<p>jym–my Saab was a station wagon with back seats that folded forward and I really kike being able to have that much space for hauling things around. I’m less concerned about price than about getting something I really like.</p>
<p>Take a look at the Lexus RX series cars. I love mine, though I got mine before the backup feature was available. They make a hybrid. Not sure if the Toyota Highlander comes in hybrid.</p>
<p>** Yes, both the RX series and the highlander come in hybrid
<a href=“http://www.toyota.com/highlander/trims-prices.html[/url]”>http://www.toyota.com/highlander/trims-prices.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.lexus.com/models/RXh/[/url]”>2023 Lexus RX Hybrid – Luxury SUV | Lexus.com;
<p>Jym, I like the RX, but its hybrid version does not get a great gas mileage compared to the other bethie’s cars. It is a wonderful car, and the seats are super comfy. I parallel park ours with just the camera.</p>
<p>What mileage does it get, BB? Its big, and heavy so probably would not vcompete withthe others. But it is super comfy and has lots of room to haul stuff. Mine (not hybrid) is 7 yrs old and I still love it.</p>
<p>The Ford Escape Park Assist does park correctly both to the left and right. Obviously, you do have to watch it park–but since I control the throttle, I fail to see how anyone could blame the CAR for a parking error.</p>
<p>We bought a 2012 Prius 2 months ago. I love it. I got the heated leather seats with power drivers seat When you put it in reverse, the navigation screen/camera comes on (and the beep) so you can see exactly where you’re backing up. We think the 2012 Prius is slightly more mainstream looking than the older models. The gas mileage is awesome.</p>
<p>Consider shopping around for a good deal on a monthly rental. That will buy you some time before rushing into a jumbo purchase.</p>
<p>Thanks, colorado_mom, I’ve been thinking I should rent or borrow a car rather than deciding so quickly about a purchase.</p>
<p>Agree that rushing into a purchase and then regretting it is definitely not a good thing. My sister has been happy with recent purchases of cars from Hertz. It does take some research to find a car that YOU will be happy with. Good luck!</p>
<p>jym, it looks like the 2013 got quite an improvement in the gas mileage department 
:</p>
<p>[2013</a> Lexus RX 450h Review - Review | Hybrid Cars](<a href=“http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/lexus-rx-450h.html]2013”>http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/lexus-rx-450h.html)</p>
<p>32/28 mpg is pretty impressive for an SUV of this size; as I recall, for the older RX hybrids gas mileage was sacrificed in order to get more power. We have a regular RX which is now 7 years old, and I can get about 22-25 mpg, while Mr. Lead Foot gets about 20. :)</p>
<p>I’m not sure if anyone has suggested but we have a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. Very nice and we consistently get 35-40mpg on it but usually drive hwy miles. They make a hybrid Sonata which is a little bigger than the Elantra, it would make a better family car. Hyundai is getting good marks from Consumers Reports.</p>
<p>Bethievt:</p>
<p>Understood and agree with your comment about carbon footprint. But IMO the current hybrids are not really green once you look at the horrible environmental cost to create the batteries. It is not offset by the gain in mileage. And then there is the disposal of the batteries. </p>
<p>I think that ULEV gas engine w/high mileage is not only the greenest way to go but the most cost effective. Like the Hyundai Elantra.</p>
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<p>How is it necessarily that much more horrible than making other car parts?</p>
<p>The value of the hybrid battery materials ensures that there is a recycling market for them, like there is for much less valuable materials (including lead-acid batteries) from wrecked or junk cars. Cars have been among the most intensively recycled consumer goods for decades, long before people were thinking of environmental considerations.</p>
<p>Iron Maiden</p>
<p>That’s an interesting point about the battery. And ucbalumnus, I’m interested in your comment too. But it does sound like the Elantra is worth a look.</p>
<p>Salvage yards for junk or wrecked cars have existed almost as long as cars have, because junk or wrecked cars have parts that are valuable in repairing other cars, and non-valuable parts can be recycled for their metal and other content (easier to mine various metals from piles of car parts than from large amounts of dirt).</p>
<p>Collection and sorting are often the most difficult parts of the recycling stream, but junk or wrecked cars are not like cans, bottles, paper, etc. that people just throw in the garbage can or sort into various recycling bins – to get rid of them, one has to call a salvage yard to tow them away. Then the salvage yard does the sorting by disassembling the car, selling the reusable parts, and selling the sorted remainder (steel from bodies, iron or aluminum from engine blocks, lead from lead-acid batteries, more expensive metals from hybrid batteries, etc.) to the recycling industry.</p>
<p>Regarding the Hyundai Elantra, the Hyundai Accent is smaller and lighter (less environmental impact in manufacture and shipping), more fuel efficient, and less expensive.</p>
<p>Thanks, I’ll look into that too.</p>
<p>“Thanks, colorado_mom, I’ve been thinking I should rent or borrow a car rather than deciding so quickly about a purchase.” </p>
<p>Rental is our backup plan if our old Audi (which we love) needs expensive repairs before we’ve decided to bite the bullet to order a new one. With our Hertz Gold card, a midsize rental would be about $560/month (unlimited miles, incuding tax). I suspect it would be less via Priceline etc.</p>
<p>My H does have preferred cards with Hertz and Avis, so that’s a good thought.</p>
<p>AVOID new Civics at all costs… Honda really took a step back from their usual standards in terms of comfort and overall quality. That being said I highly recommend the Prius.</p>
<p>Prius is a decent car “appliance” as long as you are willing to pay the hybrid premium for some reason (the savings on gas does not make up for the increased cost).</p>