With gas prices hovering above $4 a gallon and not expected to fall any time soon, hybrids of all shapes and brands are becoming the hottest sellers on car lots across the nation.

Averaging 46 miles per gallon, the Toyota Prius remains the hybrid of choice because of its low price point and the quality of the vehicle, but demand is currently higher than the rate of production.

“What’s holding up the hybrid production is that there are only so many batteries they can build,” says Stevinson Toyota East General Sales Manager Brian Tyson. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., a division of Panasonic, “can’t make the batteries (fast enough). We can build more cars; we just don’t have the batteries to put in them.”

Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, is pushing further into the hybrid category to meet demand, with three models — the RX400h, GS450h and the ultra chic LS 600h. The latter has a base list price of $104,900, however the wait for the LS 600h could be up to a year, Tyson says.
“It’s a rare car, with a lot of demand,” he says. “It’s one of the nicest cars in the world.”

Here’s a look at several hybrid options, including the leader of the pack, Toyota’s affordable Prius. Note: The 2009 Prius may not be available until January next year, so expect a wait for the remaining 2008 inventory.

2008-2009 Toyota Prius
Estimated trip range: 550 miles (11.9-gallon tank, 2008)
Miles per gallon: 48 city/45 highway/46 combined
Price: Starting at $21,300 (because of the car’s popularity, Toyota has increased the price of the car, which averages $25,000-plus).
Engine: 1.5-liter,16-valve VVT-i, 4-cylinder
Standard equipment: Push-button start; remote keyless entry; AM/FM/CD player with six speakers; dual compartment glove box
What’s new: The 2009 model’s overall length is expected to grow from 175 inches to 179. According to roadandtrack.com, the new Prius will have a more powerful engine and even better gas mileage than the 2008 model (46 mpg).

2009 Lexus LS 600H
Estimated trip range: 445 miles (22.2-gallon tank)
MPG: 20 city/22 highway
Price: Starting at $104,900 (optional packages add up to $12,570 to the sticker price). The RX 400H has a base price of $41,580; GS 450H is $55,800.
Engine: 5.0-liter, V8; high-output, permanent magnet, electric-drive motor with
EV mode.
Standard equipment: 16-way power driver’s seat (including a memory system and lumbar support) and 12-way power front passenger seat; voice-activated HDD navigation system with Bluetooth, dedicated cellphone and GPS technology.
What’s new: It’s all new.

2009 Cadillac Escalade
Estimated trip range: 520 miles (26-gallon tank)
MPG: Cadillac promises 50 percent fuel savings over the standard Escalade, which gets 12 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.
Price: Expected to be in the mid-$60,000 range.
Engine: 6.2-liter,V8 VVT
Standard equipment: 6-speed automatic transmission; like the Tahoe, the Escalade is capable of towing 6,000 pounds (5,700 in the 4-wheel drive model) and has eight-person seating; available in 4-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive; Bose 5,1 cabin surround sound system; Bluetooth technology.

2009 Ford Escape
Estimated trip range: 465 miles (15-gallon tank)
MPG: 34 city/31 highway; 29 city/27 highway all-wheel drive
Price: From $28,305-$30,365
Engine: 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder
Standard equipment: 4-wheel anti-brake system; speed automatic transmission; available in 4-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive; RDS audio system with AM/FM and CD player that reads MP3.
What’s new: Sync, a voice-activated navigation and audio system becomes available on the Escape hybrid models. A Popular Mechanics review claims the Escape delivers more power, better handling and improved gas mileage.
(Mazda Tribute is a sister car to the Escape)

2009 Mercury Mariner
Estimated trip range: 405-465 miles (15-gallon tank)
MPG: 34/30; 29/27 all-wheel drive
Price: From $28,750-$30,500
Engine: 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder
Standard equipment: Sirius satellite/AM/FM radio with six-CD changer and four speakers; warning sensor system (low tire pressure, high water temperature, low oil reading, etc.); four-wheel antilock brakes; safety system includes driver and passenger front- and side-impact airbags and first- and second-row overhead airbags.
What’s new: Mercury upgraded the 2008 model from a four-speed transmission to a six-speed and also upped the engine from 2.3 liters to 2.5, churning the horsepower up to 170.

2009 Chevy Tahoe
Estimated trip range:
520 miles (26-gallon tank)
MPG: 21 city/22 highway
Price: Starting at $50,490; $53,295 for the 4-wheel drive model.
Engine: 6.0-liter, V8.
Standard equipment: 4-speed automatic transmission; available in 4-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive; Bose sound system (AM/FM CD player, MP3 player; XM Satellite radio and XM NAVTraffic); eight-person seating.
What’s new: The Tahoe and its GMC counterpart, the Yukon, will have similar technology to the 2008 model, including its two-mode transmission. The system allows the Tahoe to run on its gas engine alone, on its electric motor and batteries or on a combination of the two. Either way, this is one of the largest hybrid cars and doubles the gas mileage of its gas-run brother.