You hear every day about hybrid cars from their proponents. But have you ever heard about it from the other side? Only if you are seeking information on the pros and cons of owning a hybrid car, will you become aware that there are cons too that many manufactures don’t want you to know about. Here is the list of the top 8 pros and cons of owning a hybrid car that will help you to better understand what your really getting yourself into when you purchase a hybrid car:

Pro: Better gas mileage - Hybrid vehicles will take you twice as far as the conventional vehicle for every gallon of fuel. With gas prices escalating this should sway the buyer towards the hybrid car just to save money on their gasoline purchases.

Con: The mileage, in reality, is 10% less than what the tag claims. This can come as a setback to owners with financial constraints. Claims on the tag apart, the fact is that hybrid cars are only 25 to 30 percent more efficient than the new gas-saving vehicles on the market which may opt to be a better choice in the long run.

Pro: You’ll save a lot more money in the long run- If you own a hybrid you’ll save approximately $2,300 over a ten year period which is really nothing to sneeze at when it comes to saving money.

Con: The cost of hybrid cars ranges from $19,000 to $25,000 compared to conventional fuel-efficient vehicles that cost anywhere between $14,000 to $17,000. Hybrid cars don’t pay for themselves although many manufactures would like you to think they will.

Pro: Hybrids are more fuel-efficient and better for the environment- Hybrids are built specifically to be environment friendly. They reduce the amount of gas you need by utilizing instead. Hybrids cut the amount of emissions from your car by 25% to 30%.

Con: If you’re a jump-start driver and you speed all the time, your eco-friendly hybrid vehicle will not live up to its name. Speeding and starting too quickly from a light is a waste of gasoline in any car, even a hybrid. A hybrid uses gasoline products and a bad driver can cause harm to the environment so it really depends on what kind of driver you are when it comes to being more fuel-efficient and better for the environment.

Pro: Regular maintenance and repairs are just like getting a conventional car fixed- Hybrids are just hybrids. They have many of the same parts as conventional vehicles that can be serviced by any qualified mechanic.

Con: Regular maintenance and repairs are no problem, but hybrids have their own unique problems - a complex system requiring two motors, ancillary systems, computers, a heavy battery and a generator that must all work together. The complexity and newness of hybrids will surely see owners paying bigger repair/service bills besides spending more time sitting around the repair shop.

Learn everything you can about a vehicle before purchasing it and spare yourself from some nasty surprises.