Hybrid Car Review

The Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Personal Finance Poll conducted a poll on April 4 - 6th in the US. They asked respondents a series of questions on their interest in buying or leasing a new vehicle, how they would pay for it and how interested they were in buying a hybrid/alternative-fueled vehicle.

They estimate that one of three US adults planning on purchasing or leasing a new vehicle would seriously consider an alternative-fuel vehicle. Top reasons include the effect on the environment and lower fuel costs.

Of those who would seriously consider buying hybrids, 92% would pay more for it than a traditional, gasoline powered version.

Harris Interactive interviewed 2,516 US adults. 25% of those interviewed said they would consider a hybrid (7% ethanol and 2% diesel). Of those who would consider buying an alternative car, 28% live in the West, 36% are 18 to 34, 44% are college graduates and 40% have an income of $75K or more.

92% said they would pay more for an alternative fueled vehicle (question was 'a penny more'). Of those who would consider paying more, the average extra they are willing to pay is $9,258.

Those in the south are willing to pay more ($10,786) than those in the West ($9,343 extra), Midwest ($8,648 extra) or Northeast ($7,418 extra). Women are more willing to pay more ($11,274 extra) compared with men ($7,506 extra).

47% of those who would seriously consider buying a hybrid stated that their main reason for doing so is to better the environment. Another 45% stated their main reason is lower fuel costs. Only 3% mentioned the federal tax credit and 1% mentioned HOV or carpool lanes.

Women are almost twice as likely to cite environmental concerns (62% to 34%), while 52% of men cite fuel costs compared to only 36% women. Northeast (54%) and Midwest (55%) regions are most likely to cite fuel costs, while Western region are more likely (64%) to cite environmental concerns.

Source: First seen at greencarcongress. Poll results located at Harris.

These results contradict a recent Gallup poll that said 57% of Americans would consider buying or leasing a hybrid when they next purchase a car.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 57% of Americans would consider buying or leasing a hybrid when they next purchase a car. Upper-income Americans are slightly more likely than lower-income Americans (62% vs. 55%) to say they would seriously consider buying a hybrid when purchasing their next car.

In the Gallup poll, 59% of lower income ($50K or less) families had cut back on driving, while only 36% of those who made more had cut back on driving because of fuel costs.