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Reviews of Hybrids

Impressions and critiques of hybrid gas-electric vehicles. Recommended vehicles are printed in blue in the list of models, any model shown in bold blue was judged to be the best vehicle in this class. (Model names printed with the reviews will not be colored whether a vehicle is recommended or not.) See all Top Picks and Recommended models by class.

Ford Escape

 

Honda Civic

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Ford Escape

Available As: Small SUV

Base Price Range (MSRP): $26,505-$28,255

Pros: Interior space and comfort, fuel economy, all-wheel-drive.

Cons: Refinement, interior quality.

Overall: Pay the premium for the Escape Hybrid only if you need SUV practicality and are willing to spend a significant amount of money to get economy-car gas mileage at the same time.

Rating: 6/10

Recommended: YES

 

Characteristic: Hybrids Compared to All  Vehicles
Seat Comfort 6/10 6/10
Luxury 3/10 4/10
Practicality 8/10 7/10
Performance 5/10 5/10
Fuel Economy 7/10 9/10
Safety 7/10 6/10
Price 5/10 6/10

The gasoline-powered Ford Escape is an adequate budget-priced SUV, with a spacious interior and acceptable driving dynamics, but a low-quality interior and a noisy ride. That car was the starting point for the Escape Hybrid, which itself keeps most of the humbler models strengths and weaknesses with the addition of full hybrid technology and a few thousand dollars to the price. This makes the Escape Hybrid into a relatively expensive small SUV that feels too cheap to be worth its price. But the gas mileage it achieves is impressive. Not enough to necessarily cover the price difference between the gas-powered and Hybrid Escapes, but enough to make it the most fuel-efficient SUV sold. If that is important to you, the Escape is a worthy choice. Otherwise, you are better off looking for a different way to get good gas mileage.

Honda Civic

Available As: Compact sedan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $22,600

Pros: Safety ratings, fuel economy.

Cons: Acceleration, instrument layout.

Overall: The Civic Hybrid offers more value than its Toyota Prius rival, but in dollars and cents its added cost and complexity don't make it a better choice than a low-priced gas-powered economy car.

Rating: 6/10

Recommended: YES

 

Characteristic: Compared to Hybrids Compared to All  Vehicles
Seat Comfort 5/10 6/10
Luxury 4/10 5/10
Practicality 4/10 5/10
Performance 5/10 4/10
Fuel Economy 9/10 10/10
Safety 9/10 8/10
Price 7/10 7/10

 

The Civic Hybrid costs about $1,000 more than a gasoline-powered Civic EX sedan (though it also loses some equipment, like a sunroof), and is rated by the EPA to get an additional 13 miles per gallon. On the flip side, it is slower, has stiffer tires that hurt ride and handling, and has less trunk space and no folding rear seat.  If you want to get your gas mileage the hybrid way, your other top choice is the Toyota Prius, which can at times run only on its electric motor to be rated at an extra 4 mpg compared to the Civic Hybrid (and careful driving is likely to net a larger gain in the Prius than in the Civic), is quicker and roomier, and costs less before optional equipment (though most are built loaded). For those seeking fuel savings for financial reasons, a cheaper gas-powered Toyota Yaris makes more sense.

 

Last Update: 1/30/08
 
© 2008, Institute For Consumer Automotive Research