So, you’re trying to stretch that dollar as much as possible? I get it! Times are tough and the last place you want to be losing money is at the gas pump! But EVs cost so damn much up front, and they can be a nightmare to maintain.
So, what about hybrids? Well, good news for you, there are some hybrids on the market that will save you a big chunk of change on fuel, and won’t cost you a fortune up front! In this article, I’ll be going through 8 of the best cheap hybrid cars!
2012 – 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid – Uber Efficient
Let’s start it off with one of the best buys in the world of hybrids from arguably the most reliable automaker on the market, Toyota. No, I’m not talking about the Prius, at least not yet. Let’s get it started with the Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Your Uber driver might drive a Camry Hybrid, but why not get smart and pick one up yourself? Whether it leads to a career with Uber or not, you won’t be disappointed with the Toyota Camry Hybrid. These will easily tick over 200,000 miles without skipping a beat. It is a Toyota, after all.
It’ll also pass the pumps with over 40 miles per gallon while still fitting 5 passengers comfortably. So, at 40 miles per gallon it must be slow, right? Well, it’s got around 200 horsepower and does 0 to 60 in just over 7 seconds, which makes it quicker than a Ferrari 308!
So, what’s not to love? Well, maybe the price tag? Nope! You can pick up a Camry Hybrid for less than $8,000! And your Camry Hybrid might end up paying your bills if you do decide to drive Uber. Check out how much you could make as a rideshare driver in our video “The Best Driving Jobs”!
But maybe Uber isn’t for you, and ultimate gas mileage is a must. You’ve got to check out a Chevy Volt.
2011 – 2019 Chevy Volt – Not An EV?
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. I know. You’re probably about to say that the Chevy Volt isn’t a hybrid. But, in fact, it is. While it does have a gas-powered engine used to power its electric motor, the electric motor is the one doing the work most of the time, and that electric motor generates nearly 300 pounds-feet of torque! With it’s batteries in the floor to keep its center of gravity low, it handles like it’s on rails!
And with a fully electric range of nearly 50 miles, there’s not too much to complain about. When the electric motors run out of juice, the gasoline motor kicks in to get 50 miles per gallon!
So, it must cost an arm and a leg, right? Well, you could pick up one with just over 110,000 miles for less than $7,000. If you’re not a believer in the bowtie, but lean toward the Ford. We’ve still got an answer, because the Ford Fusion Hybrid is a big enough car to fit you and your family.
2010 – 2019 Ford Fusion Hybrid – Fun Fusion
With all the gas mileage you could ever want, not to mention its actually a blast to drive, it really is a hybrid that’s fun. It’s the truth! The Ford Fusion’s electric motor is throwing down some serious torque, making for a powerful and fun driving experience, all while getting 40 miles per gallon. Try that in a Lambo!
Something else you can’t get with a Lambo is rock bottom prices. You could have a Fusion with less than 120,000 miles for less than $5,000.
Alright, I don’t really want to talk about it, but I guess we probably should. Next on this list is the Toyota Prius.
2010 – 2016 Toyota Prius – Duhhhhh
Yeah, I know there are a lot of Prius haters out there, but people who actually own a Prius have a very different opinion. Prius owners love getting 50 miles per gallon between fill-ups. And while it may look ugly, engineers at Toyota designed the Prius with fuel economy in mind.
Plus, that weird exterior styling actually makes the interior surprisingly roomy. It’s no wonder this is another hugely popular car with Uber drivers.
So what about price? Well, it’s kind of a bargain for under $5,000. However, the Prius can be costly to repair with all those electrical components. But, if you’re looking for a cheap car with great fuel economy, it’s hard to look past the Prius, even if it does have all that stigma.
One car with all the benefits and no stigma is the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.
2011 – 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid – So-Nat-A Bad Call
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a killer option if you’re in the market for a hybrid. It’s reliable, innovative, has some sweet tech features, oh, and it gets 40 miles to the gallon. If you ask me, the Sonata Hybrid looks pretty good too.
The Hybrid version takes the standard Sonata and electrifies it to almost 200 horsepower and nearly the same torque figure. So, it’s fair to say that it’s pretty peppy. And the fact that it’s based on a standard Sonata means that it doesn’t sacrifice many modernized features for better fuel economy. And all those perks at a super competitive price? You can get one with 120,000 miles for less than $5,000!
But before you pull the trigger on a Sonata Hybrid, you might want to listen to what Honda has to say first, because they just might have some serious insight for your next car. No, literally, I’m talking about the Honda Insight.
2010 – 2014 Honda Insight – 20/20 Insight
No, the Honda Insight isn’t exactly a feast for the eyes, but that’s not what it was built for. It’s a car designed with economy in mind, and the engineers continued that thinking when it came to the powerplant.
Putting down a measly 98 horsepower makes merging onto highways a chore, but even at highway speed, you’d be getting 43 miles per gallon. Not bad, right? Not only is the Insight fuel efficient, it’s also cheap to maintain and very reliable. That’s due in part to its simplistic standard features.
Sure, you could shell out thousands more for things like leather seats, cruise control, or even a navigation screen, but the standard Insight was built to be affordable on any budget. So, the base model started at $20,000 with fully-loaded models up around $30,000.
But, thanks to depreciation, you could pick up one with under 130,000 miles for less than $5,000! The Honda Insight has proven to be great at the pump and will outlast many of its gasoline-powered opponents!
Chevy also has a model that followed a similar formula to the Honda Insight’s: get a gas powered car and hybridify it. The result was the Chevy Malibu Hybrid.
2016 – 2020 Chevy Malibu Hybrid – 45 MPG And Up Club
With the Malibu Hybrid, Chevy not only wanted reliability, but they wanted to add a level of luxury above what was common for its class. And, man, did they nail it!
But, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, this car started at nearly $30,000, around $5,000 to $10,000 more than its competition. Let’s not get bogged down by the price, though, because the Chevy Malibu Hybrid molds tech, comfort, and great fuel economy into something greater than the cars before it.
And while it’s quite a bit bigger than most other hybrids, it doesn’t sacrifice fuel economy, because the Chevy Malibu Hybrid gets 47 miles per gallon in the city! This electrified ride builds on the already solid Malibu, which is fun to drive in both its gas-powered and hybridized variants. And, according to owners of the Malibu Hybrid, reliability comes built in.
Okay, remember how I said it cost more than the competition? That’s still the case. But considering you can find them with just over 75,000 miles for just over $11,000, it might just be worth shelling out a few more Benjamins. And I bet if you use the Ideal Car Strategies, you could be passing pumps in your new to you Chevy Malibu Hybrid for way less than $10,000.
So, let’s say the mid-sized Chevy Malibu Hybrid still isn’t big enough, the Toyota Avalon Hybrid gives you even more size and still great fuel economy!
2013 – 2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid – Ava Good Day
When the car gets bigger, so does the price. And while the Chevy Malibu Hybrid started at nearly $30,000, the Toyota Avalon Hybrid started at $36,000 for base models. But don’t let the base models fool you, these come loaded with tech and features found on cars worth double the price.
The Toyota Avalon Hybrid is so plush that it would fit right into a Lexus lineup! And this big-bodied boomer still manages 40 miles per gallon! Woah. And, of course, since it’s a Toyota, you know it’ll be reliable well over 200,000 miles.
So, that size, fuel-economy, and Lexus-esque luxury probably cost a crazy amount, right? Nope. You’re looking in the same neighborhood as the Malibu Hybrid, right under $10,000.
You must be logged in to post a comment.