The Hybrid Vehicle Affordability Factor
Hybrid technology has generally meant comparatively higher sticker prices, though fuel savings can defray costs over time. Today’s average hybrid costs about $1,700 more, but some models from Ford and Lexus cost about the same as a comparably equipped nonhybrid.
Back in 2015, CR calculated that most hybrids took eight years to pay for themselves through fuel savings, with some, including the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid and Lexus RX450h, taking more than a decade. Today, improved technology means that most hybrids have a payback period of four years or less, with gas at $3.32 a gallon and 12,000 miles driven a year. The more miles driven, the quicker the payback.
You may also save money on repairs and maintenance. Case in point: The Prius is often in the top spot in our reliability surveys. A hybrid’s regenerative brakes create less wear and tear, so braking components can last longer, too. It’s true that replacing a hybrid battery can cost thousands, but our surveys show such replacements are rare. “Hybrid technology has been very reliable in our studies,” Fisher says.
In surveys, hybrid owners tell us that they’d buy their same car again, and 83 percent of the hybrids we’ve tested are recommended by CR compared with 57 percent for all tested models.
Finally, hybrids as a class are the most reliable kind of vehicle. Our surveys show they have 15 percent fewer problems on average than gas-only cars.
