No Hybrid Vehicles Make List Of Top-Ten Most Cost Effective Vehicles

According to a new analysis by Edmonds, the top ten most fuel-efficient cars currently on the road are all conventional vehicles. The Chevrolet Aveo came out on top, with a per-mile average cost of 42.7 cents. The calculation assumes a five-year ownership, 60-month financing at an APR of 10% per year, gasoline at $4 per gallon, and 15,000 miles driven per year.

When the calculations are tweaked by raising fuel prices to $5 and $6 per gallon, the Aveo still ends up on top. The other top-ten models are the Hyundai Accent, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Honda Civic, Nissan Versa, Mazda 3i, Kia Rio, Scion xB and the Toyota Corolla.

Hybrids were nowhere to be seen until gas prices were raised to $6 per gallon in the calculations. At that level, the Honda Civic Hybrid knocked the Toyota Corolla out of 10th place with an estimated operating cost of $0.53 per mile.

Under current conditions, the Honda Civic Hybrid checks in at #14. Other hybrids were ranked as follows.

34. Toyota Prius
66. Nissan Altima Hybrid
81. Chevy Malibu Hybrid
94. Ford Escape Hybrid
102. Mercury Mariner Hybrid 2WD
134. Toyota Camry Hybrid
136. Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD
190. Toyota Highlander Hybrid
260. Lexus RX400h

The premium attached to hybrid technology is largely responsible for the higher operating cost of a hybrid vehicle. As hybrid technologies advance, the premium should shrink, but those savings may be offset if the price of gasoline stabilizes or drops.

Source: Edmonds.com