Worldwide oil prices have skyrocketed. This has

caused gasoline prices to spike as well. Filling up

the car used cost about as much as a large fast

food meal. Now it costs as much as a large fast

food meal -- for a football team. This huge extra

expense has people looking to hybrid cars to ease

the financial burden. Those looking for a quality

hybrid would do well to consider a Toyota hybrid car.

Like most mainstream hybrids, the Toyota hybrid

car uses both a gas engine and an electric motor.

The electric motor of the Toyota hybrid car is used

to accelerate the car and during idling. Gasoline

engines are very inefficient at these tasks. The gas

engine is used at cruising speed, where it is most

efficient, and to recharge the batteries for the electric

motor. Some of the gas burned by a Toyota hybrid

car goes to recharge the electric motor's batteries.

However, this is true for most hybrids, and the

amount of gas used is far less than using the gas

engine all the time.

Toyota is offering a couple of hybrid winners for sale

in 2007. If you want a Toyota hybrid car, consider

either the Toyota Camry Hybrid or the Toyota Prius.

You should research the type of Toyota hybrid car that

is right for you. Here are some facts about each

Toyota hybrid car to get you started.

The following comparisons are based on the following

average driving conditions: 45% highway driving, 55%

city driving, and 15,000 miles driven annually. The

average gas prices are $2.24 per gallon of regular

gasoline and $2.45 per gallon of premium gasoline.

The first Toyota hybrid car is the Camry. It operates on

regular gasoline and has a continuously variable

transmission (CVT). This model has front wheel drive

and a 2.4 liter engine. This Toyota hybrid car is rated by

EPA at 39 mpg overall (including both city and highway

driving). Considering average gas prices, this Toyota

hybrid car is estimated to travel 604 miles per tank with

an annual fuel cost of $860.

The other Toyota hybrid car to consider is the Prius.

It also operates on regular gasoline and has CVT feature.

Front wheel drive is standard on this Toyota hybrid car,

and the engine size is 1.5 liters. The EPA mileage rating

is 55 mpg combined. The travel distance for one tank of

gas is given as 589 miles, with estimated annual fuel costs

of only $612.

Each Toyota hybrid car has similar room for passengers,

with the Camry having slightly more. On the other hand,

the Prius has slightly more luggage room. Both are

classed as midsize vehicles. If you are only considering

gas mileage, then the best Toyota hybrid car is the Prius

with 55 miles per gallon. If performance is an issue, then

the Toyota hybrid car for you might be the Camry, which

has the larger engine. If you cannot decide, take each

Toyota hybrid car for a drive. Some qualities, such as style

and performance, can only be determined during a test drive.