Looking forward to a 15 day Specialty hybrid rental for a 3000 mile long trip from LAX. Now here are my questions...
1. I don't want a prius, what are the other Hybrids that you have seen at LAX?
2. If they don't have a hybrid, what is the next upgrade level from XC?
3. Do they have Lincoln MKZ hybrids at LAX?
4. Do they have Hybrids that have leather interiors and sunroofs?
5. Does Avis have better collection of Hybrids in LAS or at LAX?
Thanks

Not an exact answer that you're looking for, but I'll answer what I can..

1. I haven't seen many Prius in Avis lots recently. I've seen a good number of the following hybrids at Avis locations recently: Ford C-Max (avoid... seems very basic and many car reviews agree), Ford Fusion (I LOVE this one) and Sonata.

2. If it's specialty, they should have it. If not, "upgrade" will really depend on what you want vs. what they have. If you're set on a hybrid, I'd have a back-up at another agency.

3. Haven't seen ANY MKZ hybrids on rental lots. Lincoln has had good success selling high-end MKZs from a few reports I've read. So it's likely that rental agencies will get lower-end MKZs from the production line (this holds true to the few MKZs I've seen at Avis lots).

4. The 2 C-Maxes I've had have leather/sunroofs (well, I think it's a "moon roof" since it doesn't open). I've had a handful of Fusion Hybrids and they all have leather & sunroofs. It's one of my favorite cars at Avis currently.

I've been driving hybrids for over nine years. I know how to squeeze maximum mileage in urban and suburban environments. However, on long road trips the fuel savings is insignificant unless you do a lot of your driving in rolling hills territory (where the battery has an opportunity to recharge).

Thank you guys for your inputs.

This is a very good point you(TWA884) bring up. I have heard that Ford Fusion hybrids utilize their batteries up till about 62?? mph?

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...on-future-cars

For highway driving that would be helpful ... don't you think?... hopefully not annoying drivers if I stay on the right most lane safely a 100 feet behind a truck.

However, you still need to charge the batteries for a hybrid car to use the electric motor(s). If you're driving mostly/all on highways, you shouldn't be using the brakes much so the batteries won't have any juice to reduce the MPG. City driving is best for a hybrid.

The range on batteries only, without using the internal combustion engine, will be only about 1 to 3 miles for conventional hybrids and approximately 18 to 38 for a plug-in hybrids (Ford Fusion Energi and Chevy Volt, respectively).

Coasting and braking repeatedly to charge the batteries is extremely inefficient and will result in worse mileage than driving a conventional car.

Hybrid cars do best in city and suburban driving because they capture energy that would otherwise go to waste and reuse it.

Great Inputs. Thank you all for your time. I think might as well get a premium like a CC or the Lincoln MKZ then.

To clarify, most hybrids do get excellent highway mileage, but that's because they tend to be designed for efficiency (smaller engines, lighter weight, more aerodynamic, etc.) in general. A Prius, running 100% on gas, is still a very efficient car. The same body, at the same weight, using the same engine, would get essentially the same highway mileage.

The real benefit of being a hybrid per se is in city driving, where you recapture some of the energy wasted in speed up/slow down driving.

If you get a premium, you're most likely to get either a Maxima or a Taurus. Neither of these are exactly fuel misers.

Agreed.

I would love to see some diesels make it onto the rotation but I think too many people would attempt to refill with gasoline. That is an expensive mistake.

Depending on the lot, you might be able to upgrade into an S60 T5, which is reasonably efficient.

Too True.

Guess I am looking for a balance between fuel efficiency and long distance cruiser that won't hurt my back after 8 hours of driving.

The road trip I am planning is about 3500 miles. And the best I can afford is probably a Premium. And hence the minor First world conundrum. lol

Any recommendations on the make and model would be great.

Maxima is a premium? Which location?