3 Fantastic Hybrid Alternatives To Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius is a term that is synonymous with a hybrid. Prius is one of the most famous hybrid cars on the market. With fuel prices surging again, people are looking for hybrids to help curb the sting at the pump.

Many are finding that a Prius will not suit their needs. I decided that putting a top 3 list of alternatives together is beneficial for those searching for a gas saver. Here are my top three recommendations

The Toyota Hybrid Line-Up
The reason I say Toyota hybrid line up is to include multiple vehicles. The Camry, Avalon, Rav4, and Highlander all have more room than Prius and can be found in hybrid variations.

The good thing about getting a Toyota hybrid as an alternative to Prius is you are getting solid, well-engineered technology that has been on the market for twenty years. In that time, Toyota has made vast refinements to their hybrid platforms and have added in quite a few more.

The hardest part about getting into a different Toyota hybrid is finding which one you want. The Sienna now comes in a hybrid version too. The spacious family "swagger wagon" is turning heads with many families.

Ford Family Of Hybrids
FoMoCo or Ford Motor Company also has a hybrid or two that I would recommend. Ford based their hybrid technology off of the Toyota platforms and, as such, built a fairly reliable vehicle.

The Fusion and Escape Hybrid are roomier and more comfortable than that of a Prius. Expect to see about 40 to 45 miles per gallon on a Fusion and somewhere in the net '30s with an Escape.

Ford also has cars like the C-Max and the Plug-in version C-Max Energi that are more Prius-esque, so they may not be your top option.

Hyundai Hybrids - The Sedan People
If you are into sedans, only Hyundai has you covered. The Ioniq, Elantra, and Sonata all come in hybrid versions. While bigger than Prius, you are limited to a sedan.

Hyundai makes this list because the company has made huge improvements over the past 20 years. Hyundai was a company that I really believed was going to tank, but somehow magically survived and is flourishing.

Hyundai is on the edge of technology and giving Toyota a run for their money. Their vehicle lineup has full EV options along with Fuel cell and plug-in hybrids.

My skepticism has dwindled with this company. That is not to say they are without issue. All major car companies are having problems these days, and Hyundai is not exempt from that.

Conclusion
As a 14 time Prius owner, I can tell you that the car works for me and what I need it for. Prius is excellent for a first-time
driver, a kid is going to college, or road trippers.

If Prius does not work for you, no sweat; there are plenty of alternatives out there. You need to go and test drive a few to see what one suits your needs the best.

That is all for today. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to seeing you in the following article. Thinking of a larger sedan hybrid? See how the Hyundai compares to the Toyota.

Check out this wild new battery tech that Tesla has and why it will forever change the auto industry.

Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporters.