Hybrid VS Plug In Hybrid | Which One Is Really Better To Buy?

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

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ABOUT ME

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!

[duanelong]

My wife and I bought a VW GTE Passat (plug-in) and we have filled it up 7 times in 1 year. We have a charger parking at our apartment complex so we basically only use gas when we go on long journeys. Along with great fuel economy we also get sports car features when we need it. Definitely the best car we have ever bought.

[AllTheBeef]

Hybrids DO have the ability to run on only electricity, like the Ford Maverick, BUT you can't select when it switches over and because their battery is much smaller, it doesn't run electric-only for very long. Just thought I'd clear that up.

[MrJamespeyton]

I have a Hyundai Sonota hybrid that was retail priced at about 25k. With sales promotions, I paid about 23k. I now have almost 90k miles on it. Other than normal maintenance costs, I have not yet spent any money on repairs. The brakes last much longer due to the regeneration feature of the hybrid. With gasoline prices escalating, I have saved tons of money and more than recovered my extra costs. It is quiet, comfortable, economical, reliable, and stylish. What more could you possibly ask from any vehicle?

[chateau]

That was an excellent breakdown of the differences. Thanks. I got the RAV4 hybrid, and it's been a dream car.

[rjbjr]

It depends on where and how the car is going to be used. I live in Montana, and distance and cold weather tell me that a hybrid would be more useful. Not everyone lives in Metro areas or corridors.

[miguel]

I LOVE my Rav4 Prime! I am on my 9th week of no Gas top-up, I plug it in nearly everywhere I can. If I would have known how efficient and fun it is to own a Plug in Hybrid, I would have made the switch sooner!

[afarangi]

I bought my first hybrid a few months ago and am loving it, not warmed up to anything else yet!!

[johndonaldson]

I agree with your dialog. We have a PHEV. We drive 100% electric except for occasional out of town trips. With our solar roof charging the car our operating costs are very low.

[davidgapp]

I did buy the Rav4 Prime. As a city dweller, I am able to do almost 100% of my in-town driving on pure electric. This has the additional advantage of not contributing to the pollution haze that hangs over Phoenix, Arizona. Especially in winter when temperature inversion traps the pollution. After over 5000 miles I've average 67.7 mpg combined (USA gallons) or around 80 mpg for British gallons. I go weeks at a time without refueling and most often fuel stops are only needed when I'm driving out to the mountains on weekend getaways. On the electric plan I use the cost of electricity is around 8c to 10c per kwHr (off-peak) and the car is setup to only recharge during these periods.

One other major advantage (to me) is that the Prime is considerably more powerful than either the gas or hybrid versions of the same vehicle. This is especially pleasant when overtaking since it minimizes my at-risk time (especially on 2 lane roads). But also, if I'm honest, it is simply more fun to drive and (because of the electric motors) appreciably quieter in-town.

Yes, I freely admit it will take at least 5 years to claw back the extra money I spent on the vehicle but I'm very happy with the purchase. It's fun and I can almost always drive past the gas station without stopping. I'm planning on keeping this vehicle a long, long time so there is another factor you haven't mentioned which is this: If I drive some 75% of my time on pure electric I am not using the gas engine. So when I hit 100, 000 miles on the car, the engine has only seen some 25, 000 miles. So that has significant long term impact in terms of wear-and-tear to the mechanics. Electric motors, unless over-driven regularly, will last much longer than equivalent gas motors. That only leaves the transmission to consider. As the Rav4 Hybrid and Prime both use a planetary gear eCVT rather than a belt driven CVT, I expect the transmission will likely last the lifespan of the vehicle. I guess we'll see!

[Zaft_K]

This information was very helpful. I have a short commute to work and do not drive much otherwise, except for occasional long road trips to visit family. It sounds like the plug-in hybrid is my best choice.

[frankcrowe]

I have the hybrid 2015 Lincoln MKZ . This car has 173, 000 miles on it and still delivers 38.3 miles per gallon . Very dependable. Never seen tow truck . Still looks and drives fantastic. Love it !

[hepburndavis]

The savings in hybrid is more than gas consumption. There is also the savings derived from maintenance items such as brakes.

[wcg]

We have Prius Prime and we love it. We average about 2L/100km with combined EV and HV mode. As someone commented: To say don’t buy one because the gas might go stale is just ludicrous. In our case a single charge is enough for two days of commuting. We still have one or two trips a week that kick in the gas engine.

[beebob]

I've got the prius prime which is an electric plug in and hybrid. I go about 30 miles on an electric charge. I travel a total of 18 miles a day for work. I pull it in the garage and charge it for the next day.
Because of this I can run to the mountain house and return using three gallons of gas. I go 300 miles for the weekend. I've gone 100.9 miles a gallon (my best). But my average gas mileage is 89 miles a gallon. I'm charged when I leave from home and then charge it when I get to the house. This is how I can do it.
As for the week. I use zero gas. I fill up once a month if I'm traveling to the mountain house. It's a ten gallon tank and I can go up and back three times before even considering needing gas. Pretty great stuff.

[smallmj]

Excellent video with lots of good advice. We bought a Prius Prime about a year ago and it has been an excellent choice for us. With our driving habits we average about 2.6 L/100km, which blows the 7.7 I got on the Camry out of the water.

I was ready for a full EV, but the infrastructure around me is not. My province has a network of single stall 50 kW chargers on the biggest highways, which is just insufficient. So the PHEV was the best choice for us.

[ddpuma]

Love my Rava4 Prime, I’ve had it over a year now and with +14k miles I have nearly put in $300 in gas.

[kephalonix]

I charged my 2017 Prius PHEV from a regular wall socket in my garage and never installed a charging point. It worked just fine so dont assume that the expense of installing a charging point will be necessary. I drive a Corolla Hybrid now - which is a very nice car - but I miss the 90MPG I was getting from the Prius...

[surprisingbenefits]

I just had my 2013 Toyota Camry hybrid battery replaced at 190, 000 miles. It lasted more than the warranty so I'm happy with it.

[MegawattKS]

Thanks for promoting these cars - especially the Plug-in Hybrid EVs (PHEV). I replaced a Toyota Avalon gas car with a PHEV (Honda Clarity) in 2019 and it was the best decision I have ever made in a vehicle purchase. Aside from the cost savings that you discuss, the Clarity provides the joy of a refined driving experience: high torque and quiet ride, and all-EV driving for 90% of my use (up to 50 miles a day which easily fits my commute and around-town use). I just plug it in at home to a normal 120V outlet overnight. And I never have to worry about finding a charger if I go farther afield. Better than an EV. No "range anxiety", and fast refill when on a trip !

[ducdao]

I've had the 2015 Prius hybrid, 2017 Chevy Bolt full electric (still own), and now a 2020 Hyundai Ioniq plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The PHEV is the best of both worlds. The electric range is 29 miles, my commute is only 16 miles round trip, so I rarely have to fill up. The range using gasoline is over 550 miles, so I never have range anxiety as I do with the Bolt, so I can make long trips without having to waste time for charging. The Ioniq costs about $23K brand new, and with the $4500 federal tax credit, it will cost me about $18.5K which is way less than a regular hybrid. Cost of electricity is 6.2 cents per kWh to charge at home, which is pennies a day. With the increase price of gas currently, a PHEV is the best choice.