Hybrid Cars

ConsumerReports.org auto editor Jon Linkov reveals the magazine's "best green car" pick for 2010 -- the Toyota Prius -- in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America." Despite the recent brake recall,… Linkov says all new Priuses on dealer lots have already had their brake software fixed, so ConsumerReports.org didn't yank its recommendation as it has for other recalled Toyotas. Editors base their picks on extensive road tests, fuel economy, safety and massive owner-satisfaction and reliability surveys. Other hybrids are recommended in the sedan and small cars rankings, but only subscribers can access those.

This in-depth comparison test pits the new Ford Fusion Hybrid against three rival 2009 hybrid sedans: the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Chevy Malibu. Although the last-place Malibu hybrid has been… discontinued, the Camry and Altima hybrids carry over largely unchanged from 2009. The second-place Camry Hybrid is "impeccably mannered," but the winner is the Fusion Hybrid, "a high-mpg family hauler that's fun to drive." The Fusion Hybrid is also one of Car and Driver's 10Best cars for 2010.

Two hybrids -- the 2010 Toyota Prius and Honda Insight -- lose this faceoff to the fuel-friendly, nonhybrid Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The Prius wins most of the categories; testers admit it's the most… comfortable and spacious, with easily the best gas mileage (a whopping 63 mpg overall in the test). But the clean-diesel Jetta accelerates and handles the best by far, making it "the one we'd want to drive, day in and day out."

In this head-to-head comparison test between the 2010 Honda Insight and the 2010 Toyota Prius, Motor Trend's Kim Reynolds provides an excellent discussion of the cars' technology, comfort and drivability.… The Insight wins, despite drawbacks such as a coarse, noisy ride and slightly lower fuel economy. Reynolds feels that the Honda's more reasonable price and excellent mileage make for a more appealing package overall.

This arm of Autoblog.com keeps up with the latest hybrid news, plus reviews of the latest hybrid vehicles. Testers don't usually compare the cars or pick favorites, but the well-written reviews do a great… job describing just about every aspect of the cars. Here, you'll find in-depth reviews of the 2010 Toyota Prius and the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan hybrid twins, as well as reviews of the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid and Lexus GS 450h, which haven't changed much for 2010.

This article gives a brief overview of hybrids and then lists the lineup for 2010 with links to individual ConsumerGuide.com reviews. ConsumerGuide.com editors rate vehicles on a list of criteria. The 2010… Toyota Prius, Lexus LS 600h L, Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid and hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Honda Civic are tested and earn Best Buy designations. Hybrid models are reviewed and rated alongside their gasoline counterparts.

CanadianDriver.com's Green Scene section keeps track of eco-friendly auto news, along with expert road tests and long-term tests of many current hybrid vehicles. Reviews here are thorough and easy to read,… judging cars' performance and practicality in a balanced way. Particularly useful are data and observations about how the hybrids perform in subzero weather. However, editors don't pick a list of favorite cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests most 2010 vehicles. The tests are conducted slightly differently from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's tests -- frontal… crashes are head-on, rather than offset on the front corner as in IIHS's tests, for example -- so the results sometimes differ. No hybrid car earns perfect 5-star ratings in all of NHTSA's crash tests, but two -- the Lexus HS250h and Toyota Camry Hybrid -- earn 5 stars in all front and side crash tests, with 4-star ratings for rollover resistance.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid is the only hybrid on reviewer Aaron Gold's list of the 12 best new and redesigned cars for 2010. In a full review, Gold compares the Fusion Hybrid with the competing Nissan Altima… and Toyota Camry hybrids, saying the Fusion Hybrid is both more fuel-efficient and more entertaining to drive. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

U.S. News' car-review section follows a methodology similar to the one pioneered by ConsumerSearch -- that is, the U.S. News ratings are based on the testing of third parties. Editors boil down their… research in an easy-to-read, one-page report that culminates in a numerical rating. Editors give the twin Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids the edge over the runner-up Toyota Prius, noting Toyota's recent recall controversies.

Each year, GreenCar.com selects five finalists for its Green Car of the Year award, selected from all new eco-friendly vehicles. For the 2010 award, the most significant new vehicles -- Top 5 finalists --… include the Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Toyota Prius. The winning vehicle is the diesel-powered Audi A3 TDI. Additional information on these vehicles can be found elsewhere on the website.