Best Selling Hybrid – Part 1

When gas prices hit upwards of $4 a gallon, it scared a lot of drivers. Many of them switched to the most fuel efficient hybrid car models they could find, and of course, they searched for as much ‘green car’ information as they could get their hands on, too.

Hybrid cars can power the car use an electric motor when the gasoline engine isn’t necessary. Consumers can save more gas because this car allows the ICE or internal combustion engine to shut off. Because of those savings, hybrid cars become more and more popular. And this makes many auto makers, including luxury auto makers have gotten into the game.

As a consumer, let us see which hybrids were the most popular and best selling in this category.

1. The First-Best Selling Hybrid: Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius may not be as large as the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, but Toyota Prius is juggernaut when it comes to hybrid sales. In 2008, Toyota sold approximately 160,000 Prius hatchbacks. That’s more vehicles than the rest of this five best selling hybrids list combined.

As the most successful hybrid on the market, Toyota Prius not only does it have excellent fuel economy, but it’s also has a great exterior design, which has become the ‘de facto’ shape of a hybrid in most popular minds. Prius is slatted for a new design in 2010 and Toyota is pulling out all the stops: not only improve fuel economy, but this hybrid will be more comfortable and larger, feature solar panels on the roof, and be built in America.

As the first-best selling hybrid, Prius will continue to dominate the hybrid market for years to come.

2. The Second-Best Selling Hybrid: Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota Company is king when it comes to hybrid sales. Toyota is well known not just from its Prius hybrid, but Toyota also have Camry hybrid as the second-best selling hybrid of 2008. In fact, Toyota sold more than 46,000 of them in 2008.

While the Prius is well-known for its distinctive shape, the Camry Hybrid flies under the radar. Camry’s exterior only has a hybrid badge separates it from the conventional Camry.

Compared to the conventional Camry, the Camry hybrid manages to get extra 12 mpg or 5.1 kilometers per gallon in the city, and a 26 percent improvement in fuel economy overall. The Camry Hybrid is another one of those “has everything” hybrids. In addition, the eco friendly driver also gets a comfortable passenger cabin and good performance. All reasons that explain the Camry Hybrid’s popularity.

Another articles by Johan Young you may interest in reading: Hybrid Car Sales, 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid and 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.