by Randall Bullard

Created on: September 23, 2009

The push for increased fuel economy in the modern age has forced automotive manufactures to seek new ways to meet the consumers' demand for increased fuel efficiency. Several of manufacturers leading the field in vehicles that use hybrid technology are Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Ford. What follows is a general summary of the specifications for the 2010 Honda Insight, the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid, the 2010 Toyota Prius, the 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid, and the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Honda has two hybrids currently available, the 2010 Honda Insight and the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid. The 2010 Honda Insight comes equipped with a 1.3-liter, 8-valve, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and a DC-Brushless electric motor and continuously variable transmission with horsepower ratings of 98hp @ 5800rpm. The standard features include automatic climate control, Power locks and windows, and a 160-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with MP3 capability. With EPA ratings of 40 city/43 hwy/41 combined mpg, the Honda Insight is perfect for the budget-minded hybrid shopper with a starting price of $19,800.

Honda's second addition to the hybrid arena, The 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid, comes equipped with a 1.3-liter, 8-valve i-VTEC 4-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lightweight, high-output electric motor and a continuously variable transmission that puts out 110hp @ 6000rpm. Standard features on the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid include those available on the Honda Insight; automatic climate control, Power locks and windows, and a 160-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with MP3 capability. With an EPA rating of 40 city/45 highway and 42 combined mpg, the Honda Civic Hybrid has a starting price of $23,800.

Toyota's third-generation Prius has been the front runner for years in the hybrid vehicle market and the 2010 Toyota Prius is poised to continue to be one of the most popular hybrid vehicles available to the average consumer. Equipped with an aluminum, double overhead cam, 16-valve, VVT-i 4-cylinder engine and a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor and 98 hp @ 5200 rpm, the 2010 Toyota Prius continues to deliver phenomenal EPA fuel ratings 51 city/48 highway/ and 50 mpg combined with the assistance of a continuously variable transmission. Add in standard features like the AM/FM/MP3 CD player with six speakers and satellite radio capability, Power windows with auto up/down, and Power automatic door locks with anti-lockout feature and starting price of $22,000, the 2010 Toyota Prius is sure to please the

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