Hybrids are still far more expensive in environmental terms to build
than a conventional car, and car building still accounts for more
environmental damage than using the car for its normal life (about
twice as much for a 12-year lifespan on 1990s figures, even worse for
modern cars).  If you want to be "environmentally friendly" then best
buy a lean-burn diesel small car, and not a heavy 4x4 with lots of
batteries, plastic, aluminium, magnesium, and electronics.

Everything has to be made, and the construction costs of getting it
all out of the ground are very high, so bear that in mind when you
decide to buy new things.

Ross Lewis 2 <rosslewis@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in news:Uz7ui.57704
$2U6.19177@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk:

From the Jeep site (http://www.jeep.co.uk/), I don't think it's a hybrid!
(They offer a 2.4 petrol and 2.0 diesel). I was interested at first but I
need a good towcar and load carrier and the Patriot isn't either.

Even though the diesel's 229 lb ft / 138 bhp suggests it should make a good
tug, it has a manufacturer's maximum towing capacity for braked trailers of
only 1360 kg, which isn't enough for many family caravans. The petrol has
more power (168 bph), but at just 162 lb ft it has a lot less torque and so
wouldn't make as good a towcar.

The payload of the diesel version is 365 kg - and that's just not enough. A
standard "Eurobod" is 86 kg, so 4 would weigh 344 kg, leaving just 21 kg
for their luggage. So, it's possible for the car to be overloaded with just
four overweight adults aboard. Now the payload for the petrol models is
higher (410 kg or 445 kg depending on model), but if you're going to buy a
Patriot you might want the higher-torque, emissions band E diesel rather
than the thirstier, lower-torque, emissions band F petrol - particularly if
you want to tow with it.

HTH,