Yahoo Autos Seven Hybrids That Consumer Reports Says Will Save You Money The Fastest In 2024, And 3 That Won't
No one likes paying for gas, but at the same time, not everyone is ready or in a position to go full-electric. Hybrids offer a tempting middle ground between gas-only and electric-only that promises better fuel economy without the need to find a spot to charge. Typically, though, you’re paying more for the hybrid version, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll make your money back right out of the gate.
So from a financial perspective, which hybrids are worth buying, and which ones should you probably skip? Our friends at Consumer Reports recently published a list of the seven hybrids that should come with the quickest payoff, as well as three that take the longest. To get to their final ranking, they estimated $3.40 a gallon for regular and $4.20 for premium fuel, as well as yearly mileage of 12,000 miles.
Because of that, if you live somewhere with more expensive gas or drive more, your payoff period will be shorter than CR’s estimate. Still, it should give you a good general idea of whether or not it’s worth it to go with the hybrid version of any particular car. Let’s take a look at what made the final list.
Lexus NX Hybrid
According to Consumer Reports, the hybrid is the version of the NX that you want regardless of whether you care about it being a hybrid or not, as it’s torquier and offers a more refined driving experience. It got 38 mpg in testing, saving a typical driver $689 a year. Ironically, CR paid $175 more for a gas-only NX350 than it did for a comparable NX350h, so the savings could be instant.
Ford Maverick Hybrid
A hybrid powertrain is standard on the Ford Maverick, so like with the NX hybrid, you won’t have to wait months or even years to see the benefit of skipping the gas-only version. In fact, you’ll start out $1,000 ahead if you stick with the Maverick XLT’s hybrid powertrain. And with a 37-mpg average in CR’s testing, it should save you $670 a year.
Lexus RX Hybrid
Unlike the NX hybrid, a Lexus RX Hybrid Premium+ isn’t less expensive than its gas-only counterpart, but the hybrid that CR tested only cost an extra $250 and got 34 mpg in testing. Because of that, you should be able to make up the difference in six months or so.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
If you want cheap, basic transportation and great gas mileage, it’s hard to beat the Toyota Corolla hybrid. The Corolla LE hybrid that CR tested got 48 mpg and was only $310 more expensive than the 36-mpg gas-only Corolla LE. That difference should save you $280 a year, meaning you’ll come out ahead in a little over a year.
