• Toyota launches world’s first mass-production hybrid vehicle, in Japan
• 37,000 sold in Japan before U.S. introduction in 2000.

• Honda releases first hybrid vehicle available in the United States.
• Ends production in September 2006.
• EPA Estimated MPG: 52 (manual) 47 (auto)
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 2 (manual) 6 (auto)
• Recommended reviews of the Insight can be found here.

• After selling 37,000 units in Japan, Toyota launches Prius in U.S.
• EPA Estimated MPG: 41
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 3
• Recommended reviews of the Prius can be found here.

• EPA Estimated Combined MPG: 41 (lean-burn), 40 (CA-emissions)
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 9 (CA-emissions), 3 (lean-burn)
• Used lean-burn engine technology for models outside of California—boosted mpg but also increased in smog-forming emissions.
• Recommended reviews of the Civic can be found here.

• EPA Estimated Combined MPG: 46
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 8
• The first hybrid midsize car, the second generation Prius was named 2004 Car of the Year by Motor Trend
• Recommended reviews of the Prius can be found here.

• EPA Estimated Combined MPG: 28-32
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 7
• First hybrid SUV & first American-made hybrid.
• Named North American truck of the year in 2005.
• Recommended reviews of the Escape can be found here.

• EPA Estimated Combined MPG: 25
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 9
• The Accord sedan is the first mainstream use of hybrid technology to gain "muscle hybrid" status, boosting performance more than fuel economy.  Honda announced it will discontinue the Accord Hybrid after the 2007 model year, citing poor sales.
• 2006 accord gets less fuel economy (25 mpg city/34 mpg highway).
• Honda reports in 4/06 that it may cut production due to sluggish sales.
• Recommended reviews of the Accord can be found here.

GM attempts to greenwash hybrid market with its first "hollow hybrids."  

• Toyota brings hybrid technology to the luxury and midsize SUV segments.
• EPA Estimated Combined MPG: 26
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 8
• Toyota brings hybrid technology to luxury SUV market, but is it a “muscle hybrid?”
• Recommended reviews of the RX 400h can be found here.

• EPA Estimated Combined MPG: 26
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 8
• Questions as to how much fuel economy the Highlander Hybrid gives up for greater power.
• Recommended reviews of the Highlander can be found here. 

• EPA Estimated Combined MPG: 28-32
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 7
• Ford’s “Tricked Out” version of the Escape Hybrid gets limited 2,000 production in ‘05. Production increases and more fuel efficient FWD version offered in 2006.
• Recommended reviews of the Mariner can be found here.

• EPA Estimated Combined MPG: 42
• EPA Smog Score (10 best): 9
• Significantly redesigned in 2006, the new Civic Hybrid boosts mileage and reduces emissions while providing more “pep.”
• Recommended reviews of the Civic can be found here.

• Est. Combined MPG: 39
• EPA Smog Score: 8
• First Toyota hybrid to be built in America (Kentucky).
• Provides additional “pep” while gaining a 40 percent increase in fuel economy over conventional 4 cylinder model.
• Recommended reviews on the Camry Hybrid can be found here.

• Est. Combined MPG: 26
• EPA Smog Score: 8
• 26mpg EPA estimate falls short of the "high twenties" claims being made before, and is a 28% fuel economy improvement over the conventional gasoline model. 
• Delivers 339 horsepower, equal to the power of a 4.5-liter V8 engine.
• Recommended reviews on the GS 450h can be found here.

• Est. Combined MPG: 34
• EPA Smog Score: 9.5
• What we know: Built in Tennessee, only available for sale in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California, mostly to help meet the tighter emissions requirements that all of these states have adopted.
• Recommended reviews on the Altima Hybrid can be found here.

• Est. Combined MPG: 21
• EPA Smog Score: 8
• The LS 600h L sedan will be even more muscular than the GS 450h muscle hybrid, boasting the world's first full hybrid V8 powertrain, and a price tag of over $100,000. It combines a 5-liter gasoline direct-injection V8 with large, high-output electric motors and a newly-designed battery pack to deliver more than 330 kW (442 hp) of total system power.
• Recommended reviews on the Altima Hybrid can be found here.

• Est. release date: Fall 2007
• What we know: GM is to introduce first genuine hybrids with Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon Hybrid. The 2006 conventional Tahoe 2WD gets an estimated 17mpg. GM is saying that its “dual mode” hybrid system, based on the hybrid system used in its hybrid passenger buses, will deliver approximately 25 percent better fuel economy. GM attaching the hybrid system to a 6.0 liter V8 engine, larger and thirstier than the 5.3 liter engine of their conventional Yukon/Tahoe models--the very definition of a "muscle hybrid." 

• Est. Combined MPG: 28-32
• EPA Smog Score: 7
• Tribute is based on Ford Escape Hybrid drivetrain. Includes a built-in tire pressure monitor. 
• Recommended reviews on the Altima Hybrid can be found here.

• Est. release date: 2007
• What we know: Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen Hybrids will be Chrysler’s first hybrids.  It will use GM’s “dual-mode” hybrid system now that Daimler-Chrysler has a hybrid technology sharing agreement with General Motors and BMW.  It also looks to be a "muscle hybrid," using engine upsizing like Yukon/Tahoe Hybrids.  Their engine, however, will be a 5.7 liter V8 Hemi (the smaller 4.7 liter engine comprised the majority of Durango sales in 2005 in both FWD and 4WD categories), slightly smaller than the Yukon/Tahoe Hybrids' 6.0 liter.

Hybrids on the Horizon 

• Est. release date: Fall 2008
• What we know: GM announced at the 2006-2007 Los Angeles Auto Show that, in 2008, they will be releasing a new version of the Green Line Vue that will employ the GM "two-mode" hybrid drivetrain and net a 45 percent improvement in fuel economy over the conventional Vue.  Note that in September 2007, GM will be introducing a redesigned Green Line Vue, but it will be using the same conventional technology improvements that are in the current "hollow hybrid" model (see Hollow Hybrids list for current Green Line models).  GM also announced they plan to market a plugin version of the Vue, but a production date has yet to be announced.

• Est. release date: Spring 2008
• What we know: Kate Hudson gave the Escalade Hybrid a surprise debut on the Oscar's red carpet in February 2007. Like the Tahoe and Yukon gas-electrics, the Escalade hybrid will be a two-mode hybrid that supplements a 6.0-liter V-8 with power from two electric motors. GM claims the Yukon/Tahoe Hybrids will get an approximately 25 percent fuel economy boost compared with the standard equipped 5.3-liter V-8 engine. The boost over the standard Escalade, which comes with the gas-thirsty 403-hp, 6.2-liter V-8, is likely to be even more significant.
  

• Est. release date: 2008-2009
• What we know: Much like the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUVs, this will be Ford’s practical/premium launch into the hybrid sedan market. The 2006 conventional Fusion and Milan offer both four and six cylinder engines.  Inside sources say that the first official look at these vehicles may come at the LA Auto Show in November 2007 or the Detroit Auto Show in January 2008.

• Est. release date: 2008-2009
• What we know: Unlike Nissan, this hybrid technology is their own, not borrowed from Toyota.  At a November 2005 unveiling at the Guangzhou, China auto show, Hyundai said the engine achieves a 44 percent improvement in fuel economy. The conventional Accent lists at around $10,000, so these cars could be the first hybrids to have a MSRP at significantly under $20k.  Although originally slotted to be brought to the U.S. market in late 2006 or early 2007, the increasing value of the Korean won has changed Hyundai's plans, and the launch of this hybrid line in America has now been pushed back until at least the 2009 model year.  Kia featured the Rio Hybrid at the 2007 Geneva Auto show, and has given 4,000 Rio Hybrids to the Korean Ministry of the Environment for the largest ever ‘real-world’ testing program in Korea to develop clean and efficient hybrid vehicles.
  

• Est. release date: 2008
• What we know: DaimlerChrysler board member Dr. Thomas Weber stated that Mercedes will bring a mild hybrid version of the S-class sedan to market in 2008. The concept model S350 was unveiled at the 2005 Frankfurt auto show, and sported a V6 engine and lithium-ion battery pack. This "Direct Hybrid" drive, as Mercedes calls it, boasted a 33 percent improvement in fuel economy over a conventional S-class that gets an EPA-estimated combined 20mpg.  According to an Autoblog.com article The S-Class hybrid is rumored to be powered by a 2.2 liter diesel engine combined with a mild hybrid system. This would produce 200hp and 36mpg.

• Est. release date: Winter 2008
• What we know: Audi is making an unexpected early entry into the hybrid market with the introduction of the Q7 Hybrid SUV. The Q7 will have a 3.6-liter, 280-hp gasoline fuel-injected engine mated to the electric engine. The hybrid system will use about 23 percent less fuel -- getting about 23 mpg -- than a Q7 running only on gasoline. Audi plans to make this vehicle available in all 50 states in limited numbers.

• Est release date: 2008-2009
  What we know: The next generation Toyota Prius is going to be significantly redesigned, may be built in the United States, and while Toyota officials have confirmed that the new design will not be a plugin hybrid, a Guardian news article quoted Shinichi Abe, head of Toyota’s hybrid division as saying that the next Prius model will be able to do a nine-mile commute to work without using any petrol or diesel, and rumors persist of a plugin possibility, especially now that GM has announced plans for a plugin Vue (see Saturn Green Line Vue, 2007). Auto Express magazine in the UK reported in December 2006 that Toyota engineers are targeting an mileage rating of 113 mpg (other rumors have it more in the 70-90 mpg range -- the discrepancy may be due to the differences between the Japanese and American fuel economy tests), with improved 0-60 mph acceleration of less than 10 seconds. The internal combustion part of the drive train is reported to be a new turbocharged 1.8L lean burn four cylinder.  Toyota officials have confirmed that, due to development delays with Lithium Ion batteries, the next-generation Prius will feature more traditional NiMH batteries, with the increased fuel savings coming from drivetrain redesign and simplification.  This simplification has led to reports that the sticker price of the Gen. 3 Prius could be significantly reduced, though Toyota officials have tempered reports that the cost could be “cut in half.”

• Est. release date: 2009
• What we know: GM will debut its first true hybrid pickup at the 2007 LA Auto Show. Powered by the same 332 hp/367 lb-ft 6.0L V8 hybrid drivetrain as the Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade hybrids, GM claims that the truck will see a 40% increase in city fuel economy and a 25% overall bump compared to its non-hybrid sibling, making it the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup on the market (EPA numbers are still TBD). It can run in all-electric mode up to 30 mph, even when towing (up to 6,100 lbs).

• Est. release date: 2009
• What we know: DaimlerChrysler’s Germany-based Smart Car division unveiled a Fortwo with micro hybrid drive (MHD) during Live Earth 2007. Smart says the system will be in production by the end of the year in both coupe and cabrio versions "in all markets" quite possibly including America. The system employs a belt-driven starter/generator and switches the engine off when idling at stoplights to conserve fuel and reduce emissions. Equipped with an automated manual transmission, the 1.0-liter three-cylinder gas engine delivers 71 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque. The Fortwo MHD returns fuel economy of 66 mpg and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 13.3 seconds. Top speed is 90 mph.

• Est. release date: 2009
  What we know: Honda will introduce a new hybrid in 2009 that the company hopes will challenge Toyota’s hybrid market dominance. Honda confirms that the new hybrid will be smaller and less expensive than the current Honda Civic Hybrid and will be an entirely new vehicle, not merely a hybridized version of an existing model (such as a Fit Hybrid). Production is expected to be around 200,000 per year and the styling will be akin to the Honda Remix concept vehicle introduced at the 2007 LA Auto Show.

• Est. release date: 2009
• Toyota plans to introduce new dedicated hybrid models for both its Toyota and Lexus brands in 2009. The Lexus model is reported to be a sedan that will be priced between $40-$70,000, attempting to make it the least expensive Lexus hybrid model. The model will be introduced first in Asia and Europe, most likely. Details on the Toyota model are scant, but rumors are that it will have a 2-3 liter engine, making it likely a larger vehicle than the Prius – more in line with the current Camry Hybrid.  Recent reports have suggested that Toyota's entire hybrid line may be pushed back 1-2 years due to issues with battery development, but Toyota has denied these assertions.

• Est. release date: 2008-2009
• What we know: Porsche's new four-door hatchback coupe scheduled for launch in 2008 or 2009 will be designed from the start with the option of a hybrid engine. Using similar "muscular" engine technology to the Cayenne SUV, the V10 to V12 engines will be supplied by the Stuttgart- Zuffenhausen plant.  20,000 units a year are expected to be built per year.

• Est. release date: 2010
• What we know: Porsche recently revised a previous announcement at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show, announcing a 2010 goal for getting the Canenne Hybrid on the market.  According to Porsche executives, the hybrid Cayenne prototype emits 240 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, compared with 310 grams from a normal gas-powered Cayenne. So far, in testing, it gets about 24.4 miles per gallon compared with 17.9 miles per gallon for a conventional Cayenne, about a 35 percent increase.  They also claim that the new Cayenne will be able to cruise at up to 70 miles per hour on the electric motor alone.

• Est. release date: 2009 (if at all)
• What we know: The most recent reports on the VW Jetta Hybrid would have a hybrid drivetrain coming out in 2009 along with the planned redesign of the vehicle. However, that was under Bernd Pischetsrieder, VW's CEO that was replaced in November 2006. The new regime led by Martin Winterkorn is quoted as believing that the profit margin on "economy hybrid" models is far too low, and is planning to turn their attention to the Touareg SUV as its most likely hybrid premiere.

• Est. release date: 2009-2010
• What we know: It looks as if the new regime at VW, installed in November 2006, has decided to shift to an SUV platform for their first hybrid from the long rumored Jetta (see above).  A Touareg Hybrid would likely increase the chances of the rumored development of a Porsche Cayenne Hybrid (see above), given that the two vehicles were developed jointly by Porsche and VW.

• Est. release date: 2009-2010
• What we know: At the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, Toyota debuted its hybrid sportscar concept, the FT-HS.  The concept is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car with a projected 0-60-mph acceleration in the 4-second range. A 3.5-liter V6 is coupled with a hybrid system. Toyota says the car would have a "mid-priced market position" and be an "attainable exotic."  According to a piece in Automobile magazine, the Japanese carmaker has approved production, with a saleable version ready by 2009 at the earliest. 

• Est. release date: 2009 (if at all)
• What we know: Toyota Sienna Hybrid is likely to be the first hybrid minivan on the market, though its introduction has been continually rumored and postponed.  The Sienna Hybrid's drivetrain will likely be based on the smaller Estima minivan currently sold only in Japan.  Toyota is unlikely to make the estimated 35mpg Estima available in the U.S. for fear of brand competition with its larger Sienna.  There is significant support within Toyota's U.S. division for bringing a Sienna Hybrid to market, and over 18,000 consumers signed a UCS petition to Toyota asking that a hybrid minivan be brought to America (that's over twice the 8,400 projected Estima Hybrid sales expected in Japan).

• Est. release date: 2009-2011
• What we know: The Honda Fit subcompact 5-seater is being introduced in the U.S. market in 2007. With a base MSRP of a little under $14,000, the automatic fit gets an EPA estimated 31 city/38 highway at a LEV II smog-forming emissions level. According to a HybridCars.com interview with an industry source, the Fit will be outfitted with the Insight’s hybrid drivetrain (the Insight was discontinued in September 2006) and will be introduced in mid-2007 in hybrid version with an expected mpg in the low-to-mid-50s.  More recent reports suggest Honda is focusing more on a dedicated brand next generation hybrid (see below) for its more immediate plans.  More recent reports indicate that Honda will use their CRX platform, shown at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show as the CRZ Hybrid concept, as the platform for production.  Whether this supplants or compliments the FT-HS sportscar remains to be seen.