Motorists urged to look under the hood of hybrids

Do drivers who want to cut their carbon emissions and fuel bills really care about heated seats and leather trimming?

That is the question implicit in a new guide to hybrid vehicles to be released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which concluded that car firms are inflating the price of many hybrids by including a raft of luxury features that are of little interest to motorists attracted by the vehicles' fuel economy and environmental credentials.

The scorecard report, which analyses hybrids available in the US, found that both the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid cut carbon emissions 31 per cent compared to conventional models. But while their hybrid drivetrains cost approximately $4,000, both models also come with over $3,000 worth of non-negotiable features, driving up the price premium for motorists keen to switch to a hybrid.

"Car buyers shouldn't be forced to buy high-end bells and whistles when fuel economy and reducing emissions are their top priority," said Don Anair, the senior vehicles analyst with UCS's Clean Vehicles Program.

The report recommended that those looking to avoid unnecessary features and gain good fuel economy should consider the Honda Insight, which delivers more than 40 miles per gallon, and is one of the more affordable models at $20,000.

The study also advised that motorists take a close look at hybrid vehicles' environmental credentials and fuel efficiency before purchasing, noting that there is huge variation in the carbon emissions and fuel efficiency of different hybrid models.

The scorecard report, which ranked hybrid models on their environmental performance and value for money, gave the Toyota Prius the top spot with a score of 9.8 out of 10, while the Honda Civic Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid tied for second with an identical score of 7.8.

In contrast, General Motors' hybrids lagged far behind, largely due to their relatively poor controls for smog-forming gases.

"The good news for consumers is there are a lot of great hybrids out there," said Anair. "But you can’t trust the hybrid label alone. You need to look at how much environmental performance you're getting for your money."

UCS's scorecard rated 31 hybrids, including two and four-wheel-drive models, manufactured by five automakers: Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda and Nissan.