Honestly, given your mountain
Honestly, given your mountain trips, I would also consider a powerful vehicle. I won't argue that at all. However, on the point about the affordability, dealers are DYING to finance your vehicle using the Mfg.'s in-house finance company. You could finance the vehicle using whatever plan is the best with the lowest interest rate (1-2% is typical) and then simply pay the loan off after your tax returns are settled up. One can also adjust the withholding amounts in a paycheck. That may be trickier. Many states offer instant rebates on green cars. That is worth looking into. Last, one can lease and the lease deals factor in the value of the tax deduction. I'm not the expert there, but the green car forums can certainly explain it in detail. Thanks for your comments! ps - the Civic's 1.5 turbo is perfect for mountains. Low RPM torque and also high horsepower. Maybe that is an option? Civic Hatch and Clarity are very similar in size.