As automotive historians tell the tale of the first green car battles in North America, they'll write about how hybrids won the first round, bringing a once-fringe technology into the mainstream. But demand for hybrids has not yet been strong enough to fuel a full-on revolution in how and what we drive, leading carmakers to continue digging deeper into their bag of tricks filled with technologies like diesel, hydrogen, all-electric drivetrains and plug-ins (Read our overview of how hybrids work and what makes them different than plug-ins).
Fact is, there are a number of advantages of hybrid cars. Yet there are also a handful of disadvantages that have kept them from dominating the new car market, even in an era of high gas prices and climate change concerns. Here is your change to get both sides of the story before you visit your dealership.
Read about how hybrid cars work in - Hybrid Cars: How They Work
To research the history of hybrid Cars read - Hybrid Cars: A Brief History
1. Not So Sporty or Great on the Highway
Hybrids simply aren’t as fun to drive, especially on the open road. That’s probably the top complaint heard from hybrid owners, although often confessed in hushed tones. To be fair, more recent hybrid models are more sporty and competitive in terms of performance; and a few, like the latest Prius (view photos) and some new offerings from Hyundai, have even managed to do so without sacrificing many miles per gallon. But for the most part, there's a simple equation when it comes to hybrids: The more efficiency and miles per gallon, the less horsepower and driving excitement you can expect.
