There was a time when buying a hybrid constituted a small leap of faith. Despite all of the potential benefits, you were still buying into a new technology with an unproven track record. Now that hybrids have demonstrated their staying power, many of the original hesitations about buying one no longer exist.

If you’ve always admired the potential benefits of owning a hybrid, but haven’t been able to get past some of the perceived drawbacks, it’s time to put your fears to rest. Here are four reasons that now is a better time than ever to buy a hybrid.

* They’re more affordable than ever. Hybrids were once in an entirely different price class, but with more on the market now, their price has dropped considerably. Options like the 2013 Kia Optima hybrid sedan compare favorably with most affordable new car models on the market as well as other hybrids.