Price. One of the biggest issues of people who want to buy a hybrid car is the price. Buying a hybrid car can cost you several thousand dollars more than its gasoline-engine counterpart. The cheapest hybrid is around $20,000 while the luxury models are well over $100,000. It is predicted that the cost of hybrid vehicles will go down in the coming years as the production cost will decrease and the supply will increase.

Fuel Economy. A hybrid car is known for fuel economy. In fact, if you drive a hybrid, you can save as much as 60% on fuel. A fuel-efficient hybrid car can run from 35 to 50 miles on a gallon. However, high end hybrid models such as Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and those from Lexus that are built for performance still offer relatively good fuel economy.

Vehicle Option. Hybrid car models are very limited today. If you can't live by the available options, you can wait a year or two as many manufacturers have announced the release of newer hybrid cars.

Maintenance Cost. With a more complicated internal structure, the common belief is that hybrid cars are more expensive to maintain. The fact is, maintenance cost for hybrid cars is comparable to conventional vehicles. Many also fear that the battery replacement is very expensive. While the cost of battery replacement is said to be between $2,000 and $5,000, there has yet to be a report of a battery needing to be replaced due to defect or malfunction.

Safety. Hybrid cars are in general, as safe as conventional cars but there is a concern that electric shock can happen. This is a possibility but hybrid cars have been around for 10 years and there are no reports of this incident.

Luxury and Convenience. Since the price of a hybrid car is 25% to 50% higher than its gasoline counterparts, most hybrids are upscale and involve the latest gadgetry and luxury amenities.

Interior Space. Hybrid has almost become synonymous with the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. As a result the word "hybrid" is perceived as cars with small interior space and the use of electric motors and gasoline engines. While the latter is true, the former is not entirely accurate.

Since the first release of the Prius, the market has seen several hybrid cars with more interior space. The Honda has Civic and Accord (discontinued) have a good interior space. So with Toyota's Camry, Highlander (SUV), and second generation Prius (midsize), Ford Escape hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid among others.

There are 4 competing midsize hybrid electric vehicles on the market: Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Camry, Lexus GS 450h, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

Honda Accord Hybrid. Even before the release of the Hybrid, the Honda Accord was the second best selling car in the country. But the Accord Hybrid did not live up to the title "best-seller". After soaring success in 2005, car sales plummeted when its rival the Toyota Camry Hybrid hit the market. In 2007, the hybrid version of the Accord was discontinued.

However, buying an Accord Hybrid will give you a good 30mpg/37mpg fuel rating. Accord is run by a powerful 3.0 L engine that produces 240-hp and 232 lb.-ft at 5000 RPM of torque. The electric motor is 16-hp with 100 lb.-ft at 840 rpm of torque. The sticker price of the Honda Accord Hybrid is approx. $30,000. You cannot buy a brand new Accord Hybrid from Honda but that's not the only place where you can buy a car, right?

Toyota Camry Hybrid. Camry is known for its comfort, safety, and dependability. And surely, these characteristics are carried out with the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Powered by 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and 105-kW electric motor and 244-volt battery pack, the Camry can deliver a total of 192 horsepower. It promises to run 33mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway. The Camry's sticker price is at approx. $25,200. (The second generation Toyota Prius is classified as a midsize car.)

Lexus GS 450h. If you think that a hybrid should have a small engine, then, the Lexus GS 450h will change the way to think. This hybrid has 24-valve, 3.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 297-hp. That's just the half of it. The electric motor-generator produces 197 hp giving the driver of this car the power and sheer adrenaline rush. But don't be fooled, the Lexus GS 450h may perform like a sports car but it definitely has the luxury features you want in a midsize car. And why not? At the price of $55,000, you surely have to set high expectations.

Nissan Altima Hybrid. If you don't like the Toyota Camry and can't afford a Lexus GS 450h, then you can go for the Nissan Altima Hybrid. It is powered by a large 2.5-liter engine that produces 198 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft at 2800 RPM of torque. The Altima is only available in selected states including Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and California. Fuel economy is impressive considering the size of the engine. It is rated at 35mpg/33mpg and priced at approx. $25,100.