Used hybrid car buying guide

Aussies are turning to hybrid cars more and more, with sales of hybrid cars from SUVs to hatchbacks increasing every year. The reason is pretty simple, they’re cheaper to run and are reliable for a long time. Buyers who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint will also choose to go hybrid over traditional petrol or diesel engines.

This growing demand doesn’t go unnoticed by manufacturers either, where we can see more hybrid offerings made available on many popular cars. Toyota currently sells the majority of all new and used hybrids in Australia, offering hybrid engines across their range from the smaller Corolla hatch to the RAV4 SUV.

Is a used hybrid car right for me?

So what is a hybrid car anyway? A hybrid car puts together a petrol or diesel engine, an electric motor, and a hybrid battery. With that, you get the power of a traditional engine and the efficiency of an electric motor. The battery charges as you drive, so the car doesn’t need to be plugged in.

Types of hybrid cars

Buying a used hybrid car isn’t that much different to buying any other car. You can find just about any type of used hybrid car in the market, from small city cars to larger family SUVs and wagons, even sporty performance cars too. Looking beyond hybrids, you could even consider getting a plug-in hybrid or electric car as well.

Fuel efficiency

If you want a car that can reduce your fuel costs, a hybrid car is a great choice. Take the FWD Toyota Corolla hatch and AWD Subaru Forester for example. The petrol engine on a Corolla has a fuel economy of 6.6L/100km, while the hybrid version is at 4.2L/100km. For the Forester, the petrol engine delivers a 7.4L/100km fuel economy, and 6.7L/100km on the hybrid version. For the environmentally conscious, hybrid cars also emit less carbon emissions compared to conventional petrol and diesel engines.

Performance

Hybrid cars perform especially well in urban start and stop traffic, where they can run purely on battery power using regenerative-braking technology. The electric motor and petrol engine then works together at higher speeds for enhanced drive power, delivering a smooth and efficient drive. On longer drives, many hybrids can travel much farther on one tank of fuel, so you don’t have to worry about range anxiety.

One thing to note is the driving experience when you drive your first hybrid. The battery delivers power readily, allowing you to accelerate immediately. If you’re used to waiting for a few seconds for fuel to be burnt in your petrol or diesel engine, a hybrid car could be a new (and exciting!) driving experience for you, especially at lower speeds or in car parks.

Price and running costs

Buying a used hybrid car just makes sense for budget conscious buyers. New hybrids can cost a bit more than your traditional petrol and diesel cars, but a used hybrid car is definitely a bargain choice. Batteries are long-lasting, and many of them have separate warranties just for the battery.

What about maintenance and repair costs? Hybrid cars aren't the new kid on the block anymore, hybrid cars have been around long enough to have decent maintenance support across most brands. So we can expect parts and repairs for used hybrids cars to continue to become more readily available.

Thinking about buying a used hybrid car?

Hybrid cars are quiet, run smoothly, and cost less to run. If that sounds great to you, look no further than a used hybrid car. Our range of used hybrid cars are fully inspected and reconditioned, so you’ll be getting a high-quality car delivered straight to your door. Browse our range of used cars, or speak to our customer service team about our hybrid and electric vehicle range to learn more.