Hail to the Hybrids

Image Gallery 2001 Honda Insight.

The new generation of electric hybrid cars—Toyota's Prius and the Honda insight—have come a long way from the days of plug ins. Hybrids combine the the traditional gas-powered engine with an electric-powered motor to conserve energy and reduce pollution. By combining the two energy sources into a single system, the Insight and Prius have all the pep and power of traditionally powered cars, but with benefits to both the environment and pocketbook.

The only unusual aspect of the Toyota Prius is the wait involved in getting the car: about four months at Crown Toyota in Lawrence, Kansas, typical for the country. Toyota's success is rooted in its canny ability to balance what American consumers want (energy and price benefits) with what they fear (most anything different). Toyota broke into the American market by using that formula in the post-'70s energy-crisis market. The Prius is a relatively spacious four-door sedan, comparable to a Camry, with enough space in the trunk for groceries or luggage. An interior touch-screen display monitors the hybrid system, speed and overall gas mileage. The four-passenger Prius gets 45 miles per gallon on the highway—better than most comparable gas vehicles, but not breathtaking. Where the Prius shines is in stop-and-go city traffic. Since the gas engine doesn't kick in until the car reaches an acceleration point the electric motor can't handle, and the innovative braking system recharges the battery, the Prhis averages 52mpg in the city. If great gas mileage is your primary concern, the two-passenger Honda Insight might be for you. Using a gas-assisted electric system similar to the Prius, the Insight averages61mpg in the city and68on the highway. The Insight's light weight gives it such efficiency—you can easily move the whole car with one hand. Interior and trunk space is limited, because of the car's compact size and space allocated to the batteries.