[jimbomaybe]

My 2008 Honda CRV is getting a bit long in tooth and I am considering a new CRV, my understanding is hybrids show their worth in stop and go urban driving, 40 mpg advertised, but that's not the situation here in the Villages, my 2008 runs a consistent 26 , closer to the highway mileage mpg than city, can anyone with a newer CRV hybrid share their experience ? TIA

[JoelJohnson]

We too have an 2008 Honda CRV (153,000 miles). I would stay away from hybrids as there is a much higher repair cost when (not if) things go bad. We are thinking that our next (and most likely last) vehicle will be a Toyota Highlander. They are one of the most bullet proof cars you can buy. Of course, with the shortage of chips, and vehicles in general, we're not sure when we will get one.
Fortunately I found a very trust worthy mechanic in Bobby at Accu-Tech on 301.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by jimbomaybe

My 2008 Honda CRV is getting a bit long in tooth and I am considering a new CRV, my understanding is hybrids show their worth in stop and go urban driving, 40 mpg advertised, but that's not the situation here in the Villages, my 2008 runs a consistent 26 , closer to the highway mileage mpg than city, can anyone with a newer CRV hybrid share their experience ? TIA

My two cents worth. A hybrid is an electric gasoline engine combination. Far more complex than the 2008 gasoline car. Batteries have a service life based on not just use but time. Replacing batteries in a hybrid or one of the fully electric cars is expensive.
The life of the batteries is at best 7 years. They are not worth much used for that reason. As far as advertised miles per gallon. That 40 mpg highway. Does not include stopping for tolls, traffic, bathrooms, food, or the 100 pounds of luggage etc. Actual mpg depends on your driving style as well as the car weight and performance. More weight, faster acceleration needs more power-it does not matter if it is gasoline, electricity or a combination. Actually with a hybrid, weight-part of the weight is the batteries that you are carrying as well as the electric motor and the electronics to control it.

My 2 cents-- a hybrid is 2 problems: a combustion engine & electric drive.

Either go motor or electric.

The hybrid is 2 separate items you need to deal with, whats the advantage?

[twoplanekid]

I can only state that we purchased a 2020 Honda CRV Hybrid early last year when the hybrids first arrived at dealerships and have enjoyed the car for the past year with no issues. I like it more than our 2017 Honda CRV which we traded in for the 2020.

[thelegges]

Our youngest was buying a hybrid, looking at 3 models. He lives in Louisville, and drives 4,000 miles a year. Two of the dealers had exactly what he was looking for, however both dealers suggested he go with a non hybrid, do to the lack of miles, and the maintenance for the car.

Third dealer was BMW, which is what he drives now. Salesman didn’t try to sway him either way. His older brother, weighed in, owning a hybrid, and drives less than 4000 per year. His 2 cents, no hybrid, not enough miles to make a difference, and those Multiple batteries has to go to a landfill.

[patfla06]

We are buying a new car when the 2022’s come out.
The problem in buying a hybrid now is the technology is changing and I would worry the current hybrids would become obsolete.

The push is for electric cars and to me it is still in the early days.

I will be getting a regular car and worry about the next step in the future.

Also with the low mileage we do doesn’t really warrant a hybrid.

[OpusX1]

We have a 2019 Lexus hybrid and we love it . The hybrid system is warranted for 10 years so since we have never kept a car over 8 years it’s not a worry for us. It’s nice for town driving especially around the Villages. It can be a a EV when your traveling less than 30mph. Highway driving is all gas.

[Laker14]

are you buying or leasing?
I have always been a buyer, but...with the risk we take when we buy, I think I am done buying.
DW and I bought a nice 2017 Honda CR (Turbo, Gas, no hybrid, no electric) and immediately there were issues with gas in the oil. Great! And we're into it for over 30K$, and Honda can make some nice cars, but when they mess up, they aren't great about taking care of the customer. (See Odyssey and transmission issues for their performance on THAT debacle)

This isn't directly related to "hybrid vs gas" but indirectly it is.

You could consider leasing a hybrid, if it's what your heart really wants, and you can find out if you like it, and reduce the risk should you wind up with a nest of problems.

[jimbomaybe]

Originally Posted by DAVES

My two cents worth. A hybrid is an electric gasoline engine combination. Far more complex than the 2008 gasoline car. Batteries have a service life based on not just use but time. Replacing batteries in a hybrid or one of the fully electric cars is expensive.
The life of the batteries is at best 7 years. They are not worth much used for that reason. As far as advertised miles per gallon. That 40 mpg highway. Does not include stopping for tolls, traffic, bathrooms, food, or the 100 pounds of luggage etc. Actual mpg depends on your driving style as well as the car weight and performance. More weight, faster acceleration needs more power-it does not matter if it is gasoline, electricity or a combination. Actually with a hybrid, weight-part of the weight is the batteries that you are carrying as well as the electric motor and the electronics to control it.

Unless I misread the 40mpg was for city driving ,thought I saw it two different places,, the general consensus is a negative on the hybrid. That was my first thoughts as well but I try to know what I don't, learn from others experience. I intend to wait for the 2022 models to come out and see what they have to offer, safety equipment high on my list of positives ,, thanks everybody

[village dreamer]

i have a 2019 Camry hybrid it gets 55mpg around town. when I'm on the hiway at 75mph i get 50 mpg, i love my Camry.i just did a trip of 1300 miles and used about 23 gals. of gas.

[B-flat]

Has anyone done a cost analysis of the break even point spending more for a hybrid than a gas vehicle? That's the question I have, I found the following but would be interested in hearing what others who have done the research have to say.

To Hybrid Or Not To Hybrid: A Breakeven Analysis | News & Events | Department of Economics | Academics | College of Business | DePaul University, Chicago

[joseppe]

When I last looked Hybrids were about $5k more than the same car with gas engine. The increased MPG would never pay that difference back in the normal lifetime of the car. Gas engines are so much more efficient now that the Hybrids are not extending fuel economy by that much. When looking at cost and operating cost Hybrids don't win the race in my book, but there may be other reasons for wanting one.

[M2inOR]

My experience: 2006 RX400h hybrid

Original owner, no problems for 15 years, and battery is doing fine. Only major shop repair was replacing timing belt at 100K miles.

Hybrid vs all gas? The hybrid premium was just over $5K. Gas savings, negligible.

I'm finally replacing soon with RX350, as the hybrid premium has increased, approaching $10K.

Only concern is car is a bit larger now, but electronics will be more current.

In both old and new, had real GPS; making sure navigation system is real GPS rather than dependent on cell phone.

My rationalization in 2006 was that Lexus would make sure that 1st hybrid attempt would be a solid, problem free experience, and it was.

Off to the dealership today to check things out.

[wirenail444]

I just bought a new Venza (Toyota) hybrid and am getting over 45 mpg locally. Toyota invented the hybrid and has remained several years ahead of everyone else in hybrid design. I suggest a RAV4 or an upscale Venza.