Majority of Americans shopping a smaller car, but wary of hybrids: The Yahoo! Autos Survey

A majority of Americans in the first Yahoo! Autos Survey say they're ready to buy a smaller car the next time they walk into a dealership, a sign of just how much concern over gas prices has reshaped our tastes. But they're sharply divided on whether a gasoline-electric hybrid car or truck will ever be worth the extra costs.

The online poll of 1,000 people found a majority were planning to buy a new car within the next three years, and two-thirds were expecting to do so in the next five years -- consistent with the move by many Americans to replace aging rides following the steep recession. Some 49% said they would either buy a smaller car or had already done so; another 9% said they'd do it if gas hit $4 a gallon. Only 4 percent said they wouldn't ever consider a smaller vehicle, while a slightly larger percentage said they'd only do so if gas prices soared above $5 a gallon.