Should i buy hybrid

The first thing to consider before buying a used hybrid car is whether you will see any benefit, compared to buying a traditional petrol or diesel car. Although hybrid cars offer better fuel economy and lower emissions, the degree of benefits will vary from person to person, depending on the type of driving the car is predominantly used for.

Hybrids only switch to their all-electric mode when travelling at low speeds. So, if you use your car mostly for long-distance, high-speed journeys, or shorter journeys in rural or low traffic areas, you probably won't notice a significant improvement in fuel efficiency.

If, on the other hand, you spend a lot of time driving in city centre traffic, a hybrid car may be much more beneficial. This might sound strange, but if a used car is being advertised as a hybrid, you need to check rather than taking it at face value.

Lots of traditional models look almost identical to their hybrid versions, so it's well worth checking the V5C registration document. When buying a used hybrid car, it's important to ensure that the hybrid dual power system is working properly. The easiest way to check this is via the visual display that most hybrids have on their dashboard. Here you should find information about how the battery and petrol engine are performing.

If there is a major issue with the hybrid system, a warning light or message will usually appear on the dashboard. If this is the case, you should always insist that the seller rectifies the issue before you buy the car. Due to their state-of-the-art technology, when hybrid cars first became available on the market, they were significantly more expensive than traditional petrol or diesel cars.

However, over the years, they have dropped in price as a result of their increasing popularity. Despite this though, they are still typically more expensive to buy new than petrol or diesel models. The cost of a used hybrid car will, of course depend on factors such as the model, its age, and mileage, etc. You can click here to learn more about this gas hack or click the link below to get the app.

While most of the data I shared above is true with a plug in hybrid as well, you have to take into account electricity and how that factors into your savings. In many instances, this credit can make the purchase price between a plug in hybrid and a gas powered car identical. In addition to this tax credit, many state and local governments and your utility company may off credits or rebates as well. You may have to add an electric outlet in your garage or onto the side of your house to charge the car.

You can use a standard volt outlet or a volt outlet. But we have to talk about the cost of electric power. If you have a standard volt outlet, it will take 9 hours to fully charge the battery in a Sonata. If you have a volt outlet, it will take you 3 hours to charge the battery. A fully charged battery will allow you to drive up to 27 miles on electric alone.

Because you might be limited on time, I created this section for you to quickly skim through to get the answers to your biggest questions when it comes to hybrid cars.

Parallel Hybrid Cars: This is the most common type of hybrid vehicle you will see. Regular hybrids use a combination of an electric motor and a gasoline engine to move the vehicle. Mild Hybrid Cars: These are also called micro hybrid and light hybrid as well.

These cars have a battery to give a boost to the gas engine as will as improve fuel efficiency. You have to plug these vehicles into an electrical outlet to charge them. Some of these also have a gasoline engine as well to increase the range on longer drives. Series Hybrid Cars: Also known as Range Extended Hybrids, these cars are powered by the battery pack and use gasoline to recharge the battery so the driver can continue to drive. You have to plug these vehicles in as well. It all depends on what needs to be repaired.

In most cases, hybrids are not more expensive to repair compared to a conventional car. However, if there is a major issue with the hybrid system, then you will be looking at a costly repair bill. At the end of the day, you have 2 major components powering a hybrid car. The internal combustion engine and the hybrid battery system.

Therefore, the odds of something major going wrong with a hybrid are greater, simply because there are two systems that power the car. They get their oil changed just like traditional cars do at the same set intervals and you have the same intervals for routine maintenance. While there is a myth that the hybrid battery will eventually die and leave you stranded, the truth is this is very rare. Most car manufacturers offer a warranty on the battery that is longer than the warranty on the gas engine and related powertrain.

There is only one problem with hybrid cars. I consider it a problem because no one talks about it. The problem is that you will not get the advertised miles per gallon when the temperature drops below 35 degrees. This means if you are getting 49 miles per gallon in warmer weather, in very cold weather you can expect 32 miles per gallon. For example, for some reading this, being eco-friendly might be the biggest advantage of owning a hybrid.

Since hybrids are in demand, they tend to have a higher resale value than traditional gas powered cars. Of course as with any car you are selling, you will get the most money for your car when you sell it privately versus trading it in.

On the one hand, some insurers will give lower premiums to hybrid car owners since the typical driver does not speed and is a safe driver. On the other hand, some insurers charge higher premiums on hybrid cars because there is more things that can potentially break. Not only do you have a gas powered engine, but you also have an entire hybrid system that runs off of a battery. However, you do want to understand the warranty the car has. Is there a warranty on the hybrid system?

If so, is it transferrable to a new owner? For a few years before hybrid technology became mainstream, the diesel engine was a great option for improved fuel efficiency. However, because hybrids have come so far so fast and the environmental impact diesel has, many car manufacturers have begun to phase out diesel engines in favor of hybrid and electric motors.

You will not see a meaningful savings because of the other factors associated with buying and maintaining the car. You might get into an accident and total your car. Or you might have a major mechanical failure after the warranty expires making it not worth repairing.

But if you have other reasons for wanting a hybrid, like wanting to save the environment, then you can justify the higher initial purchase price and potential of not saving much money by owning a hybrid vehicle. As I noted, there are some great hybrids and pure electric cars out there that do save you money much sooner than the example I provided.

Too many times we make money decisions based on the short term and they end up costing us more in the long run. Learn to look long term with your money and you will make smarter financial decisions that will have a positive impact on your well-being. Get insider tips and tricks to make it happen fast! By signing up you agree to our terms. But it would be better for the environment,however, they cost a lot of money. Daisy : I think you hit the nail on the head.

At this point, it is really more about going green than anything else. Even the mid size car with a break even point of 7 years is still more about going green.

The cost and mpgs make it more about environmental issues than anything else. I love using the car pool lane by myself in CA, love not polluting the air and love the car. I agree. I think in time it will be more economical, but not yet. One day it will get there, but just not yet. Thanks for sharing this comprehensive breakdown of the costs! My argument against was exactly what you presented here…why would I lease it when the cross over period is WAY past the lease date? Plug-in hybrids As the name implies, this type of hybrid can be plugged into an electric outlet to recharge their batteries, as well as being charged on the move.

What are the benefits of a hybrid car? Should I buy a hybrid car? Best hybrid cars. News and advice. Hybrid car drivers to pay London Congestion Charge from April. Used Car of the Year Awards Hybrids. The best hybrid SUVs in Best hybrid cars you don't have to plug in.

Reliability Survey: brands. Reliability Survey: hybrid cars. Get the best deal Read our review Get the best deal Read our review Get the best deal Read our review Get the best deal Read our review. At that time there were also tax credits and incentives available from the federal government, and some state governments, for purchasing new hybrids.

Those credits have all dried up, though. There are still tax incentives available for plug-in hybrids and purely electric vehicles, but even those will end in a few years as more of these vehicles become available on the marketplace. But when you're talking about an extreme case, like the Lexus LC hybrid sports car which happens to have an almost six-figure price tag , even when gas prices are relatively low, it would take decades to make up the difference in price.

When hybrid cars came on the scene in a big way in the early s, they had the stage pretty much to themselves. Pure electric vehicles like the Zap Xebra were tiny little things with mile ranges at best and a top speed somewhere near "pokey.

Fully electric cars, with not one drop of gasoline or an engine under the hood, were the territory of super nerds and early adopters. That's right — an electrified minivan. Every automotive brand on the planet has pledged to "electrify" its fleet in the next five to 10 years, which means more hybrids, PHEVs and EVs. So while hybrids will still be available and so far have stood the test of time, there are other, cleaner powertrains out there that are just as easy to live with.

Any vehicle running on electric power only, like an EV or a PHEV when the batteries are doing all the work, is getting the job done with zero emissions. Electric-only cars don't even have tailpipes. Of course, electrified vehicles aren't for everyone. Read on to find out which situations might have you choosing an engine over a motor. Hybrid cars can handle almost any kind of driving situation. City, highway, small car, minivan: There's a hybrid for nearly everyone at a variety of price points.

Unless you need to tow or haul anything at all. Like, anything. Hybrids are not engineered to create the power needed to move the car, the people inside it, and a boat trailer or a bed full of mulch. Some hybrids can pull a little trailer for runs to the dump or one of those adorable tiny teardrop campers.

In , Toyota began offering a tow package for the Prius, which was seen as groundbreaking. No one expected a hybrid to ever tow anything, really. But it still is only capable of towing about 1, pounds kilograms , which is the low end of the lightest campers on the market. There's one more reason to not buy a hybrid, and it's a big one. But it might be the reason that gets you.