The hype about hybrids

What's all this hype about hybrids, cars powered partly by gas, partly by electricity? And how did hybrids become the coolest ride around? A long list of Hollywood’s hottest stars, like Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio, drive one. Even Canadians like the Barenaked Ladies’ Steven Page and literary legend Margaret Atwood are proud hybrid owners. Hybrids are so hot, many manufacturers can’t even keep up with the demand. The Prius, Toyota's gasoline-electric hybrid car, is the hottest thing on four wheels. And it’s the best selling hybrid in Canada. The Prius is stylish, practical and the talk of the town – it attracted a ton of attention wherever I traveled. This 5-door hatchback has a roomy, stylish interior, plenty of legroom, passenger room, and trunk space for all my shopping sprees. It’s perfect for singles, students, or small families. The car is pretty peppy and handles well too. But the best thing is the gas bill; it works out to about $600 a year compared with $1,000 for a Toyota Camry. But Toyota isn’t alone when it comes to cleaner, Earth-friendly vehicles. The Honda Accord Hybrid travels incognito on the road. But it shouldn’t. It deserves to be worshiped and adorned with attention. This gas-electric hybrid helps reduce emissions and saves fuel, but it does it without sacrificing power or performance. From the outside, there are only a few subtle differences to distinguish the hybrid from its gas-powered sibling, the popular Honda Accord Ex-V6 sedan. The changes are barely noticeable: The tires are a bit bigger, there’s a small rear spoiler, and only a tiny hybrid badge on the trunk to mark this latest, and fastest, addition to the Accord family. Since I normally drive a conventional Accord sedan, most people didn’t notice my new wheels during a recent one-week test drive. But while it may look like any other Accord, under the hood it’s a different story. The hybrid technology is so amazing and the ride so smooth and fast you want to scream out, “Hey check out what I’m driving! I’m not just like any other Accord on the road!” No wonder the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) awarded the 2005 Honda Accord hybrid Best New Technology. The hybrid has the fuel efficiency of a smaller 4-cylinder Honda Civic. And you won’t need to fill up too often – the hybrid is expected to reach a range of 1,000 kilometres on a full tank of gas! Behind the wheel, it’s like driving a regular Accord. Acceleration is excellent and the hybrid handles extremely well; actually much better than my gas Accord. The hybrid is only offered one way – loaded. Inside, top-of-the-line leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual temperature controls and a six-disc CD player are standard features. The hybrid name isn’t plastered inside. There are only a few small special gauges related to the hybrid system. Trunk space is reduced slightly to make room for the nickel-metal hydride battery-pack, which is stored behind the rear seat. But the green technology makes up for it. For adventurers who need to haul skis, snowboards or mountain bikes, turn to the Ford Escape SUV hybrid. It’s the first hybrid to have 4-wheel drive. So, it’s perfect for Canadian winters - it will tackle any terrain easily. It’s tough and there’s plenty of room inside the cabin. Split-folding rear seats also add extra cargo space. And it comes with every feature available on a conventional SUV, including air conditioning and a CD player. It’s not just men who want these wheels – sexy, young women, like actress Heather Graham even own these wheels.

Photo Credit: Toyota.ca