The 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid is as capable as any other midsize hybrid on the market, according to Cars.com Managing Editor David Thomas. The hybrid componentry works seamlessly, but you sacrifice a lot of trunk space and the car costs $8,000 more than a gas-powered Optima, Thomas says.
Despite their small share of total vehicle sales, the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius garner a lot of attention from new-car shoppers, according to J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 Avoider Study.
The study finds that gas mileage is the most important attribute shoppers are looking at now, surpassing older key reasons such as exterior styling, reliability and price.
That puts the Volt, Prius and Leaf in a good position as each are among the most fuel-efficient cars in the country.
"Family of Four" from Los Angeles was in search of the perfect family vehicle — something that was easily maneuverable, versatile and fuel efficient. The family settled on the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid for its comfortable, quiet ride and superb fuel economy. For all the reasons why Family of Four chose the Highlander Hybrid over the likes of the Honda Pilot and Lexus RX, continue reading below. Once you're done, write a review about your own car here.
Compared to the rest of the redesigned Honda Civic litter, the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid is certainly the most disappointing, according to Cars.com Managing Editor David Thomas. The hybrid system doesn't feel as refined as those offered by competitors, and gas mileage isn't that much better than some of the regular gasoline Civic trims, yet it costs nearly $5,000 more.
Former Marine pilot, GM insider, author and ultimate car guy Bob Lutz has covered a lot of automotive ground in his 79 years. After stints at BMW, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, he’s joined the board of Via Motors, an aftermarket hybrid car company. How did this former global-warming heckler move to promoting 100 mpg cars?
Car Talk sat down with Lutz to discuss the reinvention of the Detroit Three, electric cars and the future of the U.S. auto industry. Check out the conversation:
Bob Lutz: The green-car guy who says Global Warming is @#$%&*
OnStar and PJM Interconnection, a major electric transmission company, are teaming up to help make clean, renewable electrical charging easier for Chevrolet Volt owners.
Together, the firms have developed software that manages the use of renewable energy via the Volt's OnStar data connection. The software, which is still in beta testing, would notify Volt owners by about time-of-use energy pricing, identify new charging locations and manage the energy put into the Volt.
For instance, the software could inform Volt owners that peak wind generation typically happens between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., making charging at those times most advantageous. Customers can also indicate that they'd like to use renewable energy sources, and OnStar would regulate the charging by using only those sources. Furthermore, the software could track the demand for renewable energy sources by consumers, which would help companies like PJM with investment in the proper infrastructure.
The software is part of a greater effort to improve the sustainability and efficiency of our electrical grid by focusing more on information gathering, also known as smarting the grid.
A majority of young people ranging in age from 21 to 30 years old would want to buy a hybrid vehicle over a conventionally powered gasoline car, according to Deloitte, a large global accountancy firm.
The age group, which is also known as “Echo Boomers,” “Generation Y” or “Millennials,” is comprised of 80 million consumers; that's larger than the Baby Boomer generation. As a whole, Generation Y is more eco-conscious than preceding generations. Their size and growing financial independence means more carmakers will likely cater to the needs of this new group of car buyers.
Despite the interest in eco-friendly transportation, only 2% of respondents said they'd be interested in a purely electric vehicle. Six out of 10 said they'd want a hybrid. Furthermore, there's a stronger interest in touch-screen interfaces and in-vehicle smartphone application tethering than there is for hybrids, says Deloitte.
Despite the enthusiasm — older shoppers also show a strong interest in alternative propulsions — hybrids have slipped in the automotive marketplace, according to the Detroit Bureau. Last year, hybrid sales were down 2.2%, at 268,807 units, while overall car sales went up 10.2%.
Millennials Want Hybrids — But May Not Buy Them (The Detroit Bureau)
Staying true to its quick-product-launch plan, Honda unveiled the 2013 Honda Fit EV at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show and has already delivered its first production version of the model.
The lucky owner is the municipality of Torrance, Calif., also home to Honda's U.S. headquarters. Technically, the first Fit EV is part of a test program to get real-world feedback before the model's official on-sale date this summer.
The 2013 Honda Fit EV is an all-electric vehicle that's solely focused on poaching potential Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i and Ford Focus EV customers.
Like the Focus EV, the Fit EV is based on its gas-powered cousin, but there are subtle styling changes (such as the absence of a front grille vent) that distinguish the model.
The Fit EV has an average expected range of 76 miles and can get a full charge in as little as three hours on a 240-volt charger.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has concluded its safety defect investigation into the Chevy Volt. It opened the case on November 25 after reports of the Volt catching on fire following severe crashes.
"The agency's investigation has concluded that no discernible defect trend exists and that the vehicle modifications recently developed by General Motors reduce the potential for battery intrusion resulting from side impacts," NHTSA said in a statement.
GM has decided to re-engineer the battery coolant system and make structural enhancements to Volt to protect the battery in the event of a crash. The automaker strengthened the structural elements that protect the battery, added a new sensor to the coolant system reservoir to monitor the coolant level and installed a tamper-resistant bracket to the coolant reservoir to prevent overfilling.
NHTSA also stated that there haven't been any real-world Volt crashes that have resulted in battery-related fires. The original fires were reported after lab tests on the Volt's battery pack resulted in an electric fire days later.
Gas-free motoring options are expanding in 2012. Mitsubishi's first all-electric car, the i, is now finding its way to retail customers. The four-door hatchback first went on sale in Hawaii last month, and Mitsubishi is now rolling it out at West Coast dealerships. Customers in California, Oregon and Washington were the first in the continental U.S. to take delivery of the i.
The i (formerly called the i-MiEV) seats four and draws power from a 66-horsepower electric motor and 16-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The EPA lists a 62.3-mile driving range, but this number varies based on city and highway driving. Mitsubishi estimates charging time at 22 hours on a 120-volt outlet and seven hours on a Level 2 240-volt charging station.
The 2012 Mitsubishi i starts at $29,125; the $7,500 applicable federal tax credit brings the price to $21,625. But how much does it cost to drive? The EPA lists an annual fuel cost of $550. It uses the national average electricity rate of 12 cents per kilowatt-hour and an annual driving range of 15,000 miles to calculate the i’s operating costs.
Mitsubishi plans a gradual rollout for the i, with nationwide availability by this summer.
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!