Hybrid Car Owners Not Likely To Buy Another Hybrid

[cwerdna]

These so-called "40 mpg" non-hybrids are typically 29-33 mpg combined (and considerably worse in the city test), at best and sometimes only w/specific trim levels and manual transmissions. They should be called 30 mpg cars.

The Prius and Prius c deliver 50 mpg combined on the EPA test.

I asked about that on another thread and another poster said in tests some of these 40mpg cars are beating their estimates. Not sure I believe it but have no firsthand knowledge with these latest models. I do know we have gotten well over 30 in some other economy cars like civic in mixed driving and they weren't the latest models. With this new crop it isn't just the Cruze, there's mazda skyactiv, elantra with it's 6 speed automatic, and others. Meanwhile it's not clear every prius driver is getting 50mpg. I certainly haven't the times I've rented them, but I probably didn't drive it right, had a headwind, or dared to turn on the A/C. Excellent mileage, better than any other car, but not 50mpg, more like 45.

12,000 miles of driving in a year takes 240 gallons @ 50mpg and 343 gallons @ 35mpg. So at $4 a gallon you're saving $412 a year. From what I've seen a Prius is a minimum $4k premium over a 35mpg type car. Lots of other variables like gas prices rising over the time you have the car, concerns over complexity in the prius/battery replacement that may be unfounded, time value of money ($4k now vs ~$400/yr) etc etc...

But those are EPA estimates are for HIGHWAY driving, not combined nor city driving. Sure, a bunch of high 30 mpg highway and ~40 mpg highway cars can achieve ~40 mpg on the highway, at low enough speeds, but not everyone lives and works on a highway and is able to drive at continuous highway speeds. Many folks travel on highways for part of their commute that is stop and go for most if it in addition to plenty idling before getting on the highway.

Take a look at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/02/the-most-fuel-efficient-cars/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/buying-advice/best-worst-cars-review/best-worst-fuel-economy/best-and-worst-fuel-economy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. How many of the pure ICE cars that scored >=40 mpg overall are non-hybrids? 0

As I posted earlier on:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/powerSearch.jsp and search for diesel or gasoline powered with MY 2012-2013 then search for combined mileage >=40 mpg. There are 0 non-hybrids. If you change that to 35, the only non-hybrids and non-PHEVs are the 2-seater Smart ForTwo and the '12 VW Passat diesel w/6-speed manual.

Here's what some of the above cars you mentioned got on Consumer Reports testing.
'11 Cruze 1.8L auto: 17 city/36 highway, 26 mpg overall, 34 mpg on a 150 mile trip
'11 Cruze 1.4T auto: 17 city/36 highway, 26 mpg overall, 35 mpg on a 150 mile trip

They had no Cruze Eco to test but they finally got one in recently. No results yet.

'12 Mazda 3i Touring Skyactiv w/6AT: 22 city/43 highway, 32 mpg overall, 40 mpg on 150 mile trip
'11 Elantra: 20 city/39 highway, 29 mpg overall, 35 mpg on 150 mile trip

Look up the combined EPA mileage of all of the above cars you mentioned at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. You will see what I'm talking about.

What's the combined EPA mileage of the '12 Cruze Eco w/manual? 33 mpg. Want an automatic? 31 mpg. Want to not spend extra for the Eco but still want an auto? 30 mpg. Want to get the cheapest trim (has 1.8L engine) but still an auto? 27 mpg.

Newbies on Priuschat will complain if their mileage has dipped into the 35-39 mpg range (usually due to short city drives in cold weather) yet the above cars don't even achieve the above in CR's overall mileage rating.

Most 3rd gen Prius owners will say CR's 44 mpg overall on the 3rd gen Prius is too low but still 44 > 32 > 29 > 26.

There's more to operating costs than fuel alone such as depreciation, insurance, interest on financing, etc. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/01/hybrids-diesels-do-they-save-money/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has indicated "payback" periods for a bunch of cars.

The HV battery is warranted for 8 years/100K miles in most states and 10 years/150K miles in CA and CARB states. The Prius has no drive belts, no alternator and no starter. The power split device (http://eahart.com/prius/psd/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false is mechanically simpler than an automatic. There are no shift solenoids, bands, internal clutches, torque converter, etc. The brakes last forever due to regen (100K miles on the original brakes isn't unusual). Prius has gotten great reliability ratings in CR.

For those who decide to go w/manual Cruzes (for instance), head over to http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/9-chevrolet-cruze-general-discussion-forum/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and you'll see a bunch of folks who've had theirr clutches fail already, besides a multitude of other problems. In CR's reliability ratings, the Cruze was the most unreliable small car and scored far worse than average.

And now, the smaller Prius c is out (still EPA rated at 50 mpg combined) but starts at ~$19K.