Buying used: Non-Prius hybrids for less than $20000 - The Globe and Mail
For those who need a car yet want to think green, a fuel-sipping hybrid is the way to go. However, you just can’t bring yourself to buy a Toyota Prius, the ubiquitous set of wheels for saving the Earth. You want fuel savings and low emissions without people thinking David Suzuki is your personal hero, but don’t fret: There are normal-looking sedans with hybrid powertrains on the market that will save both your fuel costs and your guilty conscience. Along with gasoline- and diesel-powered versions, the Volkswagen Jetta can also be found with a hybrid system, up to around 2013 with these prices. Visually, it’s nearly identical to its siblings, and although it weighs about 50 kilograms more with the battery and electronics, with 170 horsepower, the Jetta Hybrid is a fun car to toss around. Along with the Prius, Toyota offers the mid-sized Camry in a hybrid version, available up to around 2011. It looks like the regular Camry and, as such, is on the drab side – the biggest discernible difference being a slightly smaller trunk space. The electric motor can drive the car up to 40 km/h with good torque, depending on the charge, at which point the gasoline engine kicks in. together the system produces 187 horsepower, decent for getting around town. Source: www.theglobeandmail.com
