How to Decide If a Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid, or Fully Electric Car Is Right for You
Volatile gas prices and more electrified options have changed the calculations
Electric vehicles and hybrids aren’t just a way to hedge against high gas costs. They also provide energy-efficient transportation while lowering or eliminating tailpipe emissions, diminishing noise, and reducing operating costs.
But there are big differences between hybrids, pure EVs, and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). So it’s important to understand how they work, and to match their strengths with your driving needs and preferences.
The experts at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center have purchased, lived with, and driven hundreds of thousands of miles in hybrids. PHEVs, and EVs. Below, we offer our real-world insights into the pros and cons for each type.
Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports
Hybrids
Hybrids team an electric motor with a gasoline engine to provide efficient transportation. Owners don’t need to worry about plugging their hybrid vehicle in, and these models drive similarly to regular cars. There are many affordable hybrids, with prices starting under $30,000, and even three-row SUVs can get fuel economy over 30 mpg. Plus, hybrid owners really like their vehicles: In Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Surveys, they tend to report higher overall satisfaction than do owners of nonhybrid versions.
The Technology
Hybrids typically combine a relatively small gasoline engine, at least one electric motor, and a small battery pack. The electric motor supplements the gas engine, and allows the engine to shut off at low speeds and when coasting. Regenerative braking lets hybrids recapture energy that would otherwise be lost and use it to recharge the battery pack. This technology has been on the market for over 20 years.
Pros
• They have excellent gas mileage.
• They produce lower emissions compared with gas-only vehicles.
• They never need to be plugged in.
• You can fill up at a regular gas station.
• They are often more powerful than their gasoline-only equivalents.
Cons
• They cost about $1,000 to $3,000 more than comparable gas-only models, although fuel savings can make up that difference in a year or two.
• Some have had longer stopping distances than their gas-only counterparts in CR’s testing.
• Many use a form of a continuously variable transmission that can cause high engine revving compared with the vehicle’s acceleration.
• Some of CR’s testers find that sensation, called “rubberbanding,” unpleasant.
Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports
Plug-In Hybrids
Plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs) are a bridge between traditional hybrids and full electric vehicles, allowing for local driving on electric power alone with the convenience and range of a gas engine for longer road trips.
The Technology
PHEVs have a larger battery than regular hybrids have, so they can be driven farther and more often on electric power. As with regular hybrids, regenerative braking can extend the battery’s range, and the gasoline-powered engine and electric motor switch back and forth as needed. Owners can get by with Level 1 charging (120 volts) because the battery packs are small compared with those in pure EVs.
Pros
• Most can travel between 20 and 40 miles on electric power.
• They get good fuel economy even after the electric range is depleted.
• They provide the benefits of a pure EV for short drives or commutes while still having a gas engine for longer trips without charging worries or range limitations.
Cons
• They’re more expensive than regular hybrids or gasoline cars.
• To reap full efficiency benefits, owners must recharge frequently.
• Some are less fuel-efficient than regular hybrids once the electric portion is depleted.
• Plug-in components often take up cargo space.
• Charging can be challenging if you live in a multi-unit dwelling or don’t have access to off-street parking.
Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports
Fully Electric
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs—or EVs, as they are commonly called) are very efficient, and most new models have a driving range of well over 250 miles. But driving them long distances requires extra planning regarding where and when you’ll charge.
The Technology
Full EVs rely on large battery packs to power their electric motors. They forgo complicated parts such as an internal combustion engine or a conventional transmission. Under normal circumstances, it takes between 8 and 10 hours to recharge an EV using a Level 2 (240-volt) connector when the battery is nearly empty, but it can take just a few minutes to add a lot of miles at a public DC fast charger.
Pros
• It’s usually less expensive to charge than to buy gas.
• It’s convenient to recharge at home.
• They often cost less to maintain because they have fewer and simpler components.
• There are no tailpipe emissions.
• They are very quiet.
• Most provide a fun acceleration experience, thanks to the instant power on tap from the electric motor, or motors.
Cons
• They cost more to buy.
• Planning when and where to charge is a part of any long-distance travel.
• Charging can be challenging if you live in a multi-unit dwelling or don’t have access to off-street parking.
• Charging can take hours; even DC fast charging in public places can take 30 to 60 minutes depending on the vehicle and battery state.
• Very cold or hot temperatures and cabin climate conditioning reduce driving range.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the April 2022 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
