Shoppers Less Interested in Hybrids

A J.D. Power survey conducted in May and June — during the last round of $3-plus gas spikes — shows fewer people are considering buying a hybrid vehicle now than were in the market for one in 2006. The percentage of new-car shoppers considering hybrids dropped from 57% to 50% in that amount of time. J.D. Power contends that consumers have more realistic expectations of hybrids’ fuel economy and overall savings.

These pro-hybrid shoppers are willing to pay an additional $2,396 for a hybrid model and expect an 18.5 mpg increase. Taking a Honda Civic Hybrid as an example, that car costs roughly $4,000 more than its gasoline counterpart while achieving 18 mpg better fuel economy in the city and 13 mpg better on the highway, according to 2007 EPA data. Using 2008 EPA estimates, those numbers could drop to 15 mpg and 9 mpg, respectively.

The study also found that the percentage of new-car shoppers considering clean diesel vehicles jumped from 12% in 2006 to 23% in 2007.

Source: J.D. Power