• Projector Beam Halogen Headlamps
• Automatic Climate Control with dust and humidity control filters
• Audio System with Mp3 and 6 sound system as standard and JBL sound system with eight speakers in III, IV and V trim level
• Auxiliary jack
• Keyless Entry
• 6 way adjustable front seats and 4 way adjustable rear seats
• Front Heated Seats
• Steering Mounted Controls including audio, climate and multi information display controls
• Lane Keep Assist
• Hybrid Synergy Drive, a technology from Toyota that takes the maximum output of power from engine with optimal use of resources.
• Auto Dimming rear view mirror
• Tonneau cover with clasp for under-floor storage
• ABS
• Electronic Stability Control
• Driver’s knee airbag
• Hill Assist Control
• Heated Outside Mirrors
• Rear window with defogger

SHORT INFO

Mileage: 48 City/51 Hwy/50 Combined mpg

Engine: Aluminum double overhead cam (DOHC) 1.8L 16-valve VVT-i 4-cylinder

Total Power: 134HP

Torque: 105 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

Price Range: Starts from $22,800

Overall, the car is a very good choice for economy seekers as the mileage and the price of car, both are a good combination.

No.4 Lexus RX450 Hybrid

Lexus RX 450 Hybrid

The next position was titled to Lexus RX450 Hybrid. Although the car is very dominating with its great interiors and exteriors, but the reason for putting it on the 4^th position is its lower mileage and higher cost. The base model with Front Wheel Drive (FWD) costs $43,235 and the All Wheel Drive (AWD) model costs $44,825 and both had an extra cost of $875 as delivery and handling charges.

The technology used in this car is very advanced and also the car hosts a very powerful V6 engine which produces a total power of 295hp in combination with the electric motor. It is the maximum in any hybrid car. The a top speed is 112mph and a whooping acceleration of 0-60mph is achieved in just 7.4 seconds in AWD model and 7.8 seconds in FWD. The car uses Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission with intelligence (ECVT-i) with sequential shifts and snow modes.

Lexus RX 450H Interior

The exteriors are designed very carefully to give the car an eye catching looks from all over. The adaptive headlight gives a safer view at turns by pivoting about 20 degrees on the left side and 10 degrees at right. The headlights also have a sensor which automatically switches to low beam when there is some vehicle coming from the front.

The car hosts a lot of features attracting the customer to change its mind from any other hybrid, if money and mileage is not a concern. Few of the features are:

• Adaptive Headlights
• Rear Backup Camera
• Side View Monitor System
• Water Repellent front windows
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Power Boot Lid, just one touch button to open and close
• Keyless Entry
• Bluetooth
• USB Connection
• Dual Screen Rear-Seat Entertainment System
• Unique 40/20/40 Rear folding seats
• Voice Activated HDD Navigation System
• Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound System
• Heated Seats
• Steering Mounted Controls for easy access of most used features.
• Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) II
• 10 Airbag Safety System
• Regenerative Braking
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Pre-Collision System

SHORT INFO

Mileage: 28 City/30 Hwy/29 Combined mpg

Engine: Atkinson cycle 3.5L 60^o V6, aluminum block and heads

Total Power: 295HP

Torque: 234 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm

Price Range: Starts from $43,235

Overall the car is too good on features but goes beyond on mileage. It is actually a performance vehicle with lots of power kept within a hybrid. Go on and you will love the ride with it.

No. 5 Honda Civic Hybrid

Honda Civic Hybrid

The next place is won by Honda Civic Hybrid, with all the basic facilities inside its cabin and with a good blend of mileage as well. The car pumps out a power of 110 hp from its gas engine and 20hp from the electric motor making the total power of 130hp, which is equal to the power of other basic sedans.

Honda Civic Hybrid Interior

The shape and looks of the car are almost the same as that of the Honda Civic and resembles many features too. The exteriors are complemented with multi reflector headlamps which should get a sooner replacement to the newer projector lamps. The interiors are all standard with almost all the basic required things. Few of them are listed below:

• Automatic Climate Control
• Leather Trimmed Interior
• Continuously Variable System (CVT) Transmission
• 160W Audio System with Mp3 and USB support
• Steering Mounted Controls for basic features
• Side Curtain Airbags
• Idle Stop Feature
• ABS with EBD
• Daytime Running Lights
• Power Side Mirrors
• Cruise Control
• Rear Window Defroster with Timer
• Heated Front Seats

SHORT INFO

Mileage: 40 City/43 Hwy/42 Combined mpg

Engine: In-Line 1.4 L 4-Cylinders

Total Power: 130HP

Torque: 123 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

Price Range: Starts from $23,950

These five cars are the heart of the hybrid series currently and are the most chosen cars by people all over. There will be sooner more launch of these cars as they are more environment friendly and also low on fuel. Go Green, Go Hybrid.