Hybrid cars have become increasingly popular as a response to environmental concerns, and as a way to help reduce the burden of rising gas prices. However, before going on to follow the trend and buying one, you should understand not only the pros of it, but also the cons of hybrid cars. As usual, we have provided you with a list of them.

Pros

  1. Hybrid cars DO have higher fuel efficiency than most other vehicles; typically, a hybrid car can reach 46 MPG, with some even exceeding 50, which is pretty much double the passenger car average of 21 MPG.
  2. NOT all hybrid cars are small or low-performance. Hybrids like the Accord and Civic Hybrid are full-sized vehicles that give up little space or performance relative to their conventional versions.
  3. Battery life has always been a concern when it comes to hybrid vehicles; however, contrary to our beliefs, many hybrid owners actually continue to use their cars long after expiration of the initial warranty covering 80,000 to 150,000 miles. Some drivers also report that replacement batteries are often relatively cheap, sometimes going for as little as $500!

Cons

  1. Even though we mentioned that some hybrid cars, such as Accord and Civic, did not give up much space in exchange for fuel economy, most hybrid vehicles DO! The necessities of aerodynamic design reduce passenger/cargo space, as does the need for storing the large batteries for the vehicle.
  2. Some newer gasoline-based vehicles can provide very similar MPG figures to those of hybrid cars. For instance, clean diesels can be highly efficient, with some producing more than 35 MPG. These non-hybrid cars also tend to be a lot cheaper than hybrid cars, but a lot more performance-oriented.
  3. Hybrid cars tend to hold their resale value well; therefore it would be relatively more expensive to buy a second handed hybrid car regardless of it actual value. Furthermore, dealers tend to mark up new hybrid cars a lot more than similar conventional vehicles, which makes getting into a hybrid a lot more difficult comparatively.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

This is something only YOU, as a car shopper, can answer based on your needs. Remember, don’t just follow what other people are buying, because their need is absolutely not your need! Happy car shopping!