Mid-Size Hybrid Cars

More choices in hybrid family sedans

The group of midsize hybrid family sedans continues to grow, with new 2010 entries arriving from Ford and Mercury. But among 2009 models, the class leader clearly remains the Toyota Camry Hybrid (*Est. $26,150). Cars.com names it a Best Bet and Edmunds.com lists it along with the Toyota Prius as its two Top Recommended hybrid cars. The Camry Hybrid also earns top picks from Kelley Blue Book, Kiplinger's, U.S. News and other outlets.

Reviewers like the Toyota Camry's full-hybrid system, which provides EPA fuel-economy ratings of 33 mpg city and 34 mpg highway (34 mpg combined) -- better than most other midsize sedans. Power comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder matched with an electric motor for a combined 187 horsepower. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph is a respectable 8.4 seconds, faster than the nonhybrid four-cylinder Toyota Camry (*est. $19,395 to $29,045[AN1] ), according to Edmunds.com. If you drive with a feather-light touch on the throttle, the Camry Hybrid can move on battery power at speeds up to around 25 to 30 mph, after which the gas engine will kick in. (Some dedicated owners and enthusiasts report being able to hit 40 mph in EV mode under optimal conditions. Obviously, the experience varies greatly based on individual driving style.)

Most critics think the nicely equipped Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan offers a good balance of fuel savings, comfort and value. It also gets high marks for its historically high resale value and better-than-average owner-satisfaction rating. Cars.com editor Joe Wiesenfelder likes that the hybrid Camry feels more like a nonhybrid than most rivals. He says, "The braking is more natural, the acceleration more fluid and the engine's auto-stop feature less conspicuous than in the Prius or (Nissan) Altima Hybrid." Shortcomings include a small 10.6 cubic foot trunk and lack of a folding rear seat -- common complaints for hybrid cars. Reviewers often criticize all Camry models for their soft handling. Motor Trend says the Camry Hybrid "tacks with the inauthority of an undersized rudder."

Those who seek more athletic handling and a more attractive interior may prefer the Nissan Altima Hybrid (*Est. $26,650), according to some reviewers. It scores several top-pick awards, but not as many as the Camry Hybrid. The Nissan Altima beats the Camry in a pair of 2007 hybrid-car comparison tests conducted by Motor Trend and Automobile.com (the 2007 test cars are virtually the same as the 2009 models), however, the Camry Hybrid scores higher than the Altima Hybrid in a 2009 Car and Driver comparison test. The Altima uses Toyota's hybrid technology via a licensing agreement, but pairs the electric motor with Nissan's 2.5-liter four-cylinder, producing a total of 198 horsepower. This results in EPA fuel-economy estimates of 35 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, similar to the Camry Hybrid. There's one big catch, though: the Nissan Altima Hybrid is only available in nine states with the strictest emissions standards. On the plus side, Nissan's limited hybrid production numbers mean the Altima Hybrid is still eligible for a federal tax credit.

A Car and Driver four-car comparison test reveals a strong new competitor in the hybrid-car market: the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (*Est. $27,270), which beat the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu hybrids, in that order. "Ford has pulled off a game changer with this 2010 model," says reviewer Patrick Bedard, "creating a high-mpg family hauler that's fun to drive." The Ford Fusion Hybrid's official EPA mileage estimates are 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, although test drivers report observing slightly lower real-world fuel economy. Car and Driver averaged 34 mpg, which is still better than the other three hybrids in the test. The Ford Fusion Hybrid and chassis-sharing 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid (*Est. $27,500) are the first full-hybrid cars from an American automaker (both Ford and GM already have full-hybrid SUVs on the market). Power for the Fusion and Milan hybrids comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with an electric motor for a combined overall output of 191 horsepower.

General Motors presently markets two hybrid family sedans: the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid (*Est. $25,555) and similar Saturn Aura Hybrid (*Est. $26,240). Both are roomy and comfortable sedans that reviewers praise for their handsome styling, smooth ride and folding rear seats for expanded cargo room. Unlike the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid, however, the hybrid versions of the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura use a simpler, mild-hybrid setup, so their EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway are not particularly impressive -- only about 10 percent better than lower-priced, nonhybrid counterparts. In Car and Driver's four-hybrid comparison test, the Chevy Malibu Hybrid is ranked at the bottom. Reviewer Patrick Bedard comments, "The Malibu manages the dubious honor of last place in both fuel economy and acceleration." The test car's price is also lowest by at least $5,000, and Consumer Reports claims that the Malibu Hybrid is among the hybrids that will recoup its price premium fastest.