Hybrid Vehicles Not Best Value According to Edmunds.com

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Hybrid Vehicles Not Best Value According to Edmunds.com

Chevrolet Aveo is Cheapest to Own Over Five Years; No Hybrids Rank in Top Ten

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — June 25, 2008 — High gas prices, the housing crisis and general economic uncertainty are motivating consumers to look for the least expensive cars to own and operate. A new study by Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, indicates that many compact and subcompact vehicles are actually better choices than hybrids for consumers looking to save money. The data also suggests that only one hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid, would break into the top ten least expensive vehicles if gas prices were to increase to $5 per gallon. The results are based on Edmunds.com's True Cost to Own^SM data, which accounts for total vehicle costs over a five-year period.

Unlike some other analyses that look only at fuel economy and sticker price, including one released by Consumer Reports last week, the True Cost to Own^SM study incorporates projected model-specific average vehicle ownership costs, consisting of depreciation, financing, taxes, fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance and repairs. When all of the factors are considered, some popular vehicles look considerably less appealing on a cost-per-mile basis than their fuel economy would suggest.

"When consumers think about cars that will save them money, hybrids are typically top of mind because of their fuel efficiency," said Jesse Toprak, Edmunds.com Executive Director of Industry Analysis. "But when you take a look at the real-world costs of car ownership, you realize that many subcompact and compact cars are actually a much better value proposition."

The study evaluated the True Cost to Own^SM of vehicles assuming gas prices of $4.06 (the national average on June 23), $5 and $6. With gas prices at $4.06 per gallon, the standard model Toyota Prius costs owners $0.50 per mile -- ranking 33rd among all vehicles. The top-seeded Chevrolet Aveo, on the other hand, costs $0.42 per mile, resulting in annual savings of $1,200 to consumers who choose the Aveo over a Prius. In the event gas prices rise to $5 or $6 per gallon, the Aveo remains in the tops spot and the Prius moves to positions 25 and 17 respectively.

The following are the 10 least expensive vehicles to own (all 2008 models):

The following are the 10 least expensive hybrid vehicles to own (all 2008 models):

*The Edmunds.com study takes into account the federal tax credits when applicable.

"Many consumers neglect to consider total ownership costs when deciding which vehicle to buy," said Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor for Edmunds.com. "Shoppers should look beyond fuel economy and consider the big picture when determining how a vehicle purchase will fit into their household budget."

Edmunds.com's True Cost to Own^SM calculations make the following assumptions:

• Ownership expenses are for a five-year time span
• Vehicles are driven 15,000 miles per year
• Vehicles are financed using traditional financing and not leased
• Buyers pay 10 percent down on the vehicle
• Buyers are in the "Gold" credit tier for the purpose of determining the finance rate
• The loan term is 60 months
• Buyers represent the average demographic in their state for insurance rates

Edmunds.com True Cost to Own^SM is available at no charge to Web site visitors, and provides ownership costs regionally for both new and used vehicles. The True Cost to Own^SM tool is available at http://www.edmunds.com/apps/cto/CTOintroController.

About Edmunds (http://www.edmunds.com/about/)
Edmunds publishes three Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers and enthusiasts. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive consumer information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its most popular feature, the Edmunds.com True Market Value^®, is relied upon by millions of people seeking current transaction prices for new and used vehicles. Edmunds.com was named "Best Car Research Site" by Forbes ASAP, has been selected by consumers as the "Most Useful Web Site" according to every J.D. Power and Associates New Autoshopper.com Study(SM), was ranked first in the Survey of Car-Shopping Web Sites by The Wall Street Journal and was rated "#1" in Keynote's study of third-party automotive Web sites. Inside Line launched in January 2005 and is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. CarSpace launched in February 2006 and is an automotive lifestyle social networking Web site for anyone with an interest in automobiles. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit.