Buying a Used Hybrid

Hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular as people are increasingly looking for ways to make their driving needs more eco-friendly. These vehicles use less gas, so they do not consume precious resources as quickly and they do not create as much greenhouse gas that damages the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, the availability and sale of hybrid vehicles hasn’t become widespread enough that the technology is always budget-friendly. However, you can save a lot of money buying a used car and still enjoy all the benefits these vehicles have to offer. There are just a few things you need to keep in mind:

The Hybrid Battery

Hybrids are powered by a combination of gas and electricity from a special battery. The batteries in a hybrid vehicle are much larger and much more powerful than the batteries you find in a standard vehicle. Therefore, when you have to replace one, you’ll end up spending as much as $2,000.

If you shop for a used hybrid, you will need to know how old the battery is and what kind of time frame you are looking at for replacing it. Typically, hybrid batteries are covered by a warranty for between 100,000 and 150,000 miles. It is important that you know what the warranty covers for your specific vehicle, as well as how many miles are already on it.

However, you should also keep in mind that simple mileage isn’t enough to know the health of a hybrid battery. If the previous owner(s) of the vehicle did not keep up with maintenance, the battery will have a shorter lifespan. Ask for maintenance records where available when you are shopping for a used hybrid.

Hybrid Performance vs. Other Vehicles

The reason that most people want to buy hybrid vehicles is that they consume much less fuel. However, most people don’t think about how else a hybrid vehicle may perform – particularly in how it will handle when driving.

Hybrids switch between gas and battery power, depending on driving conditions and what you select. For example, you can choose to drive in electric-only mode, which will use less gas but will also make the vehicle less powerful. You may notice that the vehicle struggles when accelerating. Even if you are driving in hybrid mode, you may be surprised by some of the performance differences. When accelerating, you likely won’t hear the same engine noises since the vehicle will be switching between gas and electric power.

Finally, hybrids tend to have less responsive steering than gas-only vehicles. None of these issues are necessarily “bad,” but they are different than what you’re likely used to, and you should give time for a long test drive to ensure you know what you are getting.

Depreciation

Some models of hybrid vehicles depreciate faster than others. It is important that you research the specific model of hybrid you are considering to know what kind of lifespan to expect and how much value the vehicle will likely retain. That will help you to evaluate how much value is left in the used vehicle you are considering so you know that you are making the right buy.

Buying a used hybrid can get you a great value at a great bargain. You just need to know about the things that make a hybrid special so you can shop smart when you are looking at used models.