Pros and Cons of Owning a Hybrid Car

You hear every day about from proponents of hybrid cars. But when do you really ever hear from the other side? Unless you are actively seeking information on both the pros and cons of owning a hybrid car, you would probably not even know that there are problems with hybrid cars, although you might suspect it. Here is the list of the top 8 pros and cons of owning a hybrid car:

Pro: Better gas mileage than conventional vehicles- Hybrid vehicles achieve nearly double the amount of miles per gallon as their conventional counterparts. This is exceedingly important for drivers as gas prices continue to rise.

Con: The actual mileage is approximately 10% less than what you read on the tag and hear on the news. While hybrids may still achieve a greater number of miles per gallon, this can cause financial detriment to drivers who are not prepared for the discrepancy. Hybrids are in reality only 25 to 30% more efficient than the new gas-saving vehicles on the market.

Pro: You’ll save more money over the long run- If you own a hybrid you’ll save approximately $2,300 over a ten year period.

Con: Hybrid cars cost around $19,000 at their lowest and $25,000 at their peak, towering over conventional fuel-efficient vehicles at what seems like a paltry comparison of $14,000 to $17,000. Hybrid cars don’t actually pay for themselves.

Pro: Hybrids are more fuel-efficient and better for the environment- Hybrids are built specifically to lower the amount of emissions that are injected into the earth’s atmosphere by drivers every day. They reduce the amount of gas you need by utilizing electricity to pick up where the gas leaves off. Hybrids cut the amount of emissions your car releases by 25% to 30%.

Con: If you’re a jump-start driver and you speed all the time, chances are your hybrid vehicle that’s supposed to be good for the environment won’t be good for the environment at all. Speeding and starting too quickly from a light waste gasoline in any car, even a hybrid. Remember, a hybrid still uses gasoline products and is still harmful for the environment if you’re a bad driver.

Pro: Regular maintenance and repairs are just like getting a conventional car fixed- Hybrids are just that. Hybrids. This means that they have many of the same parts as conventional vehicles and those parts can be serviced by any qualified mechanic.

Con: While regular maintenance and repairs are no problem, hybrids have their own set of problems, like a complex system requiring two motors, ancillary systems, computers, a heavy battery and a generator that must all work together. And of course, where there is a will…systems will fail. And due to the complexity and newness of hybrids, owners can expect to see higher bills and more wasted time sitting around the repair shop.

Remember to learn everything you can about a vehicle before purchasing it so you don’t have any surprises.