Five Best Hybrid Car Rebates and Incentives

Hybrid cars, SUVs and crossovers are renowned for their savings at the fuel pump, but smart shoppers also know where they can find the types of incentives that can provide additional value by trimming down the MSRPs of these eco-friendly vehicles. Although hybrid cars are typically priced higher than their gasoline-powered equivalents, and aren’t usually included in sweeping incentives programs, we’ve done some detective work to discover which battery-powered automobiles offer significant cash back rebates and plum financing deals.

Let’s take a look at five of the best hybrid car rebates and incentives currently available.

The 2010 Toyota Prius is without a doubt the highest-profile hybrid car on the market is and one of the vehicles that helped to define the hybrid segment in the United States. The vehicle was completely redesigned for the 2010 model year, improving every aspect of the automobile’s platform and drivetrain. Toyota’s latest drive to boost total vehicle sales by the year’s end means uncommon deals on the 2010 edition of the Prius. The five-passenger hatchback offers a class-leading 51 miles per gallon in city driving, as well as 48 miles per gallon on the highway from its Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Power is derived from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder unit that combines with two electric motors to generate 134 horsepower.

The 2010 Toyota Prius can be had with a $1,000 factory cash back rebate or the choice of 0.0% financing until 01/03/2011.

The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 adopts a different perspective on the hybrid driving experience. The full-size sports activity coupe isn’t focused so much on fuel economy (its 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 19 miles per gallon on the highway falls somewhere between the six-cylinder and V-8 editions of the standard X6), but rather aims to use its pair of electric motors to give the vehicle’s twin-turbo V-8 engine a boost of power when needed. The 4.4-liter unit and electric engines together put out a hefty 480 horsepower managed through a seven-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system.

The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is available with either a $2,500 cash back rebate or 0.9% financing until 01/03/2011.

The 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid has for many years enjoyed solid popularity amongst compact gasoline / electric SUV shoppers. The Escape Hybrid is able to offer significant fuel economy improvements over the standard Escape model (34 miles per gallon in stop and go driving and 31 miles per gallon on the highway) without reducing the vehicle’s utility or practicality. The Escape Hybrid still seats up to five passengers and can handle as much as 65 cubic feet of total cargo with the rear rows folded forward. Power also remains competitive, as the SUV’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motors work together to provide 177 horsepower, sent through a continuously variable automatic transmission to either the front of all four wheels if optional all-wheel drive is selected.

A $2,000 cash back rebate or the choice of 0.0% financing is available until 01/03/2011 on the 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid.

The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 750i is the German luxury brand’s second entry on our list of the five best hybrid rebates and incentives. Also available in Li extended wheelbase trim, the BMW ActiveHybrid 750i maintains the opulence of the automaker’s flagship full-size sedan while providing more power and better fuel economy than the gasoline-only 750i. A modified edition of BMW’s 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 teams up with an electric motor in order to provide a total of 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft under the vehicle’s hood, and an eight-speed automatic transmission contributes to the ActiveHybrid 750i’s zero to 60 mph time of just 4.7 seconds. Features such as regenerative braking and an auto start/stop feature also help the hybrid to return fuel mileage numbers of 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 24 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 750i / Li are available with a cash back rebate of $2,500 or 0.9% financing until 1/3/2011.

The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid is capable of satisfying those looking for an affordable premium hybrid car that is not just a fuel sipper but which also provides a decent level of standard equipment. The Milan Hybrid also offers better than average driving dynamics for a mid-size family sedan. Power is derived from a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors, and the entire system together generates 191 horsepower. A continuously variable automatic transmission is on tap to handle the gear shifting duties, and fuel mileage comes in at 41 miles per gallon around town and 36 miles per gallon on the highway – exceptional figures for a four-door automobile that doesn’t ask drivers or passengers to make any sacrifices in terms of comfort or features.

The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid is being offered with the choice of 0.0% financing or a $2,000 cash back rebate until 12/31/2010.