Hybrid Savings: Winners and Losers

Cost: $26,920
Fuel economy (CR test): 28 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $4,550

The Saturn Vue Green Line comes out on top when looking at five-year total cost savings, according to Consumer Reports.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $28,460
Fuel economy (CR test): 34 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $4,250

Consumer Reports compared the Toyota Camry Hybrid, with its relatively luxurious appointments, with the upscale Toyota Camry XLE with a four-cylinder engine. Given that, the added cost of the Camry's hybrid system was only about $1,700.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $55,585
Fuel economy (CR test): 19 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $3,700

It might seem odd that a vehicle that gets 19 miles per gallon would save buyers more money the Toyota Prius, which gets 44 mpg but is further down the list.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $30,750
Fuel economy (CR test): 27 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $2,970

Consumer Reports looked at costs for the four-wheel-drive Escape and its four-wheel-drive non-hybrid twin.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $24,170
Fuel economy (CR test): 44 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $2,000

Despite its high fuel economy, the Prius ranks relatively low in Consumer Reports' analysis in part because the magazine compared the Prius to the Toyota Corolla compact car.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $25,545
Fuel economy (CR test): 27 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $1,800

The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid uses the same "mild hybrid" system as the Saturn Vue Green Line SUV, but in the Malibu it doesn't offer quite as much benefit. Consumer Reports saw a four-mile-per-gallon gain.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $25,675
Fuel economy (CR test): 32 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $1,600

The Nissan Altima Hybrid would be a money-loser for its owners, according to Consumer Reports, were it not for federal tax credits.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $26,020
Fuel economy (CR test): 27 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $1,050

The Saturn Aura Green Line is built on the same fundamental engineering platform as the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $23,270
Fuel economy (CR test): 37 mpg
Total 5-year savings: $25

Without federal tax credits, the Honda Civic Hybrid, which costs about $4,800 more than the Civic LX non-hybrid, wouldn't pay off for its owners until the seventh year of driving, according to Consumer Reports.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $43,835
Fuel economy (CR test): 24 mpg
Total 5-year savings: -$1,250 (loss)

Because of its high cost, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid would take more than eight years to pay for itself, compared with the non-hybrid Highlander, according to Consumer Reports.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $50,650
Fuel economy (CR test): 23 mpg
Total 5-year savings: -$1,500 (loss)

The Lexus RX 400h gets only four more miles per gallon than the non-hybrid RX, but it costs about $3,900 more, according to Consumer Reports' analysis. To make matters worse, Toyota vehicles no longer qualify for federal tax credits.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Cost: $60,425
Fuel economy (CR test): 23 mpg
Total 5-year savings: -$5,500 (loss)

The GS 450h's hybrid drive system is tuned more for performance than for ultimate fuel savings. Since it gets just three more miles per gallon than the non-hybrid car, the 450h is the biggest cost-effectiveness loser in this bunch, according to Consumer Reports.

Read More at CNNMoney.com

Research New Cars by Category:
- Sedans- Wagons- SUVs- Trucks- Coupes- Minivans
Get the Best Deals:
- Best Deals of the Month
Story By Peter Valdes-Dapena
CNNMoney.com staff writer