Sure , gasolene prices are miserable now , but in the summer of 2008 , when gas prices hit upwards of $ 4 a gallon , it pall a lot of drivers . Suddenly , greenish drive was all the rage and consumer prove eco - friendly drive . Some even switched to the most fuel - effective railway car model they could see , and of course , they searched for as muchhybrid carinformation as they could get their hands on , too .
intercrossed cars and trucks use anelectric motorto might the machine when the gas railway locomotive is n’t necessary . That take into account the interior combustion locomotive engine to shut off , saving gaseous state . Because of those economy , intercrossed car have become increasingly popular . And hybrids are n’t just for granola - crunching hippies anymore , either – luxury car makers have start out into the game .
Keep take to see which hybrid were the most democratic in 2008 .
10: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
When Santonio Holmes won the MVP Award for Super Bowl XLIII , he clear had fleeceable drive on his mind . MVP winner are allowed to prefer any railroad car from Cadillac ’s batting order , and Holmes chose the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid .
In 2008 , 801 buyer opted for the car that proves going green does n’t mean you have to sacrifice bling bling . The Escalade Hybrid combines a V-8 locomotive , seating for up to eight passengers , high - tech midland features and tow ability with a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy liken to the received Escalade . While the Escalade Hybrid ’s size prevents it from getting the same fuel saving as smaller loan-blend , it allows buyers who require lashings of quad and utility , and those who need rafts of lavishness , to make a slightly greener choice .
9: Lexus LS600h
Of of course , there are plenty of gondola buyers who want a luxury hybrid without have to repel a great S.U.V. like the Escalade . In 2008 , 980 people purchased the Lexus LS600h , the large and most luxurious intercrossed auto produced by Toyota Motor Corp. , Lexus ' parent company .
With a manufacturing business suggested retail price ( MSRP ) thatstartsabove $ 100,000 , the LS600h obviously is n’t for people who are search to save a little hard currency on gaseous state . In fact , the LS600h only gets an EPA - estimated 20 MPG ( 8.5 kilometers per cubic decimeter ) in the city and 22 MPG ( 9.35 kilometers per cubic decimeter ) on the highway . The LS600h is an interesting hybrid because the galvanic motor not only can power the auto at irksome speeds to preserve throttle , it can also provide a power boost to the gas locomotive . That make the Lexus LS600h the loan-blend of option for well - heeled purchaser looking to tally a short tingle to their green driving .
8: Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid
The Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon Hybrids offer the same capabilities and seating as the Cadillac Escalade hybrid . However , with much low price tags , it ’s not surd to see why 5,876 buyers die for the Tahoe and Yukon in 2008 , compare to the 801 buyers who prefer the Escalade Hybrid .
But the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids are n’t just wan imitations of the Escalade . The Tahoe Hybrid was bring up the 2008 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal , giving it some green street - cred . Like the Escalade Hybrid , the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids ' size forbid them from getting bully fuel economy , but for people who ask totow grueling loadsor draw mass of masses , the extra miles per Imperial gallon , not matter how small , is a big benefit .
7: Nissan Altima Hybrid
Nissan is often seen as an " also - ran " contender when compared to Toyota and Honda , the Godzillas of Nipponese automakers . But for emptor who require a little more operation from their family sedan , the Nissan Altima has long been the railcar of choice . The Nissan Altima Hybrid now lets drivers pass the gas place in addition to passing other cars on the route .
In 2008 , Nissan sold 8,819 Altima Hybrids . While those sales numbers are n’t as high as sales for loanblend from Honda or Toyota , what makes the Altima Hybrid ’s sale impressive is that it ’s only usable in eight states . If Nissan sell the Altima Hybrid in more region , sales , and Nissan ’s reputation for eco - favorable driving , might be a bit higher .
6: Lexus RX 400h
The sixth best selling hybrid in the U.S. for 2008 is another luxury exemplar , and another Lexus . More than 15,000 Lexus RX 400h intercrossed SUVs were sell in 2008 – almost twice the number of the Nissan Altima Hybrid , the next most - buy loan-blend in America .
The Lexus RX 400h appeals to buyers looking for Lexus luxury and reliableness , sport utility vehicle practicality , and reduced oil habit and carbon emission . It ’s also popular because , fuel economy aside , its functioning is decidedly unhybrid - comparable . It speed up strongly , handle well and wraps passengers in a technical school - heavy cocoon of luxury . The only downside to the RX400h is its high prickle price : It starts at about $ 42,000 .
5: Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Some the great unwashed want to have it all : a railroad car that uses less gas but is still capable of handling all of the hoi polloi and poppycock you need tohaul . The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is one of those fomite that does just that .
The Highlander Hybrid is a midsize hybrid SUV , which mean it seats seven and has plenty ofcargospace for luggage , fun equipment or pets . It ’s also fairly tough ; while it would n’t be most masses ’s first option for an off - road automobile , it can handle repellant weather condition and grunge route with no problem . When you add a hybrid baron wagon train that give drivers a 37 percent improvement in city fuel economy , you get a machine that really earns its spot as the 5th best sell loan-blend in America .
4: Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids
Even though General Motors has three hybrid on this top 10 tilt , Ford is the only domesticated auto manufacturer with hybrids listed in the top five . Together , the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids are the fourth good selling hybrid vehicle of 2008 . The two models are clean similar . Both are thickset sport utility that seat five and are almost automatically selfsame .
In 2008 , Ford sold almost 20,000 of the Escape and Mariner Hybrids as purchaser opted for all the public lavatory and capabilities of a small SUV , but with the added cost increase of improved accelerator pedal mileage and lessen emissions . As Ford starts to roll out more hybrids , including the well - review Ford Fusion Hybrid , the Escape and Mariner Hybrids seem to be a good platform to construct on .
3: Honda Civic Hybrid
The Honda Civic Hybrid has the distinction of being one of the most low-cost cross out of the top 10 good marketing hybrids in America . The Civic Hybrid is nearly undistinguishable from the ceremonious Civic , except for its powertrain .
Buyers snapped up more than 31,000 Honda Civic Hybrids in 2008 . Not only is it an economical choice for green drivers , but the Civic Hybrid hold a lot of the fun - to - drive characteristic of the conventional Civic . The Civic Hybrid wield well , accelerates with some oomph and has Honda ’s bulletproof reputation for dependableness . But the Civic Hybrid wo n’t be the loud kid on the block for long . In April of 2009 , Honda will re-introduce the Honda Insight , a midsized hybrid that will likely be price less than the Civic Hybrid .
2: Toyota Camry Hybrid
When it come to hybrid gross revenue , Toyota is queen . And while Toyota is well do it for its Prius hybrid , the second - salutary marketing hybrid of 2008 is the Toyota Camry Hybrid . In fact , Toyota sell more than 46,000 of them in 2008 .
While the Prius is known for its typical shape , the Camry Hybrid flies under the microwave radar . On the exterior , only a hybrid badge separates it from the conventional Camry . Under the hood , however , the Camry Hybrid care to get an extra 12 nautical mile per gallon ( 5.1 kilometer per gal ) in the metropolis compared to the standard Camry , and a 26 percent advance in fuel economy overall . The Camry Hybrid is another one of those " have everything " hybrids . In add-on to the eco - friendly ride , purchaser get a well-situated rider cabin and good performance , too . All reasons that explain the Camry Hybrid ’s popularity .
1: Toyota Prius Hybrid
The Toyota Prius may not be as large as the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid , but when it get along to hybrid sale , the Prius is a juggernaut . In 2008 , Toyota sold 158,886 Prius hatchbacks . That ’s more vehicles than the respite of this 10 good selling hybrids heel combined .
The Prius has long been the most successful crossbreed on the market . Not only does it have first-class fuel economic system , but emptor love its exterior design , which has become the de facto shape of a hybrid in most citizenry ’s mind . The Prius is slatted for a redesign in 2010 and Toyota is pulling out all the stops : not only will fuel economy meliorate , but the car will be larger and more easy , boast solar panels on the cap ( to power inner accessories ) , and be build in America .
While you may never say for indisputable what a redesign will do for a automobile , the buzz building around the Prius is that it will carry on to command the hybrid market for years to issue forth .
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