As gas prices decline, so does interest in buying hybrid cars

What is the surest sign that gas prices are dropping? Interest in hybrids is waning.

…The latest Cars.com Consumer Search Index is showing a significant decline in searches for hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars, all of which saw dramatic increases during the last several months when gas prices were at all-time highs.


Hybrid vehicles such as the Honda Civic Hybrid, the Honda Insight, the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid were all among the site’s used cars with the greatest decline in search activity for July.

“This is fairly consistent with what we’ve experienced in past years with the ebb and flow of gas prices,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com’s managing editor. “As gas prices decline, we are starting to see people searching for crossover vehicles and some SUVs.

“We have yet to see a sustained movement away from gas guzzlers. Instead, we find that consumers are reacting to current prices at the pump when it comes to their automotive search and buying behavior.”

Herald Tribune