Have you been on the fence about buying a hybrid? When you get into the research you'll find that the benefits to the consumer are huge.

So now you're thinking, "If the benefits are so huge, why aren't hybrids a major player in the automobile industry?" There are many theories why this is so. Some people blame the oil industry for keeping the hybrids under wraps, others blame the pricing of hybrids. However, the main reason seems to be that people remember the early electric cars that went about 15 to 25 mph and that was if you floored it. Also, they got roughly 2 hours of battery life per charge. This wasn't economical or convenient for anyone.

Fast forward to today and you have hybrids made by Lexus, Nissan and Honda to name a few. More companies have concept cars in progress and they are nothing like the boxy little electric cars that were little more than glorified golf carts.

One hybrid that has been making a splash is the Honda Civic Hybrid. It looks great, drives great and has utilized the technology advancements making it one of the most fuel efficient vehicles on the road today. The Partial Zero-Emission (AT-PZEV) is the magic that gives the Honda Civic Hybrid it's fuel economy as well as making it very "green".

Currently, the Honda Civic Hybrid comes with an 8-year/80,000 mile warranty as well as an extended warranty on all emissions related features on this vehicle. This means not only are you driving a car that will save you a ton of money on fuel, it will also give you peace of mind that if it breaks - it will be fixed and not on your dime either.

The 2007 Civic Hybrid received major kudos from Kelly Blue Book as well as Edmunds and Consumer Review Magazine. The 2008 models are even sharper looking with more fuel efficiency utilizing the hydrogen cell method of energy transference.

One way to find out if a hybrid is the right choice for you is to lease one. Drive it for a while and put it through the paces and once you see the difference and the money you save at the fuel pumps, you might find yourself recommending hybrids to everyone you know.

Labels: buy a hybrid, hybrid, hybrid vehicles, hybrids