...more. Is it worth it? I want to help the environment but am concerned that the help does not warrant the difference in price--ie that the it really isnt all that much better for the environment to be worth the extra price tag. It gets only 7 mpg better in city (26 v. 19 mpg) . Are the emissions that much less?

$4k may seem like alot but you can also get a tax rebate when you purchase hybrid vehicles, so it shouldn't be much more expensive in the end. I think it's more economical to buy a hybrid.