Waiting for Hybrids to be the Smartest Buy

• SEE ALSO: Should you buy a Hybrid or Diesel?
• SEE ALSO: A More Perfect Fit

Washington DC June 17, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that with gasoline at record prices, demand for some (though not all) gas-electric hybrid vehicles is booming.

The average Toyota Prius is getting sold just 13 days after hitting the showroom floor. A year ago, it took 24 days to sell a Prius.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Prius sales dropped 38 percent in May compared to a year ago, but that was because Toyota dealers were running out of cars to sell. Click here for a chart comparing hybrid financials.

The stampede toward hybrid technology reflects the much broader rush toward smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles that has roiled the auto market as gasoline prices started topping $4 a gallon.

But if what you're really after is the best mileage for dollar spent, a forthcoming Consumer Reports analysis will conclude that you should buy a Honda Fit, says Jeff Bartlett, a Consumer Reports editor.