Power surveyed 4,000 people in July who said they intend to buy a new vehicle in the next two years. More than half (57 percent) said they would consider buying a hybrid, 49 percent said they'd consider a vehicle that burns an E85 ethanol blend and 12 percent said they'd consider a diesel car or truck.
Consumers said they would expect to pay $5,250 more for a hybrid than a similar gasoline-only model. The actual premiums automakers charge for hybrids range from $3,000 to $10,000, Power said.
But those same potential buyers said they expect a hybrid to get 28 more miles per gallon than a gasoline-only car. Hybrid owners have told Power their improvement averages about 9 mpg.
The same thinking holds true for diesels, Power's report said. Potential buyers said they expect a 21 mpg improvement with a diesel engine, while real owners say it's closer to 12 mpg.
That disconnect is ``a real problem,'' said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com Web site. ``People expect hybrids to be a miracle cure, but they're not.''
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