Not sure where you got your info, Fall... it's not accurate. And using words like "hysterical" and "smug and superior" just ends up labeling you, not others.

Here's some real data from a real user:

We have a Mercedes turbodiesel that can run on all sorts of oil (biodiesel, filtered waste oil). Good highway car, getting upwards of 34 mpg as long as we keep the speed near or under the limit.

So, as a complement, we got an AWD Ford Escape hybrid about a year and a half ago, which we really like. It's gotten a consistent 27-30 mpg, more on rolling hills at moderate speed (such as the coast highway in CA).

The fit and finish aren't anything like the benz, but it is a good performer, and has been on multi-day road trips, over the mountains in winter, and driven on snowy and icy roads with great performance and fine utility for us.

I don't think hybrids are "the answer", but they do get good mileage under many real-world circumstances, and are one way to cut back on both fuel consumption and emissions.

Turbodiesels and high-efficiency lighter gas cars also can get good performance - especially on highway driving (again, keeping away from blazing over-the-limit speeds, which will reduce efficiency and increase emissions for any car). What's been keeping the former out of many states is their emissions; hopefully those issues will be solved and we'll have more options to choose from.