5 Most Versatile Hybrids

The most remarkable thing about modern gasoline-electric hybrids is that they are so unremarkable. Driving one requires no compromises when compared to an ordinary gasoline-only powered vehicle. In fact, in many ways they are more versatile than their gasoline counterparts thanks to the added performance, greater range, and flexibility afforded by dual propulsion sources.

So which ones are best? That's in the eye of the beholder, of course. But if you're looking for maximum versatility, here are five that stand out in our book. Check 'em out - one might fit your daily lifestyle perfectly while setting green car standards others will follow.

TOYOTA PRIUS (48 CITY/45 HIGHWAY MPG)
Once you get past the halo that sets the Prius apart from the rest of the green fleet, it's amazing to see just how well this advanced technology vehicle serves daily transportation needs. The Prius is a roomy five-door hatchback - one of the most versatile of all platforms that blends passenger and cargo needs impeccably. As an icon of the green car movement, the Prius is often held to lofty expectations and as such is an easy target for those wishing to dispel the virtues of hybrid technology. However, the Prius takes it all in stride, forging ahead and setting a standard that others can only follow.

NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID (35 CITY/33 HIGHWAY MPG)
This could be the ideal family sedan. The Altima is an appropriate-sized four-door sedan with solid green credentials and great fuel economy. Nissan's full hybrid system has the ability to operate on electric power alone at slower speeds. There's plenty of power on tap, too. Nissan's QR25 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is teamed with a 40 horsepower electric motor to deliver a combined 198 horsepower through a continuously variable transmission. What more could you want? Well, how about a California Air Resources Board AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) rating that testifies to the Altima Hybrid's near-zero emissions, along with a highway range approaching 700 miles with the standard 20 gallon fuel tank?

FORD ESCAPE HYBRID (34 CITY/33 HIGHWAY MPG)
In terms of versatility, it's tough to match the capability afforded by a mid-size SUV. The addition of a hybrid powertrain allows the Ford Escape Hybrid to deliver that flexibility and V-6 performance while sipping fuel at a rate one would expect of a compact car. The Ford Escape Hybrid - along with its siblings Mercury Mariner Hybrid and Mazda Tribute Hybrid - is more powerful and refined for 2009. Ford increased the gasoline engine displacement to 2.5 liters from 2.3 and added variable valve timing to produce a welcome 17 horsepower increase. The 2009 model also benefits from new engine processor technology that makes the transition from gas to electric modes and back again much smoother.

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID (40 CITY/45 HIGHWAY MPG)
The Honda Civic is quite simply one of the best green cars on the road today. The Civic Hybrid model ups the ante with superior fuel economy and a California AT-PZEV rating. Honda's innovative Integrated Motor Assist full hybrid system combines a 1.3-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 20 horsepower permanent magnet electric motor and a continuously variable automatic transmission for seamless operation. A roomy five-passenger sedan, the Civic Hybrid is versatile enough to handle missions ranging from weekday commuter car to weekend family touring machine, or simply running errands around the neighborhood.

CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID (21 CITY/22 HIGHWAY MPG)
As the heavy hauler in our five hybrid roundup, Chevy's Tahoe Hybrid demands by far the most real estate. But its larger size provides the versatility to carry up to eight passengers and all their gear plus offer the capability of towing a 6,200 pound trailer ... while consuming regular unleaded at the rate of a much smaller vehicle. The Tahoe Hybrid offers an astonishing 50 percent improvement in fuel economy over a comparable gasoline V-8 powertrain. This is made possible by Chevy's new two-mode hybrid system that provides electric propulsion assist at both low and high speeds. The combination is such a breakthrough in the large SUV market that the Chevy Two-Mode Hybrid won Green Car Journal's 2008 Green Car of the Year award.