Do hybrids last as long as naturally aspirated engine and do they make sense?

[CMX]

I'm looking to replace a high milage gas only corolla that has been a great car with no issues at all and at 252,000 miles i am looking to replace it.

I wanted to get a RAV4 gas only model but everyone says to get the hybrid model since i drive a lot of miles 20,000 a year to work alone. I rented a RAV4 hybrid and it feels totally different than a normal gas car what i notice most is on acceleration how the electric motor runs then it switches over to the gas motor and also when you stop it sounds like a generator of sorts.

My concern is how long will a engine last on the hybrid? With it constantly turning on and off it seems like it would wear the engine out since most wear and tear comes from starting the engine. I also need it to last 15-20 years as the corolla has done with no issues. I get that a hybrid has no starter and belts to wear out but my corolla still has the original starter.

I talked to the dealer about this and he said that it will cost $6,000 to replace the battery but it will more than likely be more than that as everything gets more expensive. He was telling me that most people don't get the battery replaced they just buy a new car.

That gets me to my next concern, i would save money on gas over the years but all the gas savings would be wiped out when it comes time to replace the battery so i am not really saving anything.

I don't know what to do..

I got 45-47 MPG on the rented RAV4 Hybrid EV driving ratio is 50+ percent.
I get 33-35 MPG on The corolla

My main concern is how long will the hybrid last.

 

[demarpaint]

Welcome to the forum. Hybrids are very good, but lets face it ICE only vehicles have been around a lot longer and millions upon millions of them have lasted 15-20 years or more w/o major repairs. Not as much data to back up Hybrids, yet. Me, I'd go ICE and not look back. $6K for a battery plus the additional upfront cost of the vehicle buys a lot of gas. Opinions vary. Flame suit on.

 

[CMX]

Thanks yes it would save a lot of gas but getting the battery replaced would take all that gas savings away. I can get over that.....it's the longevity i want.

 

[supton]

Early Prius was fine, then a bad generation that mucks things up.

How long do you want this to last? if the plan is 500k, can you run the numbers? Maybe the gas savings over that time would pay for a new engine. Maybe not.

Don’t forget, while batteries wear out, the eCVT is only bested by anvils when it comes to durability. ICE-only not only has an engine that can wear out (or grenade) but a transmission that can too.

Hard choice. I like our hybrid, but elected the cheapest up front cost when I needed another vehicle. Will see which gamble wins.

 

[dnewton3]

Whether the hybrid drive lasts as long as a traditional n/a ICE isn't something anyone can say without knowing several factors such as how each would be used and maintained.

As for a hybrid making "sense" or not, that would also depend on several things such as usage factors. Inner city stop/go driving and shorter duration drive cycles are where hybrids shine.

 

[CMX]

Whether the hybrid drive lasts as long as a traditional n/a ICE isn't something anyone can say without knowing several factors such as how each would be used and maintained.

As for a hybrid making "sense" or not, that would also depend on several things such as usage factors. Inner city stop/go driving and shorter duration drive cycles are where hybrids shine.

I was 50+ percent EV, as far as maintenance i do my own oil at 5k miles and tranny fluid based on the color.

 

[CMX]

Early Prius was fine, then a bad generation that mucks things up.

How long do you want this to last? if the plan is 500k, can you run the numbers? Maybe the gas savings over that time would pay for a new engine. Maybe not.

Don’t forget, while batteries wear out, the eCVT is only bested by anvils when it comes to durability. ICE-only not only has an engine that can wear out (or grenade) but a transmission that can too.

Hard choice. I like our hybrid, but elected the cheapest up front cost when I needed another vehicle. Will see which gamble wins.

250,000 miles is what i would like it to last that is 15-20 years for me and resale value means nothing to me as i keep them as long as i can, i know the corolla is not worth anything with all the miles on it.

 

[supton]

250,000 miles is what i would like it to last that is 15-20 years for me and resale value means nothing to me as i keep them as long as i can, i know the corolla is not worth anything with all the miles on it.

Sorry, still waking up, missed that in the OP.

20k per year, just for work? more like, at least 25k/year? but 15 to 20 years desired? So you would like 300 to 500k, no?

300k is the new 200k but that is a long time to plan for. I only took one car past 300k and the rust was setting in. Accidents took out the next two that I was hoping to cross 300k in. The current batch of vehicles, not sure I have any desire to take to 300k, too much else going on in life at the moment.

 

[Hermann]

Welcome to the forum. Hybrids are very good, but lets face it ICE only vehicles have been around a lot longer and millions upon millions of them have lasted 15-20 years or more w/o major repairs. Not as much data to back up Hybrids, yet. Me, I'd go ICE and not look back. $6K for a battery plus the additional upfront cost of the vehicle buys a lot of gas. Opinions vary. Flame suit on.

'better buy the ICE this year cuz it ain't available on the next refresh which is soon IIRC. Like the Camry is going to be all Hybrid. Plus I still can't believe the fear of hybrids after 25 years of hybrids on the road. Plus the hybrid classes up the RAV4 IMO

 

[andrew_j]

The RAV4 gasser engine is not great(buzzy, gutless) while hybrid transforms it in current generation at least.

I would not buy in other brand for a hybrid besides Toyota.

 

[demarpaint]

'better buy the ICE this year cuz it ain't available on the next refresh which is soon IIRC. Like the Camry is going to be all Hybrid. Plus I still can't believe the fear of hybrids after 25 years of hybrids on the road. Plus the hybrid classes up the RAV4 IMO

Like I said, opinions vary. The OP has to do some math homework and see if it will be worth it for him over the time period he's hoping to have the vehicle for.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I'm looking to replace a high milage gas only corolla that has been a great car with no issues at all and at 252,000 miles i am looking to replace it.

I wanted to get a RAV4 gas only model but everyone says to get the hybrid model since i drive a lot of miles 20,000 a year to work alone. I rented a RAV4 hybrid and it feels totally different than a normal gas car what i notice most is on acceleration how the electric motor runs then it switches over to the gas motor and also when you stop it sounds like a generator of sorts.

My concern is how long will a engine last on the hybrid? With it constantly turning on and off it seems like it would wear the engine out since most wear and tear comes from starting the engine. I also need it to last 15-20 years as the corolla has done with no issues. I get that a hybrid has no starter and belts to wear out but my corolla still has the original starter.

I talked to the dealer about this and he said that it will cost $6,000 to replace the battery but it will more than likely be more than that as everything gets more expensive. He was telling me that most people don't get the battery replaced they just buy a new car.

That gets me to my next concern, i would save money on gas over the years but all the gas savings would be wiped out when it comes time to replace the battery so i am not really saving anything.

I don't know what to do..

I got 45-47 MPG on the rented RAV4 Hybrid EV driving ratio is 50+ percent.
I get 33-35 MPG on The corolla

My main concern is how long will the hybrid last.

This is not the right way to go about buying a car. Any car can last 15-20 years and that's a lot of time for changes in ones life.

If you're driving 20k miles are year you'll likely be in ICE mode the majority of the time so your point is rather moot. OTOH Toyota has been at the hybrid game for a long time. My stepbrother put over 250k miles on a hybrid Ford SUV which iirc uses Toyota tech. Hybrid batteries are warrantied 10 yrs/150k miles and EV components are 8yrs/100k miles.

Another thing is that you're not buying a hybrid to save money. You're buying a hybrid to reduce your emissions. Besides you have no idea what gas prices will be like in the future. They could be significantly higher than what they are today so it's a fools errand to try to figure out your expected value of the remaining useful life of the car decades into the future.

My last point is that you'd better get used to hybrids because that's where the industry is moving.

 

[Hermann]

Still amazes me that with all the retired rich professionals hanging out here, that they can't afford a new/newer car after 8-12 years, just befuddles me. The last thing I want to do is drive a car with 200,000 plus miles on it. IMO YMMV

 

[SC Maintenance]

We have owned the ICE model of the new RAV4 for 5+ years. Its a fine car. I have also driven the hybrid. When we bought in 2019 the ICE models were highly discounted and the hybrids were MSRP due to supply, so for us was an easy choice.

Statistically the hybrid has had more problems already. The only hybrid only problem that is still somewhat unknown is the high power cable going to the rear differential. Toyota has updated this part, but some, including me, are still skeptical. Its only really a problem if your an area that heavily salts the roads. So long as your not in the rust belt, I would be happy with either.

I am skeptical that any new car will last 20 years now without some sort of significant repair. I hope I am wrong.

The engines between the two are identical (different tune). The transmission on the hybrid is really a planetary gearbox and should be better, although there are already plenty of ICE models out there with 200K on the trans without issue. The hybrid will likely need a battery at some point, but at that time there will likely be refurbs available for much less than $6K.

As for everyone saying buy the hybrid because its faster - there both underpowered and slow. If your a foot to the floor kind of guy its not the car for you either way.

Either would be a good choice IMHO. If you commute a lot the hybrid gets the nod for mileage. I will likely give ours to one of our daughters and buy another one. I would do it today if they hadn't gotten so darn expensive.

 

[b_b]

Still amazes me that with all the retired rich professionals hanging out here, that they can't afford a new/newer car after 8-12 years, just befuddles me. The last thing I want to do is drive a car with 200,000 plus miles on it. IMO YMMV

called being cheap beyond reason. basically cheap for the sake of being cheap.

 

[skyactiv]

If penny pinching is concerned, you had a lot of butt time in a Corolla. It'd seem a new Camry would be a giant improvement. A base 2025 Camry gets better fuel economy and is $3K cheaper than a RAV4 Hybrid.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Still amazes me that with all the retired rich professionals hanging out here, that they can't afford a new/newer car after 8-12 years, just befuddles me. The last thing I want to do is drive a car with 200,000 plus miles on it. IMO YMMV

Buffet drove his old Toyota until his daugher made him part with it. Here is a guy that could snap his fingers and a helicopter would pick him up.

Some people don't care. I drove my Xterra to almost 400K and gave it to my daughter. My truck is approaching 200K and I have no thoughts on replacing it. I could buy whatever I want but I like my money in the bank.

Its a means to get from A to B. I keep them until there no longer reliable.

 

[joekingcorvette]

All I have to say is my wife and I really like the 2024 Rav4 XSE AWD hybrid. We purchased it right before Christmas last year and have almost 10,000 miles on it.

 

[wdizard]

I love my 2004 Honda civic. I also love my 2002 Toyota Tacoma base pick up
I do not drive to much so I prefer the gas engine cars that I have .
In fact I drove my Honda yesterday and I just really love the way it rides so smooth around town .

 

[supton]

Still amazes me that with all the retired rich professionals hanging out here, that they can't afford a new/newer car after 8-12 years, just befuddles me. The last thing I want to do is drive a car with 200,000 plus miles on it. IMO YMMV

Your comment confuses me--the OP indicated that they needed to drive to work. Isn't retired. Why would the spending habits of retired people matter here?

Retired people who can drop new car money at a the drop of a hat were likely cheap SOB's during their working years... so as to get into the position where they could drop new car money without pain.

I miss the old :shrug" emocon.