The best answer to the question of whether hybrids are worth it is that they *can* be. Most people simply consider the excellent fuel economy that hybrid vehicles can bring to the table when they are looking for a new car. The truth is that fuel costs are certainly part of the equation, but there is much more to consider than just the benefit of fuel savings. 

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### Who Should Consider a Hybrid?

Hybrid vehicles are only typically worth purchasing if you consider owning one for longer than five years, if you drive over 10,000 miles per year, and if you are willing and able to spend a bit more money initially to buy one in the first place. There are even more factors to consider, but we will get into those more in just a minute.

There are few vehicles that can truly be considered an investment, but buying a hybrid vehicle can save you money once the purchase price is offset by better gas mileage and other potential money-saving factors they can potentially provide. You still may be surprised about just how much or how little a hybrid will save you, though, so you will have to keep reading to find out more.

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### Types of Hybrid Cars:

Before going any further, we need to address the fact that there are two main types of hybrid vehicles available on the market right now. 

#### - Traditional Hybrids:

![2017 Toyota Prius Exterior](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/1I4IaMqcD7YYuRxvTcO01c/7c58681a442fcd4c0ba6228957efc25e/2017_Toyota_Prius_Exterior.jpg)

Regular hybrid vehicles utilize both an internal combustion engine and a hybrid battery that powers an electric motor to form the core of their powertrains. 

Their largest advantages include lower fuel consumption than a regular gas-powered vehicle, higher fuel efficiency as the electric works with the gasoline engine, and the resulting longer driving range over a vehicle with just a gas engine.

#### - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

![2022-chrysler-pacifica-plug-in-hybrid-styling-image](https://www.autolist.com/6tuem73u73an/Y8HcpX8L1xwv1koYHI1KS/af3684101d1d835661a9fb67626da065/2022-chrysler-pacifica-plug-in-hybrid-styling-image.jpg)

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, offer many of the same advantages that regular hybrid vehicles have over non-hybrid vehicles. The difference between PHEVs and standard hybrids comes down to their powertrains. They still utilize an internal combustion engine and a battery pack, but their electric motors allow them to drive on electric power alone over short distances.

This helps them use even less fuel than a regular hybrid would while not yet fully diving into the world of electric cars. While they do offer some advantages over regular hybrid models, some of the disadvantages of electric cars also come with the territory. These include even higher purchase prices than standard hybrid models and having to take the time to recharge the car’s battery.

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### Advantages of Hybrid and PHEVs

Even though fuel savings and decreased emissions are the two primary reasons cited by car buyers for considering a new hybrid vehicle over a conventional car, there are a ton more factors to consider that may truly make a hybrid car worth purchasing. 

#### Fuel Savings:

The most obvious reason to choose a hybrid car over a conventional car is the fuel savings. If you are forced to choose between something like a new, base model Kia Forte and a new Ford Explorer hybrid, the Kia Forte will still get better fuel economy, but few car buyers will be cross-shopping those two vehicles since they are radically different. 

Car buyers will more likely be comparing hybrid SUVs and cars with comparable non-hybrid models. In that scenario, the hybrid version of the vehicle will almost always provide better fuel economy than its gas-only counterpart. 

Good examples of this are both the Toyota RAV4 and Toyota Corolla. The gas-only 2023 Toyota RAV4 gets a combined 30 MPG with its most fuel-efficient powertrain equipped. The non-hybrid 2023 Toyota Corolla gets 35 combined MPG. The hybrid models of both vehicles, however, get a combined 40 MPG and 50 MPG respectively. Apart from any other factors, the increased fuel economy of both hybrid models translates to overall fuel savings. 

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#### Environmental Impact:

Saving money at the gas pump is nice for just about everyone, but many car buyers are just as concerned about decreasing their own carbon footprint and eliminating emissions where they can. Because electric vehicles are still quite pricey, buying a new or used hybrid is the best possible option for those who cannot afford a fully electric vehicle. 

For as much as some hate the continued use of internal combustion engines, they have become much more efficient in the past ten years. That has, in conjunction with better battery pack technology, also boosted hybrid powertrain efficiency. For those concerned about their carbon footprint, new hybrid vehicles and PHEVs are perfectly poised to help reduce emissions while not costing as much as comparable new EVs in the process.

#### Driving and Ownership:

Because of the technology and more expensive materials used to build a typical hybrid battery or battery pack, hybrids tend to cost more than non-hybrids. Plug-in hybrids also tend to cost more than regular hybrids, and electric vehicles tend to cost even more than PHEVs. Therefore, to make a hybrid worth its higher purchase price, its long-term benefits will need time to catch up. 

Depending on the make and model of hybrid you are looking for, it can take between three and five years - sometimes longer - to offset a hybrid vehicle’s higher purchase price with fuel savings and potentially fewer maintenance costs. A base model 2024 Toyota Camry with a gas-only engine, for example, costs around $27,515. A base model 2024 Toyota Camry Hybrid, however, costs just over $2,400 more. 

A base model non-hybrid Toyota Corolla and a base model Toyota Corolla Hybrid are even closer in price, the former starting at $22,995 and the latter starting at $24,450. The fuel savings from the Corolla and Camry Hybrid models will therefore “catch up” with a car buyer much more quickly than something like a Kia Sportage and a Kia Sportage PHEV. 

A non-hybrid base model Kia Sportage starts at $28,415, whereas the PHEV version starts at around $40,000, creating a much larger price gap that would take much longer to make up for in fuel savings, electric power, and potential maintenance savings.  

If you are the type of buyer that keeps vehicles as long as possible, all of this means that you should have no issues recovering the extra cost you might initially pay for a hybrid or PHEV.

#### Maintenance Costs:

Just because a hybrid is a hybrid does not automatically make it more reliable than a non-hybrid vehicle. Vehicles like the Toyota Prius, Lexus NX Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Corolla Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Prime have all proven to be consistently reliable, though. Each of these models earns perfect or above-average reliability scores from Consumer Reports. Still, there are others that lack such stellar track records.

There are elements of hybrids and PHEVs that contribute to lower maintenance costs compared to non-hybrid vehicles. For example, many hybrids and PHEVs have regenerative braking systems. It may be a small thing, but these systems can help reduce brake pad wear, keeping you from spending money as often to replace them. 

Additionally, things like smaller tires equipped on some hybrids contribute to better fuel economy and will usually cost less than larger ones on non-hybrid cars.

#### Tax Credits and Incentives:

Few new hybrid models qualify for tax credits and incentives anymore, and even a shrinking number of electric cars and PHEVs do as well, but there are some that remain eligible for some extra cash back toward offsetting the typical extra costs associated with them. In particular, the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring PHEV, Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV, BMW X5 PHEV, Jeep Wrangler 4xe PHEV, and Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV may be eligible for some tax credit.

Any tax credits and incentives are dependent on a strict set of guidelines that include both personal details and specifications of the vehicle in question. Even some used hybrids may be eligible for tax credits. You can see the full list of guidelines and models that may qualify by visiting the U.S. Department of Energy’s website. 

Additionally, some car insurance companies also reward car buyers who choose to purchase hybrid vehicles. Naturally, they also reward safe driving habits, but you will need to check with your own car insurance provider to see if a potential hybrid vehicle purchase will save you some extra cash.

#### Performance:

Most affordable hybrid vehicles are not necessarily designed for performance. Models like the Toyota Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, and Chrysler Pacifica PHEV are all more geared toward accomplishing fuel economy numbers that a regular gas car cannot achieve while also functioning as usable family transportation.

Many of the newest hybrid and PHEV vehicles, however, do benefit from a boost of torque that an electric motor can provide. A good example of this is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The instant torque its electric motors provide helps it get up and go much quicker than a gas-only RAV4 would. It still is not the most fun vehicle to drive, but the extra push it has can be quite exciting.

Family-haulers are not the only vehicles utilizing hybrid powertrains, though. Hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Tundra and Toyota Sequoia now come with hybrid powertrains. Even though they do see an increase in fuel economy over the previous generation models, the torque that each powertrain produces helps both models excel at towing.

Even performance cars use hybrid powertrains sometimes. Some of the most famous vehicles that use hybrid technology include the McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari, Acura NSX, Porsche Panamera, and Lexus LC Hybrid. This can help them achieve monstrous performance numbers, though most normal car buyers will not be in the market for vehicles with such high price tags.

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#### Benefits of Electric Vehicles

Just as most non-hybrid vehicles are still less expensive than comparable hybrid models, most hybrid models are still less expensive than comparable electric vehicles. Hybrids provide a great middle ground between conventional cars and EVs with extended range, excellent fuel economy ratings, and price. They also utilize smaller battery packs that take fewer specialized materials to manufacture.

You can also still go to the gas station with your hybrid and fill up the gas tank in less than five minutes. Fast charging times are getting better for EVs, but the technology has not quite caught up to the advantages that filling up quickly at the pump provides. 

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### Disadvantages of a Hybrid:

Just as there are many reasons that hybrid vehicles can make them worth your hard-earned cash, there are nearly as many to consider that might not make them as worth it as you might think. Several of the same things that make a hybrid vehicle worth a purchase in some situations can even make them less worth it under different circumstances.

#### Higher Purchase Price:

With a few exceptions, hybrid vehicles tend to cost more than their non-hybrid counterparts. Plug-in hybrid vehicles tend to cost even more than regular hybrid models. While it is true that typical hybrid vehicles will save you at the pump in the long run, the length of ownership to recoup the higher starting price that a hybrid carries will vary greatly from car to car. 

In addition to that, gas prices are not static. They fluctuate drastically depending on several factors. Projections concerning how long you would need to own your hybrid vehicle to make up for the price difference with fuel savings might be different now than it is in three years.

To avoid paying higher new hybrid prices, you could look for a used hybrid vehicle. Even though hybrid models can hold their value better than non-hybrid models because of growing demand, you can often avoid paying premiums for new hybrids at the dealership and opt for a hybrid that is less than five years old. 

#### Maintenance Costs:

We already mentioned that several hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles are among the highest-rated vehicles on the road for reliability. We have also mentioned that just because it is a hybrid means that it will be automatically more reliable than a conventional car, and thus, never have any problems. 

Electric vehicles are often touted as much more reliable than non-electric vehicles because of the comparable simplicity of their powertrains. It might be true that there are fewer moving parts in an electric powertrain than in a gasoline one, but even J.D. Power is finding that the sheer amount of technology packed into electric vehicles and even some of the electric powertrains are turning out to be quite unreliable.

Many hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles have similar bits of technology packed within them as well, including electric motors and battery packs. As such, they too carry the possibility of failure. When hybrid batteries and battery packs fail, they can cost as much, if not more than an engine if it fails. Just remember that it is possible to save money on maintenance costs when you buy a hybrid, but it is also entirely possible that it will not work out that way.

#### Performance:

While it is true that an increasing number of performance cars and supercars are adding hybrid and electric technology, most normal hybrid vehicles are more focused on fuel economy than performance. There are many car buyers who appreciate a vehicle that can corner, accelerate quickly, and look good doing so. There are some “average” hybrid vehicles that can do that, but the majority are efficient grocery-getters rather than hardened track toys.

#### The Worth It Meter

It may be that you have done all the math and everything is worked out in front of you. To your surprise, you find out that the new hybrid model you want may only save you $500 over a five-year ownership period. If you are focused on saving the maximum amount of money, you have your answer. Some car buyers, though, may not be as willing to get into a hybrid for only about $100 per year in savings.

This is where your own personal “worth it meter” comes in handy, and it does not just work with hybrid cars. It most likely will happen and most likely has happened in any one of your future or past vehicle purchases. Is $500 more for a larger vehicle worth the extra space you get? Will one MPG better benefit me down the road when I hate the way the car looks? Will the $500 extra that the hybrid I am looking to purchase matter that much in five years?

These questions and more will impact your own personal decision.

Take the Toyota RAV4 as an example. Average five-year ownership costs for the non-hybrid RAV4 come out to about $33,900. The RAV4 Hybrid amounts to around $36,688. All things being equal, that gap will continue to decrease as the years go by, mainly due to gas prices and the fuel-efficiency advantage that the RAV4 Hybrid has over the standard non-hybrid model.

Remember that these are all estimations, though. Five years is quite a long time, and it could be that one or the other model may end up having a major issue, offsetting all of your fine-tuned calculations. The hybrid model could very well make up the initial price difference in three years if gas prices unexpectedly skyrocket. 

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### The Final Verdict

After everything is considered, most hybrid vehicles will become more worth their higher initial prices as time goes by. Many hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles will make up for the price gap between themselves and their non-hybrid counterparts within about three to five years, depending on the model. 

Even though the numbers may prove that hybrid vehicles are eventually worth it under the correct circumstances, there are other intangibles that are unique to each car buyer that will influence his or her decision, apart from fuel savings and the reduction of burning fossil fuels. That is where you come in and answer whether or not a hybrid is the right vehicle for you and your family.

Hybrid cars can cheaper to operate over time and help reduce your environmental impact, but they typically cost more up front.

Are Hybrids Worth It?

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