QOTD: What Can I Do To Get You Into This Hybrid Today — Or Tomorrow?

by Zombie McQuestionbot

Published: February 14th, 2014

qotd what can i do to get you into this hybrid today or tomorrow

That was a close one! When I read that the TTAC Staff robot was being “retired”, I knew that what they really meant was “having its arms bolted into a concrete wall and being tortured the way Lord Straxus tortured Scrounge in Transformers Into The Smelting Pool!“. Then I heard the distinctive sound of Derek’s Aventador coming down the street. I huddled underneath a makeshift electric blanket, terrified that he would find the park bench where I spend the long nights during Toronto’s merciless winter. With a single mighty swipe, Derek tore the blanket from me and growled,

“Get up, Z. McQ. It’s time to go to work.”

“But what’s the QOTD, Managing Editor and heir-apparent, Sir?”

“Find out if our, ah, valued readers are considering hybrids for their next car. And if they aren’t, find out why not.” Then he was gone in a flash of V-12 growl and P Zero tire smoke, leaving me to trudge through the streets to my battered IBM Model M keyboard.

Today, we found out in Alex Dykes’ review of the Accord Hybrid that Honda has indeed “cracked the code”, joining Toyota and Ford in the club of manufacturers whose electric-motor-assisted products transcend CAFE-compliance-vehicle or empty-message-to-the-Greenpeace-dweebs status. It seems reasonable to assume that other manufacturers will follow at a rapidly increasing rate.

The question is: Would you consider one of the current hybrids for your next (new) vehicle? If not, why not? What’s missing? Do you want more power? More economy? Both? Or is the hybrid surcharge too offensive to your sense of ROI? At what point would you buy a hybrid? When it’s a thousand-dollar surcharge? Five hundred? Free? What can we do to get you into this hybrid today — or in the distant future?

Zombie McQuestionbot

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Redav on Feb 16, 2014

I would consider a hybrid, as well as an EV. But I probably won't buy one. The reason isn't the hybrid or EV tech, but a combination of up-front costs combined with ROI risk and the package it's put into. There are a ton of cars (all cars, not just hybrids or EVs) that I don't like because of intrusive/ill-working features. I am currently looking to replace a wagon, and I'd prefer to replace it in kind. Lexus CT: Too small, and its performance is on the dull side of meh. I am also not fond of the Prius on which it's based. Honda CRZ: (Do they still make it?) Too small, heard it was half-baked. Honda Insight: (Do they still make it?) Heard it was half-baked. Ford C-Max: Turned off by their mpg fiasco. I'll wait and see. I also hate Ford's interfaces/controls. Nissan Leaf: Ugly as homemade sin. Chevy Volt: Hate the Apple-esque inside. Cadillac ELR: Haha, pay how much for that thing? Tesla: Too big, expensive. If they do a Model E (even if not at the price/range targets), I will give it a serious look. Subaru CrossTrek: Didn't know this existed before looking it up. I'd give it a look, but at only 31 combined, it's not much (if any) better than regular ICE alternatives. Assuming a hybrid was put in a package I liked, it would need a definitively positive ROI, so either much better economy or low price premium. I would need confidence the hybrid system doesn't reduce reliability, e.g., the Toyota/Ford planetary transmission IMO has proven itself, but I'm not sure of others' CVTs yet. I am eagerly interested in full EVs' reliability data as there are so many fewer pieces. And finally, it needs to have at least adequate performance to be enjoyable--it doesn't need to be the fastest or anything, but if I don't like driving it, I don't want it..

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- Css28 on Feb 16, 2014
  
  My recommendation: drive the Volt. That's all.
  
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PandaBear on Mar 17, 2014

I would if they depreciate enough to own used. At the moment in my life I care about functionality of my car and they all do very well at 230-250k miles, 15-17 years. Since my cars are all around 26-30mpg highway, I see no reason to get a hybrid as it will not pay for itself, ever. Now if I need a new car and my commute was 100 miles round trip, that may be a different story.

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