Hybrid Cars!

About a year ago, I went from a Jeep Grand Cherokee V8, to a Mercury Mariner Hybrid. While I miss the space in the larger SUV, the Mariner has served me well. As far as the sticker price, it was a little high for my liking, but I'm doing well at the pump. Most of my driving is city driving, and I average about 30 MPG, while in the larger Jeep I averaged about 17 MPG. There is no difference in driving "style" -- there isn't anything special that you need to do to maintain the hybrid. It works with regenerative braking, and also uses the gasoline engine and a motor to help charge the battery. If considering an SUV, I'd also suggest looking at any available diesel versions, too.

When we decided to trade in our gas guzzling SUV last year, we strongly considered getting a hybrid. What kept us from purchasing one was that at the time, the demand was far outweighing the supply, so prices were out of line. We ended up getting a regular Honda Civic, which is also really good on gas. In my area, there are now plenty of hybrids at the dealerships, so prices have gotten far more reasonable. I've got a client who owns one (the Prius) and loves it.