Braking Distances On Some New Hybrids are Longer Than They Have to Be

Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
Hybrids
have been a part of the auto industry for some time now. Since the Toyota Prius arrived in 1997, automakers have used the gas-electric powertrain in the race to lower fuel use as much as possible.
But according to
Consumer Reports
(CR), some manufacturers might be taking the challenge a little too far. The industry watchdog claims that a few of the largest car companies in the world are sacrificing braking distance for slight improvements to their models’ mpg numbers.
CR compared hybrid and non-hybrid versions of the same models and found that hybrids from Toyota, Chrysler, and Hyundai had longer braking distances than their fully gas-powered counterparts.
Do automakers sacrifice braking distance on hybrids for better fuel economy?

Why do some hybrids have longer braking distances?

Differences in powertrain don’t affect braking distances, and CR’s test proved this. Hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and Honda CR-V had the same braking performances as the non-hybrid models. It’s the other variations that make up the discrepancy.
The main culprits are the low-rolling-resistance tires installed on the poor-performing hybrids like the Toyota Camry and Chrysler Pacifica. 
CR swapped the specialty tires off of a Toyota Highlander to see the impact it would make. Braking distance improved, and fuel economy was only affected by two miles.
To be sure, there are other factors at play. Hybrids are generally heavier than regular cars because of their battery packs. Their regenerative braking systems can also slow down the process of stopping the vehicle.
MORE: The 5 Most Affordable Plug-In Hybrids
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How to find the right hybrid

Buying a car is more complicated than ever before. Supply shortages, high prices, more features, and more powertrain options mean you have way too many factors to weigh than you could possibly research on your own.
When it comes to buying a hybrid, most people focus on fuel economy, but CR says its brake distance test shows that drivers should pay attention to the whole spectrum of the vehicle’s performance. 
Luckily, you don’t have to go far to learn more about how hybrids compare to each other. CR tests all aspects of the vehicles it rates, combining every result into a final score. Only the vehicles with the top scores get recommended.
This year, top performing hybrids in CR’s test included the Honda Accord and Kia Niro.

The cost of owning a hybrid

MORE: 3 Hidden Reasons Hybrid Cars Are More Expensive to Insure
Even though hybrids have been in the mix of available models for decades, they’re still a little more expensive than their fully gas-powered siblings. The same is true for their
car insurance
rates. 
But you don’t have to be stuck paying high premiums for your hybrid. You can save money on car insurance by shopping with
Jerry
A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy. 
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