hi, i am a mom from the south who is interested in hybrids. i try to look things up but i am much better at just asking questions. i want a hybrid to replace my mini-van. no one in my town drives them so i am kind of in this on my own. i would like a hybrid that won't be crushed by a suburban, seats seven, is not too expensive, and won't be a hassle to maintain. any suggestions?
is a hybrid the best way to go? what about the new ethanol cars? again, i am new at this. there aren't any ethanol gas stations in my state so that may be a problem. i don't have to have a brand new hybrid, used is okay. any help or info anyone could send me would be great!!! thanks. paige.

 

I'm afraid the only hybrid option today that seats seven is the Lexus . . . a very nice car but nearly $50,000. They came online this year so used Lexus hybrids are rare.

OPPS! I forgot the Highlander Hybrid which looks a lot like the Lexus but I understand is $10k more affordable. Same problem with finding them at an affordable price.

Toyota has a hybrid minivan sold only in Japan, the Estima, but there is no indication it will be introduced soon. I've sent a letter to Toyota America asking.

One option you might consider is a used hybrid for a "goin' for groceries" car and use a minivan for mass transport. Having a high efficiency vehicle for trips that don't require everyone is a nice way to extend the budget.

GOOD LUCK!

Bob Wilson

 

Well, you have a few options really, depending on your situation, and your willingness to act.

1. As far as I know, there are no Ethanol only cars, they're all flex fuel vehicles (FFV), meaning they can use both regular gas or E85, that is, 85% Ethanol, 15% gas blended fuel. There are a lot of existing and even older models that are FFV's, however, keep in mind that E85 burns less efficiently, meaning you'll get far worse MPGs with E85, and have a reduced range per tank (naturally, as you're getting fewer MPGs). So, not to slam E85 at all, but that's the truth of it. You may not want to get or use a vehicle solely for the flex fuel capacities, unless E85 is cheaper than gasoline and in good supply, you'll only be short changing yourself if that's your sole reason for purchasing said vehicle.

2. The hybrid benefit is pretty much in relation to how you use it, and what kind you get. If you're willing to learn how to maximize the hybrid technology you purchase, you can really make the vehicle shine. In certain environments, not only are you better off with a hybrid, but far better off. However, to do that, you've got to be willing to get educated, and use that education to your advantage. It's not enough that you know how to do it, but you have to understand your vehicles pro's and cons, and be willing to live with them.

Now, as to your hybrid choices, really, there's one that meets all your specifications as you listed, and that's the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. You can find quite a bit of information here and at other sites about it.

However, as Bob suggested, perhaps you don't really need what you think you need. If you're willing to seat a few less, there's the Ford Escape Hybrid, and if you're willing to look beyond the SUV, there's several other choices, as a general rule of thumb, the smaller the vehicle class, the better the MPGs that it as a hybrid gets.

Even though you're not a "candidate", may I suggest reading the FEH FAQ (Link in my signature) to learn more about hybrids in general, and hybrid SUV's. There's also some good links in there that you can use.

Regardless of what you do, I congratulate you on coming here, registering, and asking the question. I highly recommend taking a good look around here, and continue to ask questions. Purchasing a car is a major decision and investment, the more knowledge you have, the better off you are.

 

The Saturn Vue is going to come out in a hybrid version any minute now and the pricing is really resonable- $23,000. Also, when you look at the prices for these cars, factor in the tax credits, that will reduce the price, in the end, significatly.