Vik Thomas, Author at Hybrid Auto

Have you ever wanted to go through a list of hybrid compact cars of 2018 before choosing your pick? Do you know what a hybrid car is and how it contributes to the environment? A hybrid car is a vehicle designed by all major automobile manufacturers that are both electric and gasoline powered. A majority of the population is skeptical about adopting all-electric cars because they are yet to be widely released and charging stations are sparse. The hybrid compact cars strike a fine balance as they can run on electric power and conveniently switch to gasoline when the battery runs out, making the transition into the future more seamless. The Most Popular Hybrid Compact Cars of 2018 BMW i3 Range Extender BMW is one of the beloved car brands and the i3 is an electric car but it can be converted into a hybrid when you add the range extender. The particular accessory is capable of extending the vehicle’s range by using a gasoline engine. It makes use of a two-cylinder petrol engine which can charge up the battery and add up to 80 miles of range when the battery runs dry. It is a unique, stylish and a compact car which is a perfect fit for driving in the traffic. As long as you have access to gas stations, you can drive this car to long distances without missing a beat. Toyota Auris Hybrid At the first look, you will easily find yourself at home if you have already owned a Toyota car. The design of the vehicle looks pretty similar to old Toyota models and the compact design will make it easy to drive in heavy traffic within the city limits. Some of the unique features of this car include more legroom for all passengers onboard, a five year warranty period and an automatic gearbox. At least, three full-grown adults can comfortably sit in the backseat which makes it compact to drive yet spacious for the passengers. Suzuki Swift Hybrid If you have a thing for the Beetles model from Volkswagen, the Suzuki Swift Hybrid edition closely resembles it. For those who love driving uphill or enjoying a cut in tight curves, the Suzuki car is a perfect fit. It will feed your driver’s instincts by encouraging you to drive better while providing the highest level of grip on road even in the tightest of the curves. The car is also known for its fuel efficiency because it provides collective mileage and you can switch between gasoline power as well as electricity based on the need of the hour. Toyota Yaris Hybrid When you want to push the car to its top speed and test its limit, just switch to the gasoline engine and the compact Toyota Yaris Hybrid will get the job done. Sifting through heavy city traffic on a Monday morning wouldn't be very tiring, thanks to its easy-to-use electric engine. The car can comfortably glide at reasonable speeds on pure electricity, which saves you valuable money spent on fuel. You don’t have to waste fuel in a scenario where you repeatedly apply brake and accelerate in order to avoid the traffic. In such situations, a hybrid becomes the best choice for people who commute a lot in traffic and want to save on fuel. Lexus CT A stylish looking compact vehicle, the red colored Lexus CT is a piece of automobile that you would love to own. The Lexus model is a premium variant which offers utmost comfort with excellent interiors, leather materials and high-quality plastic on the buttons you frequently use. The automatic gearbox on this car is connected to the 1.8-liter petrol engine. It’s not something we could consider as the most powerful engine around but it gets the job done. If you don’t mind the compromise made on the car’s speed and performance but love the design and interiors, the Lexus CT is a brilliant pick. 2018 Ford C-Max Hybrid How can we make a list of hybrid compact cars 2018 without bringing Ford into the picture? After all, they were the ones to usher in cars decades ago and continue to be one of the most trusted brands among buyers. The 2018 Ford C-Max hybrid is a perfect compact car which surprisingly has spacious interiors and enough for 2-3 passengers for a comfortable travel. The acceleration capabilities of the car surprise us and it truly justifies the hybrid tag by being good with both the gasoline engine as well as the electric engine. The fuel economy is not the best and the company is expected to look into the shortcomings in the newer editions. 2018 Nissan Leaf The Leaf series of cars from Nissan is known for being hybrid vehicles that usher in newer technologies while keeping the entire purchase affordable for people who are willing to adopt. The car has an improved battery capacity of 40 kWh and the overall mileage provided by the electric motor is quite impressive. The Nissan can provide an exceptional 150 miles on a single charge and you can easily complete a short trip without having to use the gasoline engine at all. Another amazing aspect about the 2018 Nissan Leaf is the pricing as it costs just $30,000, making it much cheaper than Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3. Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid The Ioniq plug-in hybrid is directly aimed at the families that like to own a piece of new technology but would expect good mileage and value for money. The car is much better than its PHEV rival models and also has a spacious sedan design. The additional space ensures passengers seated at the back enjoy added legroom while comfortably accommodating up to three people. It also seamlessly combines gasoline power with an electric engine. With only electric power, it can run just 25 miles but the idea is to create a hybrid for city use and you will mostly be using the gasoline engine on a daily basis. Toyota Prius If you haven’t heard of the Prius, you are probably on the wrong side of the market. Every hybrid car lover would have come across the Toyota Prius because the company has been making it for over a decade now and it is one of the earliest models to have ushered in the hybrid technology to mainstream car buyers. The newest version of the car can comfortably handle high speeds, is priced in the affordable range and is compact enough for everyday commuting to the office. If you are looking for a reliable car that has been hybrid for a very long time and has consistently improved on its overall performance, Prius is the one. Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 The Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 is an expensive plug-in hybrid but has its unique advantages that would give it the winning edge. The four-wheel drive is powered by an engine capable of 284lb ft of torque and it has the capability to go from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 7 seconds. The style is unique and it’s not something you can find with any other brands. The Mini brand has seen consistent growth in the automobile industry through the years and they are now strong enough to release a hybrid model as the electric vehicle scenario is picking up. The combined power delivered by the gasoline and the hybrid engine delivers 221bhp. BMW 225xe iPerformance An immediate look will let you know that the BMW 225xe iPerformance is an impressive hybrid which can comfortably move from 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 6.7 seconds. The entry-level car has everything in its favor except for the pricing which can easily go all the way up to $40,000 or more, thereby making it a slightly out of reach for the average buyer. Those who are interested big time on opting hybrid in its early stages might prefer this BMW model. It has enough boot space and provides a balanced, upright driving experience. Kia Optima PHEV The Kia Optima is a worthy try from the Korean manufacturer that has gone all in to provide a hybrid experience for its fans. The only drawback is that they were not able to provide the best experience as German manufacturers do and the car is more of a trial which is yet to go a long way in achieving perfection. It has a PHEV powertrain which is minimal in terms of providing solid engine output and it is being sold both as saloon as well as estate form so that buyers have the option to choose what they like the most. The Bottom line While the future lies in all-electric cars as Tesla is dealing with, the mainstream manufacturers like BMW, Ford and Toyota are yet to adopt electric cars. It should also be credited to the fact that there aren’t enough charging stations and the power delivered by all-electric cars is still lower when compared to their petrol counterparts. The list of hybrid compact cars 2018 strike a great balance between performance and being eco-friendly making them a perfect choice for now.