I have a friend who owned a Prius. She recently traded it in for a Honda Civic. One of her complaints about the Prius was driving it in parking lots. People walked out in front of her all the time because they couldn’t hear it running.
In addition, she used it for a commuter car and drive ~80 miles round trip. According to her, the Civic gets right at 10 MPG better mileage than the Prius. The Hybrids really only save you if you do a lot of stop and go city driving.
Wrong-o!
For 4 years, I did a 70-mile round trip commute with about 10% stop and go segment. Mileage, 48 mpg.
Trips to San Francisco 3 or 4 times a year, including 30% stop and go driving, up and down hills, etc. Mileage, 52 mpg. Consistently.Not the sort of difference most reasonable persons would whine about.
Driver input counts, too.