Highlited as an alternative to cut tailpipe emissions, hybrid-electric vehiches are often pointed to have a lower operational cost, altough in this matter they're not so great at all. Considering the initial cost, a Chevrolet Sonic can be as cost-effective at the long run as a Chevrolet Volt, which can become around 150% more expensive competitively-equipped. After a predictable 10-year lifespan, it's still cheaper to just overhaul the engine of a subcompact than to overhaul the engine AND replace the traction battery packs of a hybrid...
Diesel-powered vehicles, spotting the Volkswagen Jetta TDI as one of the most successful in the American market, are also a cost-effective option. In spite of the higher cost, altough still around 35% cheaper than a competitively-equipped Chevy Volt, a Jetta TDI offers an easier adaptability to run on alternative fuels, which leads to a lower environmental impact without sacrifices to performance or driveability. Also considering the manufacturing of the traction battery packs and their end-of-life reprocessing, which lead to a high energy expense, easily overcome the energy-saving thru a predictable 10-year lifespan, that can be easily surpassed by a Diesel while a battery hardly lasts more than 7 years. It's also worth to note that nowadays in some markets even sportscars, such as the Audi TT, can be had with a Diesel, joining the higher fuel-efficiency with the weight-savings and enhanced aerodynamics, leading to more increasements in the fuel-efficiency and environmental performance...
After all, a gasoline-powered hybrid is essentially matter of foolish marketing...
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