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While sales of gas/electric hybrid vehicles have declined this year, numbers of nameplates are multiplying rapidly.
They’re coming at us from all directions. We don’t realize it, for, other than the Toyota Prius and its identifiable shape, the newer hybrids are mostly based on other established models and look little different.
This came to mind the past week as I drove the 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Magnetic gray in color, it rolls down the highway looking like any other Camry; up close the word Hybrid can be seen along its side and it has a bit different grille. Raise the hood and crowded together in the underhood space are a 4-cylinder engine and electric motor. Open the trunk and noticeable is loss of cargo room to a large battery pack.
Five or six years ago, a couple Toyotas and a couple Hondas were the extent of the hybrid lineup in the U.S. Today, there are more than 25 models of hybrids, and on the horizon are dozens more.
Surprised? Here is the list of hybrids recording sales thus far this year:
Toyota Prius, Camry and Highlander; Honda Insight, CR-Z and Civic; Ford Fusion and Escape; Lexus RX450h, HS250h, GS450h and LS600hL; Nissan Altima; Lincoln MKZ; Mercury Milan and Mariner; Cadillac Escalade; Chevy Tahoe, Silverado and Malibu; Mercedes-Benz S400 and ML450; GMC Yukon and Sierra; Mazda Tribute; BMW ActivHybrid and X6. By the end of 2011, this list may be doubled in length. As the hybrids increase in model offerings this year, sales through the end of November have declined almost 8 percent. Of 10.4 million new cars and trucks sold in 11 months, 246,033 are hybrids – that is 2.3 percent of the market. A surge in the price of gasoline, which has risen the past couple of weeks, could spark a sales hike in the gas/electric offerings. The hybrids might also benefit from exposure given the two new electric models, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. The Toyota Prius continues to dominate sales of hybrids, as it has since its introduction in 2000. The Prius has sold 125,000 cars this year, slightly more than half the total hybrid sales. Far behind the Prius are the Ford Fusion with 19,328 sales, the Honda Insight with 19,325, Lexus RX450h with 13,578, the Camry with 13,356 and Ford Escape with 10,305. A good-selling new entry is the Honda CR-Z sport hybrid, which was introduced only three months ago and climbed to fifth highest in sales in November. Sales of vehicles burning clean diesel, another alternate fuel source, have sold 71,450 this year, about a third of the hybrid total. As dominant in the clean diesel field as the Prius is in hybrids is the Volkswagen Jetta. Sales of the Jetta TDI diesel total 40,382, 57 percent of the total. The remainder of sales is divided among BMW X5, Audi A3, Audi Q7, Volkswagen Golf, Mercedes-Benz GL320, BMW 335d, Mercedes E320, Mercedes ML320, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Volkswagen Touareg and Mercedes R320.
The Camry Hybrid is a comfortable-riding, smooth-performing, front-wheel-drive four-door sedan which delivered an average of 34.9 miles per gallon of fuel for me, boosted by 90 percent highway motoring. It has undergone few changes for ’11. Sales of its hybrid version are down by a whopping 37.5 percent this year, probably due in great part to the several recalls by the firm over unintended acceleration with its standard Camry models.
It accelerates mildly at low speeds from its combination of 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine/electric motor and continuously variable automatic transmission. It drives at very low speeds in electric power alone and often shuts down the engine while idling at stoplights. The transmission, shifted into the B slot on a sharp descent, does a nice job of engine braking, slowing down the vehicle without use of the car’s brakes.
A bland interior is spiced by woodgrain trim on the doors and the center console.
The Camry Hybrid’s base price of $26,400 climbed past $32,000 with the addition of many optional items, including DVD navigation, rearview camera, JBL AM/FM/CD with satellite radio and eight speakers, leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, heated front seats and integrated front fog lights.
Power windows/locks/mirrors are standard, along with dual-zone climate control, push-button start, trip computer and tilt/telescope steering wheel.
The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a direct competitor to the Camry hybrid. A new midsize entry in the hybrid market will be the Hyundai Sonata.
Toyota Prius, Camry and Highlander; Honda Insight, CR-Z and Civic; Ford Fusion and Escape; Lexus RX450h, HS250h, GS450h and LS600hL; Nissan Altima; Lincoln MKZ; Mercury Milan and Mariner; Cadillac Escalade; Chevy Tahoe, Silverado and Malibu; Mercedes-Benz S400 and ML450; GMC Yukon and Sierra; Mazda Tribute; BMW ActivHybrid and X6. By the end of 2011, this list may be doubled in length. As the hybrids increase in model offerings this year, sales through the end of November have declined almost 8 percent. Of 10.4 million new cars and trucks sold in 11 months, 246,033 are hybrids – that is 2.3 percent of the market. A surge in the price of gasoline, which has risen the past couple of weeks, could spark a sales hike in the gas/electric offerings. The hybrids might also benefit from exposure given the two new electric models, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. The Toyota Prius continues to dominate sales of hybrids, as it has since its introduction in 2000. The Prius has sold 125,000 cars this year, slightly more than half the total hybrid sales. Far behind the Prius are the Ford Fusion with 19,328 sales, the Honda Insight with 19,325, Lexus RX450h with 13,578, the Camry with 13,356 and Ford Escape with 10,305. A good-selling new entry is the Honda CR-Z sport hybrid, which was introduced only three months ago and climbed to fifth highest in sales in November. Sales of vehicles burning clean diesel, another alternate fuel source, have sold 71,450 this year, about a third of the hybrid total. As dominant in the clean diesel field as the Prius is in hybrids is the Volkswagen Jetta. Sales of the Jetta TDI diesel total 40,382, 57 percent of the total. The remainder of sales is divided among BMW X5, Audi A3, Audi Q7, Volkswagen Golf, Mercedes-Benz GL320, BMW 335d, Mercedes E320, Mercedes ML320, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Volkswagen Touareg and Mercedes R320.
2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid
$32,453
(price as tested)
MPG City 31 Highway 35
Vehicle type: Midsize gas/electric hybrid sedan
Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
Length/Width/Height: 189.2/71.7/57.5 inches
Weight: 3,680 pounds
Engine: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, electric motor
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel mileage: 34.9 mpg
Fuel tank: 17.2 gallons
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5/60,000 powertrain
Competitors: Ford Fusion, Honda Insight
Built at: Georgetown, Ky.
THE STICKER
$26,400 base
$2,960 Navigation, backup camera, Bluetooth, 10-spoke alloy wheels
$1,295 Leather seats, woodgrain interior trim
$470 Heated seats and outside mirrors
$750 Destination
PLUSES
Fuel mileage
Smooth performance
Interior roominess
MINUSES
Low-end acceleration
Trunk space
