Hybrid cars run on gasoline, they do not and will not "save" the environment.
The actual increase in fuel economy over a similarly sized and stripped down sub-compact is minimal in mixed driving and non-existent in primarily highway driving.
The premium price paid for Hybrids is not even close to recovered in operating costs.
Hybrid busses and taxi's in urban use probably have a payback, as long as the purchase price is not inflated.
Battery disposal and recycling issues have been sugarcoated and not fully considered.
Asking me to subsidize somebody's "feel-good" politically correct vehicle is wrong.
When Detroit and Tokyo roll out huge gas-guzzling Hybrid SUV's next year, the joke will be on the taxpayers.
Bingo! And I wouldn't get near one of those things. Though they may appeal to the Volvo set.
Prius' drive much better than the cars you are comparing them to.
We have a Prius, and it drives great. It is quieter than my mom's Lexus, and handles just as smoothly.
Last week, I had to drive a rental car because someone broke into my mini-van, and the van was getting fixed.
The little rental car got great gas mileage, and was cheap. However, even my kids complained about the car. It was noisy, and not very smooth. It handled horribly.
The main point basically is that you are comparing apples and oranges. Go test drive the cars you are comparing, and then tell me what you think.