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Honda Civic Hybrid:
Unlike the Prius, the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid is one of several hybrid vehicles that looks just like its non-hybrid sibling. While that may appeal to a buyer who likes to fly under the radar, many hybrid buyers are looking for something that looks a little different. For them, the 2010 Honda Insight will essentially share the Civic's hybrid technology, but will be more affordable and have that futuristic space-pod look that Prius buyers have flocked to. The non-hybrid Honda Fit should also be considered, with its spacious interior, fun-to-drive demeanor and still-impressive fuel economy, if you're not dead set on a hybrid.

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Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited: Performance

We paid the price for this plucky performance at the pump, as our Forester managed a decidedly SUV-like 18.1 mpg over 871 miles of mixed driving. The EPA rates the Forester XT at 19 mpg city/24 highway — by comparison, the aforementioned RAV4 V6 is rated at 19/26, and we managed a cumulative 21 mpg with our long-term RAV4. Handling is also SUV-grade, as the Forester rolls and bounces its way through tight corners like a four-wheeled pogo stick. Our best 60-0-mph stopping distance was an indifferent 125 feet, with the brake pedal evincing a consistently spongy feel.

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Pontiac Vibe GT
With the GT comes a new 2.4-liter engine that's good for 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque; it's the well-loved Toyota engine that's also found in models like the Camry and the Scion xB. This engine offers slightly less horsepower than the high-revving 1.8-liter four seen in the previous GT, but its wide torque band makes that power fully usable and within reach. The 2.4-liter engine is standard on the GT, and on base models equipped with all-wheel drive; it's optional on front-wheel-drive base models. Other changes seen in the revised Vibe include sportier sheet metal, improved interior design, and upgraded fit and finish.

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
If you choose to drive a full-size SUV nowadays, you may want to opt for the deep-tinted window package. With gas at $4 a gallon, chances are good that folks driving economy cars are going to either point and scowl or point and laugh at your vehicle choice, so being anonymous may lessen the sting.

Southwest Financial Group Disability Lexus RX 400h Performance

With its powerful electric motors, the 2008 Lexus RX 400h, under light throttle, has the ability to travel up to 30 mph without employing the gas engine. It's a strange but eerily enjoyable experience to see how "efficiently" you can drive by going easy on the "gas" pedal. Not to mention how that optimizes your fuel economy. Step into it and the 3.3-liter gas engine jumps in seamlessly, with the tandem power plants and continuously variable transmission (CVT) providing a strong, linear rush of power.

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