WHY WE'D PICK A REGULAR HYBRID OVER A PHEV

We may be living in the golden age of hybrid technology. The automotive industry currently features several hybrid vehicles that provide great value for the money. Furthermore, hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs have arguably become more appealing than ever before. Models like the Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid, and many more are changing the way drivers look at hybrid vehicles.

Automakers are moving on to producing electrified models that are even more innovative than hybrids. Plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles are becoming much more common in lineups. So, consumers are faced with an interesting predicament. Which powertrain do you choose? Should drivers stick with classic internal combustion engine nameplates, or more efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid models? Or, should consumers make the switch to a popular fully electric vehicle that's selling well, like the Tesla Model Y or Hyundai Ioniq 5?

Ultimately, the answer depends on your needs as a driver, but the distinction between hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles may warrant further exploration. After all, best-selling automakers like Toyota and BMW are offering plug-in hybrid vehicles. PHEVs may have a lot to offer in terms of speed and power, but when it comes to affordability, there's a clear winner between the two powertrain types. We'd pick a regular hybrid over a PHEV, and our reasoning is far from simple.

Hybrids Are More Affordable Than Plug-In Hybrids

Hybrid vehicles tend to be more affordable than plug-in hybrid models. Their powertrain systems are less complex, thus they require less from the manufacturer. Additionally, many of the most popular hybrid vehicles are much closer in price to their internal combustion engine counterparts than plug-in hybrid models. The complexity of the modern PHEV can cost a pretty penny.

Prius, RAV4, Escape Hybrids vs. Their PHEV Avatars

Plug-in hybrid models generally cost thousands of dollars more than hybrid models. Ideally, PHEV owners will save hundreds to thousands of dollars on fuel, but the vehicles are too early to boast empirical evidence to prove that these fuel savings exist (and are being utilized). So, plug-in hybrid buyers are paying a higher cost upfront than hybrid buyers for vehicles that are still very new to the industry. Hybrids, on the other hand, have been around for over a century (although popularized in the late 90s) and have earned the trust of consumers when it comes to saving money on gas.

There are plenty of fuel-sipping hybrids on American roads that save their drivers big bucks at the pump annually. There are significantly fewer plug-in hybrid models on roads. Part of the reason that plug-in hybrids aren't more ubiquitous is their high starting prices. Factor steep prices in with the economy and the average American's inability to take huge financial risks, and it's easy to see why many drivers are choosing hybrids over plug-in hybrid counterparts, regardless of a potentially more enjoyable driving experience.

Hybrid Vehicles Have Longer Reliability Histories

Before purchasing a new vehicle, you'll likely want to do some quick research on previous models (if they exist) to get a feel for its reliability and potential issues. When a vehicle has a long history of many generations and model years, it's simplistic to spot recurring issues the nameplate may face. If a vehicle is newer, its potential problems over a period of ownership are much more unpredictable. Unpredictability isn't great for tight budgets.

Hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius have long recorded histories of potential issues and weak spots via sources like Consumer Reports and CarComplaints.com. Newer models like the Prius Prime have less information available regarding long-term reliability. Furthermore, many fully electric vehicles have issues with overheating.

Though there aren't many reported incidents of PHEVs overheating, the technology is still in its infancy compared to older hybrid powertrain setups. Would you rather eat at a restaurant with eight reviews or 80 reviews? I rest my case.

Many PHEV Drivers Don't Charge Their Vehicles

As ludicrous as it sounds, a study conducted in 2022 confirmed that drivers aren't using 35- to 75-percent of their available electric driving range. So, either they aren't fully charging their PHEVs to get the most driving range out of them, or they simply aren't using the vehicles to their full capabilities. To put this study's findings into perspective, some drivers are only using 25-percent of their electric driving range. Imagine owning a Prius Prime and only using 11 miles of its total 44 miles of EV driving range.

It may seem preposterous to non-PHEV owners, but we must consider the harsh realities of plug-in hybrid ownership. Owning a plug-in hybrid means charging it semi-regularly to take full advantage of its unique powertrain. This sounds simple, but electric vehicle charging infrastructure in America leaves much to be desired. Even with Tesla's massive Supercharger network, there aren't nearly enough charging stations to make charging as convenient as refueling an internal combustion engine or hybrid vehicle.

Additionally, fast chargers are rare compared to average level two chargers. Charging a plug-in hybrid could take time that many owners either don't have or refuse to make in their schedules. The result is hundreds (to thousands) of plug-in hybrid owners half-charging their PHEVs. So, to many drivers, electric-only mode becomes less of a useful fuel efficiency tool and more of a cool trick to show friends and family. Though EV charging infrastructure could drastically improve, the reality is chargers are hardly convenient for millions of drivers today, and that will make them second-guess PHEV and EV ownership.

Refueling A Hybrid Is The Same As Refueling A Gas Car

While new technology is exciting, some folks yearn for simplicity. Part of the appeal of hybrid ownership is that it doesn't differ much from internal combustion engine vehicle ownership in terms of the basics. You go to a gas station, and you refuel. The major mechanical difference is that an electric motor works to improve your efficiency as you drive.

You gas up a plug-in hybrid the same way you would an ICE or hybrid vehicle, only it's not fully refueled until it's plugged in. If you own a PHEV and aren't fully charging it as well as fueling it up, you'll never reap the true benefits of its powertrain system. Plug-in hybrids truly shine when they have full tanks and batteries. That means taking the time to charge the vehicle and making use of its electric-only range. These additional steps are proving to be too tedious for some drivers.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles are incredibly exciting. They offer an electric-only driving range and are often more powerful than their gas and hybrid counterparts. On the other hand, new and innovative vehicles have a long way to go before becoming as ubiquitous as their predecessors. High starting prices and the extra step of charging a PHEV could deter many consumers from getting one.

Toyota/Lexus Hybrid And Plug-In Hybrid Sales As Of March 2024

The end of the first quarter sales prove that Toyota and Lexus hybrid models have been selling at least twice as much as plug-in hybrid models. Hybrids like the RAV4 Hybrid small SUV are especially popular. Its PHEV cousin, the RAV4 Prime, may be impressive, but it isn't a best-selling Toyota model. Despite performance specs that blow the RAV4 Hybrid out of the water, the RAV4 Prime is no competition for the hybrid in terms of sales.

Many automakers have yet to produce a plug-in hybrid model. So, the vehicles still have plenty of room for growth. Furthermore, they could become much better deals with long-term depreciation. Until PHEVs become slightly more affordable and charging infrastructure improves, we'll take hybrids over plug-in hybrids any day.

2024-08-30T11:05:19Z dg43tfdfdgfd