Originally Posted by swvsings
I just wish there was a single vehicle that combined the best attributes of my CR-V and the hybrids which are highest on my potential to buy list. I wish there was a small-ish SUV that in addition to having great mpg (35 or higher), great safety features, great reliability, being more environmentally responsible, reasonably priced, having AWD or traction control, A/C, power windows and locks, a cd player, a power key, a one step process to get into trunk or hatch area, had the following
had the following things going for it: (in no particular order)
1.sunroof,
2.heated seats,
3.heated mirrors,
4.heated wiper blades,
5.greatly adjustable front seats
6.really comfortable front seats,
7.dual climate controls,
8.steering wheel controls for audio and cruise control,
9.satellite radio and cd player
10.is fun to drive.
11.is $30,000 or less.
12.hatchback for transporting pets to the vet without getting the passenger seats all furry
13.and finally, pizzazz (the wow factor). I know it is a matter of opinion, but I find almost none of the hybrids particularly exciting. They mostly just look nondescript and dependable. They provoke in me the same level of interest and thrill that a lot of sports cars and concept cars do.
I want my cake and eat it too, I guess. I recognize that mine are unrealistic expectations. I’ve never yet had the perfect car. I realize that such a vehicle may not exist on the planet. I really like the Prius, the Accord, the Civic, the Highlander, the RX400h, and the Camry except for…
The Prius – dashboard seems too austere to me, the seats are not much of an improvement for me over my CR-V, and the visibility out the back window would be irritating to me I think. I like the idea of the Prius more than I imagine I’d like the day to day reality of it.
The Accord, the RX400H, and the Highlander seem great except for the mileage (assuming the averages on this site of 30 mpg, 25, and 26 respectively are accurate). Their miles per gallon are all too close to what I’m already achieving with my existing vehicle. The RX400h and the Highlander are both a bit larger than I actually need too, so if there were smaller versions of these but still hybrids I’d be interested.
The Honda Civic Hybrid lacks traction control so owners depend on great winter tires instead, as far as I can tell based on reading posts on different websites.
All this brings me to the Camry, likely to be my next vehicle, unless I hold out another year to see what results from the Nissan Altima Hybrid, and the Honda Fit Hybrid, and any others that are in the news, but not yet available. Maybe there’ll be updated and improved versions of any of the hybrids I already mentioned. The Camry is a sedan not an SUV, has mileage that is great compared to my nonhybrid car, but still less than I’d get if I got the HCH or the Prius, and appears to dependable but flirting with boring.
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