Decision Process

Kelley Blue Book Announces 2009 Top Green Cars

Kelley Blue Book, a leading consumer information website, announced its 2009 picks for the Top 10 Green Cars. Hybrid gas-electric cars top the list that also includes two small cars and two diesel engine vehicles. The number one choice is the 2010 Toyota Prius, a mid-size sedan offering a combined city/highway mileage of 50-mpg.

German Hybrids: Coming Thick And Fast

Just five years ago, only Toyota and Honda offered hybrid gas-electric vehicles—the Prius and Insight, respectively. Now, there are more than a dozen carmakers—including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen—that offer, or have plans for, hybrids. Here’s a roundup of news just over the last few days about hybrids coming from the homeland of Rudolph Diesel.

Survey: Consumers Are Waiting for More Affordable Hybrids

A new survey by Consumer Reports found that 48 percent of consumers said they will continue to wait before making their next vehicle purchase. That’s not surprising considering the dismal slump in new car sales in recent months. What is surprising is the number of people who said they are delaying their car purchase to wait for fuel-saving technologies like hybrids to become more affordable.

Hertz Takes Aim at Zipcar

Hertz has launched Connect by Hertz, the first global car sharing club offered by an international car rental company. The move puts pressure on Zipcar, currently the leader in self-service pay-as-you-go car rental services. After eight years in operation, Zipcar has yet to become profitable.

Prius Tops 2009 Fuel Economy Ratings

The EPA and Energy Department this week issued its 2009 fuel economy guide. Hybrids, once again, dominate the top of the list with five of the six most efficient vehicles. The 2009 Toyota Prius is the leader with ratings of 48 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway.

Crude Hits Ten-Month Low; Gas to Follow

As investors grappled with the potential ramifications of a looming global economic downturn today, oil prices fell to levels not seen since late 2007. The dive was precipitated by a growing sense that in the coming months, businesses and individuals around the world will drastically cut oil use, and that a spike in demand from emerging economies is about to plateau.

Car Shoppers More Environmentally Aware Than Once Thought

Nobody has questioned the importance of high gas prices to the rise of green cars, but one has to wonder: Just how many car shoppers out there are concerned enough about the environment that it factors into a purchase decision? According to a study by Kelley Blue Book's market research division, the answer is "quite a few."

Carmakers' Greenness In Blogs

JD Power and Associates got its start many years ago by talking to consumers about automobile quality, but the company has branched out considerably since then. Its latest study, issued yesterday by the Web Intelligence Division, looks at the blogosphere to determine how car brands are perceived for their environmental sustainability.

UAW Blasts McCain About Daughter's Prius

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has come under fire from the United Auto Workers over his daughter's Toyota Prius—and how exactly she paid for it. McCain originally told The New York Times that he had purchased the imported hybrid sedan for daughter Meghan, but recently changed his tune in an interview with a local Detroit newscast, saying that she "bought it, I believe, herself."

2009 Honda Fit: First Drive

Just three years after its debut in the US, Honda has delivered an updated version of the Honda Fit for 2009. Some analysts believe that it’s premature to bring out a new version of the subcompact five-door hatchback, but it’s here with a slightly sportier look inside and out—so we took it on a quick test drive through the curvy canyon roads north of Los Angeles.

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