2003 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan

Over the past 12 months, our One-Year Honda Civic Hybrid has made a circuitous route around North America, from California to Michigan to Florida and back. All told, 23,649 trouble-free miles clicked over the odometer during its tenure with us, and it's made us believers of hybrid power.

The only time the car ever saw a service bay was for regular scheduled maintenance (our last oil/filter replacement and tire rotation/alignment cost $155.48). Delivering an observed highway best of 51.3 mpg, our Hybrid displayed a distinct indifference to service stations. Yet, as long as there's juice in the battery pack, the Hybrid accelerates and drives like any ordinary Civic sedan. Run the batteries dry when climbing a long grade, however, and it's taxed.

Our main concern with the Hybrid is that helping to save the environment does have its costs, as in the $5000 premium over the LX Civic sedan. You'll save around $650 in fuel outlay over a year, but it would take nearly seven years to make up the difference. Not to mention that the warranty for the battery pack ends at year six, and Radio Shack doesn't stock the replacements.