Reasons Why You Should Not Rent a Hybrid Car During Your Travel
Hybrid cars continue to rise in popularity across the nation. Because of their reputation as fuel-efficient, easy to drive vehicles, hybrid car rental availability has also gone up every year. But are these cars really a better option than conventional cars? The truth is that when all the benefits of a hybrid are weighed against those of a conventional car, the answer is “not necessarily.” Here are a few reasons to not rent a hybrid car.
Increased Fuel Economy?
One of the biggest reasons travelers cite to renting a hybrid car is to save on fuel costs. Because hybrids get more out of each gallon of gas than conventional cars do, one may be led to believe that the slightly greater daily cost will be outweighed by the savings in gasoline. But this is, in fact, not true in many cases. Because most people tend to drive less than a hundred miles per day with a rental car, the savings from using a hybrid are minimal. Really, the only time hybrid cars provide significant savings is if you drive the car in extended stop-and-go urban environment, or on long trips.
Hybrid Rental Rates Remain High
Hybrid cars do cost more per day in rental fees. Because they are more expensive to purchase in the first place, car rental companies have to charge more for those who want to rent them. Even with competition driving down dealer prices for new hybrid cars, hybrid rental rates remain high in the premium range. So without the savings in fuel making up for the difference, renting a hybrid car could mean paying extra money to drive on your next trip.
Learning to Drive a Hybrid in an Unfamiliar City
Additionally, hybrid cars drive very differently than normal cars. For drivers who are already experienced in driving a hybrid, this is not a problem. But to first-timers, hybrid rental cars will seem to have lighter weight, have different controls, and have their own quirks. One such “quirk” is a idle-top feature that are built into many modern hybrids. Idle-stop allows the car engine to shut down at a stoplight or stop sign (whenever the car is at a stop,) thereby cutting down on fuel consumption. This is well and good, but a small problem with this is that hybrid car renters often find themselves in a new location they have never been to before. And while trying out a new car in a familiar area may work out fine, driving a new hybrid in a new city can be challenging for many people. The last thing you want when trying to fumble over maps is to have a car shut off unexpectedly or to brake differently.
In fact, this instability could lead to unsafe situations. The easiest way to get into an accident is to combine a lack of direction with confusion from driving a new car. And once you put yourself in harm’s way on the road, you are not only risking your own well-being, but also the well-being of others. Stick to what you are comfortable with and stay safe. It’s more important than saving a few bucks on gas, if any.
Non-Hybrid, High MPG Alternatives Are Available
All carmakers now manufacture smaller, highly efficient, non-hybrid car models as well, and car rental companies are making them available for rent, without the premium rental rates. Modern smaller cars, including the economy and compact sizes, are safe, efficient and very reliable. They also come with all the expected amenities such air conditioning, automatic transmission, stereo radio with CD player, many with ABS and airbags. Additionally, companies like Enterprise and Hertz have Carbon Offset programs so that, no matter what a traveler selects to rent, he/she can still participate in helping the environment.
In summary, hybrid cars are the creation of a movement to stop global warming and improve the environment as a whole. As an idea, they are terrific and are the first of hopefully many steps in creating cars that are not dependent on fossil fuels. But as a rental option, they can be cumbersome and a bad choice for many people at least until hybrids are becoming more mainstream. Higher costs, a steep learning curve, and use in unfamiliar territories can lead to unwanted situations. So if you think you’re not ready to rent a hybrid rental car, you’re probably not.
