CTVNEWS

Hybrid vehicle market growing every year

CTV.ca News Staff Published Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:41AM EDT

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Hybrid vehicles are marketed as an environmentally friendly way to save you money at the pumps. And with new federal incentives, they are becoming more cost-effective than ever.

The price premium for a gasoline-electric hybrid ranges from $3,000 to $6,350. But the federal government now offers the ecoAUTO Rebate Program for those who buy or lease fuel-efficient vehicles after March 20, 2007.

The rebate applies to new vehicles with combined fuel consumption of 6.5L/100 km or less for cars, or 8.3L/100 km for minivans and SUVs. Gasoline-electric hybrids get the biggest breaks, with up to $2,000 in rebates.

Factor in provincial rebates that range across the country from $1,000 to $3,000, and the rebates can offset the premium cost of the vehicle.

According to consumer research firm JD Power and Associates:

Approximately 9,500 hybrid vehicles were sold in Canada in 2006.
Overall, 1,615,078 cars were sold in Canada in 2006. Hybrids accounted for only 0.5 per cent of total sales, but that number is expected to rise dramatically, expecially because of Canada's new federal rebate program
About 57 per cent of consumers who expect to buy a new vehicle in the next two years are considering a hybrid
By late 2008, at least 20 hybrid models will be on sale in Canada. Ford will offer hybrid versions of Edge and Lincoln MKX crossover utility vehicle that will be built in Oakville, ON and GM will offer Silverado, Malibu, Sierra pickup as hybrid versions, too.
The best selling hybrid in '06 was the Toyota Camry Hybrid (2,116), followed by the Prius (2,003), and the Civic (1,465).

The Globe and Mail "Globe Auto" columnist Petrina Gentile Zucco looks at a few of the hybrid vehicles on the market.

Honda Civic hybrid sedan

$26,250
smallest of the bunch
fuel economy 4.7L/100 km city and 4.3L/100 km highway vs. conventional Civic with automatic at 8.2L/100 km city and 5.7L/100 km on the highway

Honda Accord hybrid sedan

$38,090 or $40,590 with navigation system
it's actually faster than its gas-powered sibling - which is unusual for a hybrid
fuel economy 8.2L/100 km city and 6.1L/100 km highway vs. conventional accord V6 with automatic at 11.5L/100 km city and 7.5L/100 km on the highway

Nissan Altima hybrid sedan

$33,123
Nissan's first entry into the hybrid market. The technology is borrowed from Toyota
fuel economy 5.6L/100 km city and 5.9L/100 km highway vs. conventional Altima with manual at 8.9L/100 km city and 6.1L/100 km on the highway

Toyota Camry hybrid sedan

$32,000
Toyota is the leader of hybrids. Camry hybrid is best-selling hybrid; it also won 2007 Canadian Car of the Year
fuel economy 5.7L/100 km city and 5.7L/100 km highway vs. conventional Camry at 9.8L/100 km city and 6.5L/100 km on the highway

Lexus RX400h SUV

$62,250, or $70,700 for ultra premium package
Luxury arm of Toyota unveiling a slew of hybrids across the lineup. The 5-passenger SUV is expensive, but luxurious
fuel economy 7.7L/100 km city and 8.3L/100 km highway vs. conventional Lexus RX350 at 12.4L/100 km city and 9.0L/100 km on the highway

Ford Escape Hybrid SUV

$31,499
This model was tweaked for 2008 and includes interior fabric material made from recycled soft-drink bottles.
fuel economy 7.3L/100 km city and 7.4L/100 km highway vs. conventional Escape 4x4 at 2.5L/100 km city and 9.4L/100 km on the highway

Saturn Vue Green Line SUV

$29,060
GM's first real hybrid; a significant addition to the Vue line
cheapest hybrid SUV on the market
fuel economy 8.8L/100 km city and 6.7L/100 km highway vs. conventional Vue AWD at 12.6L/100 km city and 8.4L/100 km on the highway

Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid sedan