Plug In Hybrid VS Electric Car | Which One Is REALLY Better To Buy?

Plug In Hybrid vs Electric Car. Which one is really better to buy? We compare and explain the difference between a plug in hybrid car and an electric car. We also explain whether it is better to buy a PHEV or an EV. If you are deciding between an electric car and plug in hybrid car, make sure to watch this video.

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With over a decade of experience as a professional car buyer and auto consultant, Shari Prymak has helped thousands of consumers with their car buying needs. Car Help Corner provides honest, objective, consumer advice with all aspects of car buying and car ownership. For more professional advice, check out Car Help Canada, become a member, and subscribe!

[dragoon]

one draw back to a full EV is Canadian winters. Not all EVs have heat pumps, battery warmers etc. I live in Manitoba our winters are harsh, so until they make EVs good for winters I will go to a PHEV for now.. also I drive 90% on the highway.

[danob]

as2020 Tesla Model Y owner here. As long as you stick to the interstates, the Supercharger network is superb. But a recent trip through NM and CO presented lots of challenges. Some excursions to national parks, for example, were impossible. Yes, there are alternative DC-fast-charger networks (and I have adapters) but in my experience they are often inoperative. Tesla Superchargers are rarely broken.

[datoming]

Thank you for a very balanced analysis of PHEV versus EV. The infrastructure for public charging EVs is lacking here in the Czech Republic. This is seriously prohibitive to own an EV here. I am going for a PHEV instead as my regular car trips are short. I have my eyes on a Mercedes Benz C class 300e as its 24.5Kwh battery has a range of 100Km when brand new. I may consider buying an EV as a second car in 10 years when public charging improves here.

[robertbaxter]

Shari you do a fantastic job. You speak well and clearly. You are a natural. You are always (from what I have seen) spot on with your data. Personally I love them all - including many regular hybrids. My son-in-law has a Camry LE hybrid and is consistently getting 50+ mpg. He paid about 31K for the car new in 2020. I have been driving the original Prius Plugin - 2012 for 10 years. It has 82, 000 miles and not one thing has needed repair. I have only put windshield wipers, one set of tires and after 8 years I replaced the 12V battery. I do get it serviced regularly at the dealership. Total service costs over the 10 years has been $3100 - or about $310 a year. That does not include the tires and 12V battery. I record EVERY fill up and I am averaging 94 MPG - I think that is 2.5 L per 100 KM. I charge everyday sometimes multiple times a day. Originally got 12 miles electric range now I get 8.5 miles of electric range. When your average trip is 15 miles or less it makes a big difference when you charge regularly. I like the Ford Escape PHEV, it has good electric range - mid 30's and good hybrid MPG - about 40. It also can be optioned with a spare tire for @ $100 USD. I also like the Hyundia Santa Fe PHEV. As far as electrics the Ioniq 5 is the best electric car I have tested and I also like the Bolt EUV. Keep up the great work.

[marcellomunir]

I purchased the 2018 Honda Clarity PHEV and have it more than 3 years now, its been an amazing car. Use 90% EV and for long distance its a def a money saver and no worries about charging running on hybrid. Hopefully range and availability of EV stations will help in the future of EVs.

[PamenterDoug]

My 2021 Niro PHEV is awesome! Truly the best of both worlds. No it is not a race car but the dual clutch transmission with sport mode is efficient and fun to drive. It has driver’s seat memory is power adjustable. Plus the front seats are heated and ventilated and full leather seats all around. The car is easy to get in and out of both front and rear seats, and easy to park and drive around the city, very solid on the highway, with lots of space in the back, plus roof racks and cross bars. I like the regular sunroof (not pano), and the understated styling helps this very cool car blend in. I added on a block heater for winter and rain guards for summer. The regular tinted windows are perfect. The sixteen inch wheels give a better ride and fuel economy than the larger wheels. The intelligent cruise control is my favourite feature. The dual zone AC is great and I like having buttons to push. The dual digital instrument panels give a ton of programmable information and again… blend in. Not like other cars that have an iPad stuck on the dash… I could go on, but you get the picture.

[ollieo]

I don’t know about a PHEV, but a straight electric is much higher on insurance than gas, my increase was bout $80 per months.

[looneycpfc]

As engineer in the automotive field for internal combustion, electric, and plug in hybrid, i would recconmend you dont waste your time with hybrid, they will be phased out, and are only a stepping stone until the power storage in EV's is large enough to match that of internal combustion in terms of Miles per full charge, and also fast charging. Hybrids have high maintenance costs, are over complicated and more likely to cause problems. Generally speaking. Hold onto your internal combustion engine for 5 more years, then go full electric.

[equinespecter]

Swapped my 2021 Model Y LR for a Volvo XC60 Recharge several journeys involving range anxiety. VERY happy with the Volvo....also has 455 HP!

[MegawattKS]

Great video. I was lucky enough to get a 2018 Honda Clarity PHEV in 2019. It cost $35K US and will go 40 to 60 miles on electric only, which for my use-case is all I ever need. I have zero range anxiety and can drive across country on gas if I need to. It is a real shame that this technology was not better embraced by manufacturers and marketed better to consumers. 1/5th the battery size so cheaper than all electric as you said. No range anxiety. All the benefits of EV, with none of the downsides. Maintenance is essentially nothing on the Clarity at least. I change the oil once a year, and plugs will never have to be changed given the engine is seldom used on a 'good' PHEV which has enough range to meet one's commute (which sadly many do not). With the exception of a quick oil change, EVs need essentially the same maintenance as PHEVs: Coolant, brake fluid, tires, tire rotation (if you believe in that service), etc. I'll eventually get a pure EV, but not until the charging infrastructure and battery recycling issues are put to rest.

[jeremyoberg]

A plug-in hybrid with a propane engine would be great. Propane doesn't go stale, and for someone like myself who lives about 5 miles from work and has a second vehicle, I wouldn't need to use the combustion engine very often at all. My daily commute would be fully electric without having to worry about range.

[lsft]

I chose the Lexus NX450h+. Drove 1000km and still on the first tank of gas. Definitely need to find time to use up the tank of gas.

[jits]

Bought the 2022 Toyota Prius Prime. Enjoy driving it. Great vehicle, not for everyone as the storage is small and load carrying capacity is less. As a compact sedan, its the better choice compared to a gas only car.

[LionheartLivin]

Thank you for the video!!!
I definitely have a disagreement here, you say that a lot of people have problems with charging their cars and chargers. But the VAST majority of EVs that have been sold are Teslas and they have very very minimal problems with charging, I think it's important to mention that when the vast majority of the products that you're talking about have little/no problems with charging 😘

[felicelamanna]

Very well explained, though the engine maintenance on an PHEV would be far less than a ICE only vehicle. If battery is not charged frequently the engine will be used less, then it acts like a hybrid, which is still less than an ICE only.

[davesutherland]

My RAV4 prime gets very good fuel economy on the highway. It is rated as 6.9 l/100km, and when the temperature is above 5C I get 6.7l/100 km @ 110 km/hr. Going about 80 km/hr I get a bit better than than 6.0 l/100km. In the city I can go 80km in EV mode. Overall fuel economy depends on my EV/ICE drive ratio, but I typically get more than 1500 km on 3/4 of a 55l tank.

Where I live there a simply not enough high speed chargers to make trips beyond the range of an EV on a regular basis so a car with an ICE engine (hybrid or PHEV) is a no brainer for anyone who regularly drives beyond the typical EV range in a trip.

[noman]

My personal plan as of May '22 is a variant of....both! Our current (no pun intended) cars are both ICE and have around 150k miles on each so replacements are looming on the horizon. I'm inclined to get a full EV (for around town and moderate length trips, home recharge) and either a hybrid or PHEV for my wife/ longer trips. 2-3 years down the road if battery tech continues to improve and the charging infrastructure expands substantially, I might just go straight EV

[kurtpenner]

For Manitoba, me doing backcountry camping, it has to be PHEV. DCFC infrastructure only exists on the Trans Canada Highway with only 3 exceptions. And the fastest chargers around are the unreliable Petro Canada units. The remainder charge at a slow 50kW. No provincial rebates here either.

[greglivingston]

I'm looking to purchase the 2023 Kia Niro Plug -In- Hybrid, with 33 miles of electric power, it covers most my driving activities, which are far lower than 33 miles. The new design, and increased interior room are an added plus to purchase it. I live in the south, so no need for all wheel drive. It would help their sales if they would offer an AWD option down the road.

[Chris_Wolfgram]

Great video. Straight hybrid for me all the way. I’ll never own another straight ICE vehicle again. I’ll also never own a plug in hybrid. No place to charge it, and even I did have a place for that, it’s not worth my hassle. Much of the time I drive my car, I drive 300-500 miles a day. 30-50 miles on straight electric would mean almost nothing to me. I dream of owning a pure EV someday, but currently, their isn’t an EV on the market that has enough range. I want a vehicle I can charge at night when i sleep, then drive 800 miles in 15 hrs, park, and charge it to full while I sleep again. I’m a car camper. Works great in a Prius. One might say, “But you can’t go 800 miles on a tank in a Prius either”. True, but I can fill it with only 10 gal in a few minutes, and be good for another 450+. miles. So until they make something better for my purposes a regular Hybrid Prius it will be. I would love to have a RAV4 hybrid for a second vehicle, and for my cross country trips. 40 mpg’s isn’t like a Prius, but it’s not terrible 👍