Car Makers Alter Ads, Not Engines

Hybrid gas-electric technology went mainstream several years ago, but not in the Prius that has become synonymous with fuel efficiency.

It was the likes of the GM Tahoe and GMC Yukon were big, hulking SUVs that accelerated faster than their competitors with the help of an electric hybrid that supplemented the traditional gas engine. But General Motors isn't going to sell customers on the "performance hybrid" concept of getting more for less (more power, that is, for slightly less fuel).

It will still make the same SUVs, but will highlight their fuel efficiency instead. Same car, different message. Don't be fooled – these and comparable models from other brands, like some hybrid Lexus models from Toyota – get only one or two more miles per gallon than their competitors. They may be hybrid, but they're hardly the greenest, nor most thrifty, choice on the market.

Some manufacturers are actually making changes to improve their overall fuel efficiency. Honda, for instance, is dropping its six-cylinder hybrid Accord and will only make the more efficient four-cylinder model. The bottom line is the same as it has always been: Advertising is advertising, and customers are wise to learn the facts behind the slogans before they buy.

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