The cost of fuel has reached a level that is driving people out of gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs, according to Consumer Reports magazine.

Thirty-seven percent of 2,400 adults surveyed by Consumer Reports May 3-5 said they are considering switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle. And half of those thinking about trading vehicles are considering one with a hybrid powertrain, the magazine said.
Hybrid vehicles combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor to cut fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. But hybrids typically cost thousands of dollars more than a gasoline-only vehicle, which limits their popularity.
"The goal (of the survey) was to determine what consumers' reactions have been with the surge in gasoline prices," said Robert Gentile, director of Consumer Reports Auto Price Service. Gentile said respondents were asked about their driving habits in a Web questionnaire on the magazine's web site, www.consumerreports.org.
To cope with high fuel prices, 42 percent of those surveyed said they would commit to driving less, while 38 percent said they would drive slower and more smoothly.
Seventy percent of respondents said they accept the current price level of gasoline, with average prices hanging near the $3-a-gallon mark. But only half said they are prepared for $4-a-gallon gasoline.
"High gas prices are not just an inconvenience anymore," Gentile said in a statement. "They are forcing people to reconsider what and how they drive, even the way they live their lives."
More than one-third of those surveyed said that with pump prices trending upward, it would be harder to pay for food and health care. Almost 40 percent of respondents said they would change vacation plans.
Of those who said they would change vehicles, 55 percent would consider purchasing a small car. Less than 5 percent said they would buy a new luxury sedan or large SUV.
The survey was conducted by Consumer Reports' National Research Center, using a random sample of participants.