So when Consumer Reports published an article in its April 2006 auto issue saying that any of the six most popular hybrid cars would cost owners more over the lifetime of the vehicle than comparable gasoline-powered models, a few sharp-eyed readers pointed out a serious design flaw in the magazine’s research that sent editors scrambling to correct their mistake.
It turns out Consumer Reports had miscalculated depreciation for the hybrids, which inflated the cost of hybrid ownership by thousands of dollars. The revised calculations show that two of the hybrid cars the magazine reviewed do save their owners money over gas-powered vehicles in the first five years. According to Consumer Reports, Toyota Prius owners save $406, and Honda Civic Hybrid owners save $317, compared to the Toyota Corolla LE sedan and the Honda Civic EX sedan.
“In maintaining our commitment to the highest levels of accuracy and credibility, Consumer Reports is posting a revised version of the report on its Web site,” Automotive Editor Rik Paul said in a statement. “We deeply regret the error.”