Hybrid vs Conventional: Are Hybrids Worth the Added Cost?

There’s no shortage of folks that want you to believe that hybrid technology isn’t worth the added cost. They’ll throw an equation together that seems to prove their point, then hammer away at the issue without approaching the question without bias. There’s no question whether hybrids are more expensive. It’s whether or not you can expect to recoup the cost within the period of time that you own the vehicle.

In order to do so, you have to consider the specifics. You need to look at the characteristics of your driving cycles, then apply these to the equation. This can only happen when you take your annual miles driven into consideration, along with the percentage of city driving (as opposed to highway or rural driving), and your average local fuel prices.

As with the comparison between diesel- and gasoline-powered vehicles, you need to make a fair assessment, that’s model-by-model and trim level-to-trim level. Check out the chart below, then hop over to Fueleconomy.gov to check out their new hybrid vs non-hybrid comparison tool that takes MSRP, fuel savings, and payback period into full consideration.

It’s worth noting that the Buick LaCrosse eAssist and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid are priced at the same level as their non-hybrid counterparts. These two luxury cruisers deliver fuel cost savings, right out of the starting gate.

Hybrid vs Non-Hybrid

Source: fueleconomy.gov

– by Daniel Gray