If you already drive a smaller car, is a hybrid really worth the extra money?

Question

My research has shown that the fuel efficiently of many hybrids isn't much better than the 32mpg freeway I get with my Cobalt. There's a good chance I'll buy a new car in the next year or so, but at this point I just can't see where it's worthwhile to buy a hybrid. Especially given that a 10 gallon fill-up already lasts me almost 2 weeks.

Answer 1

When you take into consideration the high cost of buying a hybrid, people are saying that you would need to own the vehicle for at least 8 years before you would see any savings in gas money, plus when the battery(s) need replacing, that could cost you around $6000.00....It just isn't worth buying a hybrid these days unless they drop the price dramatically...

Answer 2

The last time I did the math, the added cost of a hybrid was not offset by the increase in gas mileage.

However, there are still two good reasons to buy a hybrid.  

First, as a hedge against increased gas costs in the future.  If you're like me, and you only buy a new car once every fifteen years, then the average cost of gasoline that you'll be buying over the life of that car is probably a lot higher than the price of gas right now.  How much higher?  Who knows.    But definitely more than the price today.

Second, the more hybrids (or alternative-type vehicles of any sort) that are sold, the more the car manufacturers will recognize that there is a demand for them, and the more such cars will be researched, designed, and offered for sale.    In a way, people who buy hybrids now (when they don't make great economic sense) are ensuring that good, road tested, fun-to-drive hybrids are available when they do make economic sense.

Good question.

Answer 3

Looks like you answered your own question.  Hybrids pay off quickly only when you do LOTS of city driving.

Answer 4

When you do buy a new car, there's no reason not to buy a hybrid.  The Prius gets about 50 mpg in both city and highway driving.  Officially it gets 45 mpg highway, but driving 65 mph I get around 52 mpg highway in mine.  That's a pretty huge jump from your Cobalt's 32 mpg.

Plus gas prices are skyrocketing, and there's no reason to expect them to come back down.  At $4/gallon, a Prius costs 8 cents per gallon to refuel.  A 31 mpg car costs 13 cents per mile.  So if you drive 10,000 miles per year, you'll save $500 per year on gas alone.  Plus hybrids are also low maintenance and have very high resale value (especially the Prius).

Answer 5

For you I would say not .  Unless your driving is mostly in the middle of town through stop lights .  That is where a hybrid can get more than 60 miles per gallon .  If you are like me your trip is mostly at highway speeds for just a few miles then your cobalt is fine for now .

Answer 6

that depends on how long yu plan on keeping the car. if you replace cars every 5 years or so, then no the added price is not worth it. if you plan on keeping the car for 10 years, then maybe, unless you have to replace the battery pack. beyond that you start to gain as long as you get better overall fuel economy.

Answer 7

A hybrid gives you fuel economy and lower carbon output, so if you're concerned about the cleanliness of your exhaust, a hybrid would be better.

Answer 8

Keep in mind the EPA numbers have changed.  They have gone back and revised their estimated fuel economy numbers since 1985. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/f*g/findacar....

I own a simple econobox and I get real world 40 MPG on mostly freeway cruising, but they don't make cars like that anymore.

Groingo, your relatively good fuel economy from that 4-speed auto is because GM makes really, really good automatics.

Queen, your carbon output is simply caused by how much fuel you burn. Hybrids don't necessarily help that.

Richard and Diggs, the batteries won't need replacing.  Hybrid battery packs are nothing like normal car batteries.  They are more like Edison cells, which last 20-40 years or more.

Answer 9

You're only getting 32 on the Highway with your Cobalt, I get that in town driving with my 2002 Saturn L200 with four speed auto!

I too have snooped at the true Hybrids (Non American) and saw the info on the upcoming 2009 Prius which improves in every category.

I guess it all depends on how much driving you really need to be doing and what you really want out of a car.

The Prius has always impressed me not only with the mileage but the very high reliability, good interior space, hatch back for hauling things...it pretty much covers all the bases with good mileage as a bonus!

Personally, I am ready for an electric because oil and gas prices will only continue rising while electricity is something I can generate myself.

Answer 10

It depends how much you use your car, and how much the price of gas goes up.  I would venture that if gas keeps going up and the price of a hybrid does not as quickly, it may be worth considering a hybrid.

Answer 11

If you do lots of start-and-stop driving, it's worth it. You'll be constantly recharging the battery. If most of your commuting is highway driving (at highway speeds, no gridlock), then no. You won't get the benefit because you'll always be burning gasoline. That's what I was told when I was researching hybrids, anyway. Good luck!

Answer 12

well i have a  hybrid and i get 48 mpg

Answer 13

I agree with you. My driving is primarily open road and the Hybrid has little advantage. Like Electric Cars, it seems the Hybrid is great for local driving with a lot of stops.

I would prefer one of the many European diesel cars that get 60-70MPG on the road. Much cheaper and simpler and much less pollution for my type of driving. To bad our "Environmentalists" in their wisdom set our emission limits in many states to preclude these fine cars.