Former Jalopnik intern Eric Tingwall over at that magazine all about the Automobile has put together a small-car fuel economy comparison to finally settle the question of whether a compact hybrid like the Prius is actually a less-expensive alternative to non-hybrid compacts. As Tingwall mentions, the real equation is a lot more complex than just "purchase price plus fuel cost," involving insurance, maintenance and the real kicker: depreciation. We're not going to give away the results, but we will say Prius owners' smugness isn't entirely unjustified. [Automobile]

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