Life is a highway

This summer, thousands of families will hop into their vehicles for a road trip getaway. Will you be one of them? I know that I will. If your lease is running up -- or if you're searching for a new car to buy -- it's likely that you've looked at hybrids. If so, you're in good company.

Last year, U.S. registrations of new hybrid vehicles rose 38 percent to a record 350,289, according to data to be recently released by R.L. Polk & Co., a Southfield, Mich., automotive marketing and research company.

Despite an overall sales decline of 3 percent in '07, hybrid sales steadily grew, accounting for 2.2 percent of the U.S. market share. Adding fuel to the fire, so to speak, were all-new options such as the Nissan Altima Hybrid, Saturn Aura Greenline and Lexus LS600h.

If you can't get over the sweet silence of a hybrid engine, consider biodiesel. It may cost a few cents more at the pump, but the mileage earned is nearly equal to, and often greater, than a hybrid.