Hybrid Mythbusting

"Hybrids," or automobiles with both gasoline engines and electric motors designed to propel the vehicle, are the cool gadget to have now, especially here in SoCal. However, there has been a lot of debate about the true costs of a hybrid. In particular, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest that a hybrid's fuel economy is not nearly as efficient as the EPA sticker would suggest. Hybrids also cause some concern with regard to durability and dangers posed to emergency workers.

Popular Mechanics has attempted to address at least the fuel economy question by conducting a real-world test of two different models of cars with hybrid gas-electric powertrains, alongside their gas-only equivalents. While some decry the growing trend of turning larger sedans or SUVs into "muscle hybrids," Popular Mechanics' test demonstrates that the most significant gains in fuel economy can be gained from larger vehicles, rather than featherweight small sedans whose overall efficiency is already nearly maximized in its gas-only form. Popular Mechanics managed to coax a Toyota Highlander, a 7-passenger SUV, to return nearly 29 miles per gallon on average over their 570-mile test loop, almost nine miles per gallon better than the gas-only Highlander. 29 MPG in an SUV is undeniably a positive result; getting more power at the same time is a welcome side effect.