For the most part hybrid vehicles are geared either for performance with a slight improvement in gas mileage, or are designed for improved mileage with little focus on premium performance. When ready to begin looking into such designs it may pay to look through Consumer Reports for hybrid cars before making a decision. Too many people are convinced that hybrid technology equates to fuel savings while helping the environment and may be disappointed to learn that the couple of thousand dollars for the technology has not actually been a return on their investment. When talking to the consumer, reports for hybrid cars vary, depending on the vehicle and the purpose for which it was intended.

When the Toyota Prius was first introduced to the world in 1997, it bragged about an economical 40 to 50 miles per hour. The gasoline engine on the Prius shuts off and is powered by battery when stopped or diving slow. Many of the other models of hybrids continue to run as a normal gas engine, and use the boost of an onboard electric motor to achieve additional acceleration without lower the miles per gallon. As Consumer Reports for hybrid cars state, the vehicles designed for performance, like many of the sport utility models, added the electric motor to supplement the existing power plant.

As a result of adding an electric motor, many models in the hybrid family are attaining the additional power the consumers said they wanted without increasing the miles per gallon. While the mileage remains the same, the trade off is for the additional power at no additional fuel cost. Consumer Reports for hybrid cars point out the ones designed for performance boost power but not fuel costs.

To really benefit through better gas mileage, some power is typically sacrificed. Much the same as a four-cylinder engine was traded for the six-cylinders to lower operating costs. A true hybrid vehicle shifts power to the electric motor when idle or at low speed and is boosted by the gas engine when rapid acceleration is required. According to many consumer reports for hybrid vehicle to become a winner among car buyers, they will have to offer the performance and fuel economy that the term hybrid indicates. As the technology matures and prices on parts, especially the storage batteries, which are the mainstay of the electric power system, the costs should come down to where the benefits of the extra cost of the vehicle will be realized through the fuel savings.

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James Gunaseelan writes for India's leading automobile portal http://www.bharathautomobiles.com/index.php