Smallest, Cheapest, Hybrid Car Vs Smart Car

[GrowYourOwn]

I look at the hybrids here in the US and they don't seem to get much better mileage than the small cars I am used to in the UK that are not hybrid. It simply a matter of size, with these hulking great US cars taking a lot to push them around.

I was debating a Smart car, because of the small size and relatively good fuel efficiency. Given that I would struggle so badly to afford a hybrid-does this seem a good buy?

What is the smallest, most fuel efficient hybrid in the US? And alternatively, does the Smart car make a fairly good compromise?

[chary]

I would love to hear the answers on this. Everything I know is from research on the web so if someone here had both types of cars, or knows a little about the difference that would be great. My mother in law lives in the UK and rather than having a small car, they have a SUV type and their prices are about the equivalent of $9/gallon for us here.

[berlinlife06]

I'm in NYC, and I haven't seen a Smart car yet. I was very much used to them while I lived in Berlin. They are great to park and go around the city, but not to travel long distances, or to go on the highway.

[Naturally Concerned]

The thing that is killing the gas mileage in the United States is the pollution gear that every car from the 80's on has been required to have.

Not only is the pollution gear proven to be ineffective in cutting down on pollution, it has been lowering the gas mileage that you can get out of a car.

That's one reason Europe isn't struggling with gas as much as we are.

[jazzgrrl]

I just got a Smart car - love it! I cannot agree with Nat Concerned though - Europeans pay twice as much (rough figure) for gas than Americans do (I am American). I feel good about picking a vehicle that is more environmentally friendly though.

[Kitten]

I've been hearing great things about Smart Cars lately, and yeah, I think that would be a great alternative to a hybrid car that you can't afford any time soon.

[GrowYourOwn]

I also disagree with Naturally Concerned. The UK has fairly strict emissions regulations-far more so than over here in the UK (and I've lived in both places). You can have horrible emissions here, but a car like that in the UK would fail its MOT.

So yes, environmental issues are not what is driving down mileage here. It's the need for ever bigger and better cars that makes mileage so poor here.

[berlinlife06]

Smaller lighter cars consume a lot less gas than other cars. The Smart has that advantage, besides a great motor for saving gas. I can't talk about the UK, but I lived in Germany for 5 years, and people are very concerned with the price of gasoline. Only they do something about it: Most everybody has a bicycle, and they use it a lot in the summer, as well as public transportation. If the monthly card for mass transportation is 56 Euros, and filling up the tank of the car is around 80 Euros, of course people try to use the car as little as possible. Also in Germany, the emissions thing is extremele strict.