Decision Process

Two Paths to Clean Diesel

As more clean diesel vehicles begin to hit the market, consumers should be aware that diesel car manufacturers are taking different technology paths. The two main paths mean different responsibilities for car owners, although the goal is the same: to reduce emissions.

Top 10 Tips for Buying a Fuel-Efficient Car

For many years, new car buyers considered cup holders more important than fuel economy. Forking over three dollars for every gallon of gas has shifted those priorities. The auto industry has responded to the new desire for fuel economy by offering a growing number of fuel-efficient models—not just hybrids. Auto engineers are getting more and more sophisticated, but buying a fuel-efficient car doesn’t have to be rocket science—if you follow these common-sense shopping tips.

Top 10 Hybrid Myths

Five years ago hybrid cars were an unknown commodity. Today vehicles powered by a combination of gasoline and electricity are all the rage. Like any new technology, until you get your hands on it—in this case, on the steering wheel—it's hard to get your mind around it.

Department of Energy Tool Makes Comparing Lifetime Vehicle Ownership Costs Easy

The Department of Energy has come up with a handy and powerful new tool that takes a lot of the guesswork (and tedious back-of-the-envelop math) out of cost-to-own calculations for vehicles.

Making Plug-in Hybrid Comparisons

The Fisker Karma, Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius Plug-in all run on both gas and battery power, but there are key distinctions, stemming mostly from the differences between PHEVs and REEVs.

Consumer Reports Pans Sonata Hybrid

According to a recent Consumer Reports review, the Hyundai Sonata hybrid comes up short in several areas—with the publication recommending that consumers steer clear of the model in favor of the gas-only Sonata.

Report: Carmakers Squander Fuel-Saving Potential of Hybrids, Pad MSRPs With Forced Features

The Union of Concerned Scientists has released its annual Hybrid Scorecard for 2011. The group found that the auto industry often wastes the fuel-saving potential of gas-electric technologies, delivering paltry fuel economy gains and pricing the cars out of the reach of most consumers.

Consumers and Carmakers Still Look to Gas-Powered Compacts First for Fuel Savings

According to a recent study by GfK Automotive, consumers have mostly shifted to smaller compact gas vehicles of late, with many having decided that saving money on fuel is worth sacrificing a little in the way of space—just not too much.

Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe Defies Its Critics

The most maligned hybrid on the market today is the Honda CR-Z. It comes down to false expectations. Take one look at the sporty design of the coupe, and you might expect it to be a rip-roaring fast automobile. The people who complain most about the CR-Z—as if it’s some kind of personal attack on their worldview—say the same old thing over and over again: “It’s nor fast enough, nor fuel efficient enough.” But they’re looking at the wrong cues for an understanding of the car, and therefore miss the charms and benefits of the Honda CR-Z.

Hot Car for Summer: Used Toyota Prius

The 2011 Toyota Prius has been a big-seller so far this year. Sales are already up 51.5 percent in the first three months of 2011. Rising gas prices will put the quintessential hybrid in even greater demand. The result is a return of waiting lists for the 50-mpg Prius, and car buyers scrambling over to the used lot to see what’s available.

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