Before you buy a hybrid consider you should have done and be able to answer at what point will you break-even.
I looked into this option before and did the calculation. Hybrids cost significantly more and therefore you need to find out after how many years of driving will you start saving money. I did this calculation a while back, and found out that hybrids are a waste of money. This was when gas was around 3.50 a galon and I believe it took something like 6+ years before I broke even. The higher the prices go, the less years it takes. However now that gas is 1.75 I can't imagine buying a Hybrid. I bet your car dies of old age before you break even. 6K+ extra in car loans + interest is costly. If you can find a great deal then go for it, but overall...it's a no imo.
If you are worried about prices going up, simply buy oil futures to hedge against your current personal consumption. If you like the current price of 1.75 and wouldn't mind paying that the rest of your life...lock it in like I did. It can go to .99 cents a galon sure, but that won't bother me much. What will is if it goes back to $3+.