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Hybrid cars definitely have an associated cool factor, some of which is derived from being environmentally friendly and some of which is derived from being able to put down the extra money it costs to buy a hybrid car.

It is definitely true that hybrid cars are not made to go fast or be fun, and they are not the most comfortable nor the most luxurious. However, there are many hybrid cars available that are shockingly practical. Take, for example, the Lexus LS460h, which is a wonderful car (at least... until you actually have to write out a check for more than most households make in a year). This is an ultra-luxury sedan, and no expense is spared. You get tons of legroom, wonderful features, wonderful ride quality, low noise, and performance comparable to that of a non-hybrid sedan in the same category.

The truth is, though, that most people will not be buying a car, hybrid or otherwise, that costs over $100,000. The more common hybrids are the Prius (of course) and the Honda Civic hybrid. These are both cars that mix hybrid fuel efficiency with a relatively low acquisition cost. So before we begin to talk about these cars, let's get a few things straight. If you wanted a big car to carry around 4 kids and the family dog, you'd buy an SUV that you'd spend $100 a week to fill up. The Prius isn't a big car by any definition, and the Civic Hybrid is the same size as a regular Civic (which is still rather small).

The cool factor, then, doesn't come from grace. With 0 to 60 times over 10 seconds common among hybrids, you're also not going anywhere fast, so don't plan on beating a Ferrari from the stoplight. But at the same time, you do get a car that consistently manages over 40 miles to the gallon and has various luxury options like keyless ignition and satellite navigation. The cool factor here comes from being willing to spend an extra $5000 for a car that's going to save the environment. A comparable car would probably get about two-thirds of the fuel efficiency, which means your $45 a week for gas in your Corolla is now $30 a week for your Prius. With that savings, it's going to take you almost six and a half years to save back your extra initial investment, which means you're really not saving much by buying such a fuel efficient car. What you do save, though, is the environment, and that is definitely cool. Also cool is looking at the dashboard screen and seeing where your car's power is coming from. Also cool is checking out how the regenerative braking recaptures energy from the car and transfers it into battery power.

Hybrids, then, are not fast, graceful, or particularly fun. But cool, hip, and in style? Definitely.

Learn more about this author, Sanjit Datta.
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