Best hybrid cars in the UK
Hybrids are usually the first port of call for celebrities looking for a green car. Just ask Prius-driving Leo DiCaprio or hybrid driver Paris Hilton, who bizarrely told a reporter recently that she owned "the first one [hybrid]" despite the first Prius going on sale in Japan 10 years ago.
But don't let that put you off. There are good reasons you should want one. As well as being status symbols that flash your eco credentials, hybrid cars mean you don't have to change your refuelling habits -- you simply fill them with petrol as usual -- and you can still reap the benefits of impressive fuel economy that will cut your carbon footprint and your running costs.
Londoners have added reason to buy one, since none of these hybrids has to pay the Congestion Charge. The Honda and Toyota hybrids also have the bonus of
dodging Alistair Darling's new showroom tax based on CO2 emissions. But come this October's second generation C-Charge, and the more polluting Lexus hybrids will have to pay for entry.
The way hybrids work is surprisingly simple. As well as a petrol engine, they have one or more electric motors and a battery. At slow speeds, they just use electric. At normal speeds, depending on which model you buy, they use just the petrol engine or a combination of petrol and electric. When you brake to slow down or roll down a hill, you recharge the battery through the electric motor.
The cars are also clever enough to switch off the petrol engine when you're dawdling at traffic lights. And the best part of all this is you don't have to do anything. It's done for you by a computer, which is what we love about hybrids -- the tech is invisible.
How green a hybrid is depends on where you drive it. If you live in the middle of nowhere and mostly nip around A roads and motorways, you're probably better off with a diesel such as the VW Bluemotion. Hybrids work best if you drive mostly in towns and cities because of the way they regenerate through braking and stop-start driving.
Of the four hybrids in our roundup, the Civic and the Prius are the most similar -- they're both moderately comfy, reliable family saloons. The two Lexus cars (Lexi?), on the other hand, are very different beasts. The RX 400h is a good value full-size 4x4, while the LS 600h is an outrageously luxurious ride that's capable of 0-60 in 6.3 seconds.
For carbon savings, the Prius is best on paper. It's rated at 65.7 miles per gallon, followed by the Civic on 61.4mpg, the RX 400h on 34.9mpg and the LS 600h last on 30.4mpg. Those figures put the Prius top and the Civic second on fuel economy for UK petrol vehicles.
There's only really one catch, and that's the cost -- this hi-tech carbon-saving doesn't come cheap. The cheapest Prius will set you back £17,777 and the Civic slightly undercuts it on £17,105. The Lexus 4x4 hybrid is good value for what you get at £35,805, while the luxe LS 600h is only for the minted at £81,400.
On the plus side, the Prius recently celebrated its tenth birthday, meaning it's been long enough to develop a second-hand market. When we checked eBay, there was an old Prius knocking around for a mere £4,500.
To see which hybrid suits you, take a spin through our full reviews below.
Honda Civic Hybrid
Lexus LS 600h
Lexus RX 400h
Toyota Prius T Spirit Hybrid 1.5 VVT-i 5 Door
