A Hybrid a Day Keeps the Gas Tank at Bay

Test drive a green rental car on your next vacation or before you buy

Bad weather in the Midwest and political unrest in the Middle East have threatened to send gas prices skyrocketing once more, just in time to suck our summer vacation budgets dry. Now you might be entertaining the idea of downsizing to a more fuel-efficient vehicle or rethinking that extended road trip planned for later in the summer. Why not kill two birds with one stone by renting a green vehicle to test drive while on that summer road trip?

Green vehicles generate fewer pollutants while netting anywhere from 48 to 60 miles per gallon (compared to the U.S. average of 24.8 miles per gallon). Plus, most of these green rentals won’t cost you much more per day than renting the cheapest economy vehicle on the lot. And the nice thing is that most major rental car companies have at least some form of green rental, whether it be a Toyota Prius, Smart Car or Ford Fusion. You just have to know what to look and ask for before you sign away on the dotted line.

Consider your travel plans. Are you planning to drive across the United States or simply a few hours up the coast? Where and how far you go will dictate your choice of rental. Electric cars have limited driving ranges when fully-charged. Although most can be recharged simply by plugging into a regular household outlet, you don’t want to be stuck in BFE with a dead-on-arrival vehicle. If your destination is fairly local, the electric Smart Car or Nissan Leaf might be a good tester for you. However, if you’re planning to go the distance, stick with a hybrid, like the Toyota Prius, Chevy Volt or Ford Fusion. Hybrids work largely by operating on electricity within city limits, but they switch to gas when traveling larger distances. Plus, hybrids will still cost you less in the long run at the pump than a regular passenger vehicle.

Rental companies usually carry a slim selection of green vehicles, making planning ahead an absolute necessity. Some dealerships rent cars out several months in advance, and some won’t rent the vehicle to you if inventories run dry, despite the fact you had advanced reservations.

Make no mistake. Rental cars offer great opportunities to try before you buy. Plus, if you wanted to rent an efficient vehicle for a trip, there is no better budget pleaser than a car that makes fewer stops at overpriced roadside pumps.

Budget Rent-A-Car, www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/en/cars/green_machines.html

Avis Green Car Rentals, www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/en/cars/green_machines.html

Hertz Green Traveler Connection, www.hertz.com/rentacar/productservice/index.jsp?targetPage=greentravelercollection.jsp

Travelocity, www.travelocity.com/Promotions/0,,TRAVELOCITY|5881|cars_main,00.html