How do hybrids do in cold weather

And because hybrids tend to be light, they also slip and slide a little more easily. But really, how a hybrid performs in snow and ice truly depends on the type of hybrid you own. Hybrid cars now come in all shapes and sizes -- there are even hybrid trucks and SUVs equipped with all-wheel-drive for extra grip in the snow. Even small hybrid sedans have the potential to do well on snow and ice. Those small hybrids tend to be front-wheel-drive. While not as surefooted on snow as all-wheel drive, front-wheel-drive cars have an advantage over rear-wheel-drive cars because the heaviest part of the car -- the engine -- is on top of the drive wheels, which pushes them down through the snow and gives them better grip.

Also, during snowy seasons, drivers can opt to trade a little fuel economy for more traction by putting snow tires on their hybrid. And finally, most new hybrids come with traction control, which monitors, among other things, wheel spin to help the driver maintain control of the car. Basically, traction control helps a driver avoid skids and slips.

So, is a Toyota Prius as good in the snow as a Land Rover? Probably not. And with some careful driving -- and maybe a new set of snow tires -- a Prius will likely get its driver through the snow safely, and use a lot less gas than the Land Rover while doing it, too.

And when summer comes around and gas prices spike, the Prius driver will have been happy to put up with a few weeks of careful snow driving to enjoy the benefit of money saved at the fuel pump.

When cold weather comes calling, there are some trade-offs that hybrid drivers have to make. But when you really think about it, they're the same trade-offs that all car drivers have to make. Sure, cold weather causes hybrids to have a drop in fuel efficiency. But keep in mind that all cars have that same lowered level of efficiency to deal with. Because hybrids are so efficient to begin with, they're still a better green driving option -- even when it's cold out.

However, there do happen to be a few steps you can take to winterize your hybrid to make sure that you can continue eco-friendly driving year round. First, since you know that cold weather is going to make it tough for the engine of every vehicle to warm up -- fuel-efficient vehicles included -- you're going to need to look for ways to gain mileage elsewhere.

One easy thing that you can do is keep you hybrid's interior cleaned out -- carrying extra weight in your car's trunk or keeping your ski-rack on the roof year-round negatively impacts a car's efficiency because it takes more power to carry the extra weight.

Keep wind resistance in mind too -- that's where taking the ski rack off your vehicle's roof comes in -- but it also means cleaning all of the snow and ice off your car before you head out. Check the air pressure in your tires as well. Cold causes air molecules to contract, which means that tires can suddenly become under-inflated. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance, which makes it harder for the car to move and it takes a toll on your fuel economy, too. If you live in a snow-prone region and the streets aren't always clear, you may want to bite the bullet and get snow tires for your hybrid.

Sure, you'll lose some fuel efficiency, but you'll gain stability. Plus, you may even be able to make up some of the loss in fuel economy by altering your driving style to be as efficient as possible. Finally, as with any car or truck, use common sense when driving in snow and ice.

Learn how to drive out of a skid or a fish tail, and keep a small winter emergency kit in your car. A small bag of sand or kitty litter and a shovel can often help get your car unstuck, and while the extra weight won't help your fuel economy much, if you get stranded, you'll be awfully glad you had it.

Also, keep a close eye on all of your car's fluid levels -- especially anti-freeze and windshield wiper fluid -- and top them off if they start to get low. For more information about hybrid cars and other related topics, follow the links on the next page. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close.

When this happens, the gas engine will have to make up for it, thus consuming more fuel in the process. According to Fueleconomy. As a homegrown example, we recently drove a Toyota Venza for a week during a time when the ambient air temperature was a constant 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, a hybrid may experience lower-than-expected gas mileage in an area that is generally colder or warmer than other areas.

It should not come as a surprise that cold weather can impact a hybrid's fuel efficiency. As noted, winter temperatures affect fuel efficiency for all vehicles. When driving in colder weather, several energy-consuming systems are used in addition to an engine, such as heaters, defrosters, headlights and windshield wipers. Diminished resistance on roads and lower pressure in tires also lead to traveling shorter distances consuming the same amount of fuel needed to travel longer distances in warmer weather.

Hybrids, however, involve some additional concerns. Due to the way they are built, they are not able to modulate their battery temperature as well, causing them to take longer to reach ideal operating temperature if starting from an extreme cold temperature. The longer it takes for the battery pack to reach its most efficient temperature, the longer the car's computer depends upon the ICE, thereby consuming more gasoline.

In cold weather, therefore, the computer takes longer to make the switch to using the electric motor. The Honda Civic Hybrid, for example, does not allow itself to switch completely over to electric power, even at low speeds, at temperatures below freezing.

In extremely hot weather, a similar problem exists.