IRVINE, CA - If the popularity of the latest generation of gasoline-electric hybrids is any indication, it seems that there are many car buyers out there who, all other factors being equal, would love to do the right thing by driving the most environmentally-friendly car or truck they can get their hands on.

But what if you're a little skeptical about the long-term reliability of all the gee-whiz technology under these hybrids' hoods, or just unwilling to endure the long waiting lists and inflated prices that are the norm at many hybrid dealers? Well, allow us to suggest a surprising alternative: The all-new 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5i.

You see this affordable entry-level model - at least the version sold in California and the other four states (New York, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts) that follow the Golden State's tough emissions standards - is every bit as clean as the best of the hybrids. And while you won't get the same impressive fuel economy numbers hybrids deliver or the cachet of parking a hybrid in your driveway, you will find this ultra-clean Subaru makes a logical choice for those who want to do right by Mother Earth without having to deal with the aforementioned speed bumps along the hybrid highway.