car buying

  • 2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell car, Newport Beach, CA, Nov 2014

    Cheaper batteries alone won't get consumers to abandon their internal combustion cars for any type of electric car. Purchase incentives and charging boost plug-in hybrids. But what buyers really seem to want is fuel cells.

  • Tesla Supercharger site in Vacaville, California, before expansion    [photo: George Parrott]
    What if car buyers aren't ready for electric cars, even in California?

    It's accepted wisdom among electric-car fans and advocates that within a few years, mass-market car buyers will start snapping up battery-electric cars. First, battery prices have to come down to the point that electric vehicles aren't much pricier than comparable models with gasoline engines. But...

  • Handing over car keys
    What will your next car be? Take our Twitter poll

    Seven years after the first mass-priced modern electric car was sold in the U.S., more car buyers than ever are at least dimly aware that such vehicles exist. Sales of cars that plug in have risen every year, with one slight dip in 2015, but they were still just 1 percent of the U.S. market of 17.5...

  • 2015 Nissan Leaf in front of Longfellow Bridge, Boston [photo: John Briggs]
    Car dealers are woefully unprepared for electric vehicles: study

    Yet another study has revealed that many dealerships across the United States still don't prioritize electric cars and haven't prepared for their growth. The latest report showed dealerships still practice the same unhealthy habits uncovered in earlier studies, including a lack of electric-car...

  • 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier and 2017 BMW i3 electric car, Aug 2017        [photo: Tom Moloughney]
    Are car buyers the biggest problem for electric cars? (Yes, of course they are, but it's price)

    While it's clear that the transition to plug-in electric cars is accelerating across the globe, in the short term electric cars still face numerous hurdles. Charging infrastructure remains inconsistent, vehicle range is still an issue, and ultimately, the inherent and appropriate conservatism of...

  • 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE, Willamette Valley, Oregon, June 2017
    Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for November 2017

    This month's best deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars are in and buyers will find a handful of eco-friendly bargains. Most cars have held their spots from October 2017, but a few newcomers may surprise shoppers, including the brand-new 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Read on to see where...

  • 2018 Hyundai Ioniq

    As automakers commit to more electric and electrified cars in the near future, many hurdles remain that can make owning an electric car more difficult than a conventional vehicle. Meanwhile, as electrified cars become more common, automakers and brands will also continue to introduce new models for vehicle ownership, many of them subscription services. But it may be possible these two evolutions could converge and reinforce each another, which would boost electric-car adoption. DON'T MISS: Hyundai Ioniq electric car offered on 'Ioniq Unlimited' subscription model Consumers who may be leery of...

  • 2017 Fiat 500e
    Electric cars are some of fastest-moving used vehicles in the U.S. (updated)

    Not every car buyer can afford a brand-new vehicle, which often makes gently used vehicles an appealing alternative. But while cars that plug in take only a small share of new-vehicle purchases today—about 1 percent—they apparently move quite fast off dealer lots once they're used. In...

  • 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid
    Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for October 2017

    Another month, another round of deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars. This month, many cars hold their spots as solid deals, but the offers have become slightly more generous for a few. The deals on diesel-powered vehicles have also been shaken up. So, without further ado, the best...

  • 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
    Costco members now get GM Supplier Pricing on Chevy Bolt EV, Volt

    Costco members in the market for a new vehicle now have a new round of incentives to consider as they head into the final car-buying months of 2017. Specifically, shoppers interested in a General Motors vehicle will discover Supplier Pricing on nearly every car—including the Chevrolet Bolt EV...

  • 2019 Volvo XC40
    Car subscription services to take 1 of 5 sales by 2023, Volvo CEO says

    The 2019 Volvo XC40 not only represents the Swedish brand's first compact crossover to be sold in the U.S. but its first shot at a new model for drivers to obtain cars: a subscription service. During the XC40 launch, Volvo revealed it would introduce Care by Volvo, a subscription service giving...

  • First 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car    [photo: Patrick Reid]
    CT dealer incentive for electric-car sales works, could be improved: report

    Connecticut ushered in a unique electric-car incentive in 2014, and the first points of data on its effectiveness have now been published. The Connecitcut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) program not only provides a direct incentive for consumers to buy electric cars, it...

  • 2017 Nissan Leaf

    The deals, incentives, and rebates currently available on the 2017 Nissan Leaf are generous and well documented. A handful of utility companies across the United States have offered generous discounts, likely backed by Nissan itself, to move the current-generation Leaf from dealerships to driveways. All of this has occurred as the 2018 Nissan Leaf prepares to launch early next year in North America. DON'T MISS: Nine things you should know about the 2018 Nissan Leaf electric car One YouTuber recently documented his electric-car purchasing journey and explained why he bought a 2017 Nissan Leaf...

  • 2018 Toyota Prius C
    Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for September 2017

    Another month has gone by, which means it's time for another round of superb deals for hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars. For September, many of last month's cars hold their place on the list, though incentives have gotten better for some of them. As always, offers listed here reflect the...

  • 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
    Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for August 2017

    As North America rounds out the final weeks of summer, plenty of discounts and deals remain on fuel-efficient, hybrid, and electric cars. The month of August sees a number of familiar nameplates remain as best buys, while a few newcomers arrive to represent excellent new values. Below are August's...

  • Owner Dawn Hall before 800-mile road trip in 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car
    Note to (a few) electric-car advocates: get off your high horses

    Any movement produces passionate advocates and angry detractors, even as the vast mass of people pay it little or no attention. When that movement involves most people's second most-expensive purchase, and plays a role in reducing manmade carbon emissions to alleviate the worst effects of climate...

  • 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Catskill Mountains, NY, Feb 2016
    Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for July 2017

    The month of July brings plenty of juicy deals on battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, conventional hybrid, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Much like last month, many of the deals remain. However, there are a few newcomers to the list for July—including one vehicle that may startle a few consumers...

  • 2017 Honda Clarity Electric
    Electric-car leases in California: Leaf, Volt, Focus vs Clarity

    The state of California is undeniably the United States' premier market for electric vehicles. It's also a market where automakers actually need to sell certain volumes of zero-emission cars, which means some of the nation's best lease deals on electric cars can be found in the Golden State. There...

  • 2017 Ford C-Max

    Now that we're into a new month, it's time to check out the best deals on green cars—this time for the month of June. As always, Cars Direct has compiled its monthly list of the most budget friendly options for buyers looking to go green. It should be noted there's now a separate category for "Best fuel efficient SUV," since small passenger sedans and hatchbacks have typically dominated the fuel-efficiency list. Hybrids Once again, the Ford C-Max Hybrid tops the list with an identical lease deal from the month of May. The C-Max may be leased for $169 per month with $1,999 down and...

  • 2017 Ford C-Max
    Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for May 2017

    It's time to take a look at the best deals on hybrid, electric, and fuel-efficient cars for the month of May, and as new-vehicle sales slow, there are plenty of deals to be had. As always, Cars Direct has compiled the best deals for the month, using deals available in Southern California unless...

  • 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
    Chevy Bolt EV pricing across U.S.: some discounts, some markups on electric car

    With a base price of $37,495 and an EPA-rated range of 238 miles, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV has no real direct competition at the moment. All other electric cars in its price bracket offer substantially lower ranges, while the 200-mile luxury electric cars sold by Tesla now start at $75,000. Just...

  • 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
    Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for March 2017

    Once again, it's time to look at the month's best deals on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric cars, and fuel-efficient gasoline cars. Deals for March include several new models, as well as a couple of holdovers from the previous model year. Some manufacturers seem to be more aggressive with...

  • 2017 Hyundai Ioniq
    2017 Hyundai Ioniq prices: hybrid starts at $23,035, electric at $30,335

    The 2017 Hyundai Ioniq is the South Korean automaker's first dedicated green model. It will offer three powertrain options in the same body shell: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric. Those models are just now beginning to hit U.S. showrooms, and we now have pricing information for two of...

  • 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4
    Best deals on hybrid, electric, fuel-efficient cars for February 2017

    As we roll through the second month of 2017, it's once again time to take a look at the best deals on green cars. This month's batch of deals spans a wide array of models, from one of the best-selling plug-in hybrids to a pair of subcompact sedans. It also includes one of the newest green cars to...

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