Hybrids are increasing in popularity, and the format had humble beginnings in the Toyota Prius. These days many models come in hybrid form - even exciting sports-oriented manufacturers are dabbling. Show
However, hybrids usually come at a price premium to the usual run-of-the-mill petrol and diesel varieties. The good news is with certain models, that gap is closing and you don’t necessarily need to be too much extra out of pocket by aiming to go green. So what’s the deal? We’ve looked at ten popular car makes and models with a hybrid variant to figure out how much extra you pay for going green. For simplicity’s sake we’ve looked at the full retail price, not including any dealer haggling or promotions. In the market for a new hybrid car? The table below features green car loans with some of the lowest fixed interest rates for fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. Loan duration Loan amount Update results Compare Rates Features Fees Other Lender Advertised rate Comparison rate* Monthly repayment Interest Type Vehicle Type Maximum Vehicle Age Ongoing Fee Application Fee Total Repayment Early Repayment Instant Approval Online Application as ofDecember 16, 20225.99%p.a.6.54%p.a.$580FixedNew1 year$0$400$34,791More detailsFEATUREDGreen Car Loan Fixed
FEATURED Green Car Loan Fixed
More details 4.49%p.a.4.77%p.a.$559VariableNew99 years$0$150$33,549More detailsGreen Car Loan
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More details 4.99%p.a.5.62%p.a.$566VariableNew, Used99 years$5$195$33,960More detailsGreen Car Loan
Green Car Loan
More details 5.24%p.a.5.51%p.a.$569FixedNew, Used3 yearsN/A$195$34,166More detailsGreen Fixed Rate Car Loan
Green Fixed Rate Car Loan
More details 4.99%p.a.6.21%p.a.$566FixedNew, Used7 years$12$250$33,960More detailsHybrid and Electric Car Loan
Hybrid and Electric Car Loan
More details 5.29%p.a.5.56%p.a.$570VariableNew99 years$0$195$34,208More detailsDiscounted Green Car Loan
Discounted Green Car Loan
More details 5.59%p.a.5.59%p.a.$574Variable99 years$0$395$34,457More detailsGreen Car Loan
Green Car Loan
More details 5.95%p.a.6.16%p.a.$579FixedNew, Used5 years$0$150$34,757More detailsFixed Car Loan (with Low Emission Vehicle discount)
Fixed Car Loan (with Low Emission Vehicle discount)
More details 6.49%p.a.7.04%p.a.$587Fixed7 years$0$249$35,211More detailsGreen Car Loan
Green Car Loan
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Monthly repayments:$590 6.69%Advertised Rate (p.a.) 7.25%Comparison Rate* More details *Comparison rates based on a loan of $30,000 for a five-year loan term. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. The products that appear in the table above are initially sorted based on a variety of factors including the availability of a direct link to the providers website, and other commercial factors (see How we get paid). However, the comparison table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. Data may not be available for some products. This is indicated in the tables by not showing an available product for the relevant term. Terms, conditions, fees and charges may apply. The above is prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, therefore please consider its appropriateness to your circumstances. General Information and Terms and Conditions may be found on each provider’s website. Rates correct as of December 16, 2022. What’s the price premium for hybrid vehicles?We’ve looked at some of the top hybrid car models in Australia, and compared their prices to what the same or similar models cost with traditional petrol/diesel engines. We’ve also calculated potential fuel savings per year ($1.30 per litre for E10/91 Octane/Diesel, $1.50 for premium fuels, average distance driven per year is 13,400km according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics). As such, they are ranked in terms of how long it would take to recoup the higher sticker price on the hybrid model when compared with the base model. 10. BMW X5The base model X5 sits at just under 100k, at $99,900, which is a 2L turbo diesel. The hybrid model meanwhile starts at $129,900, for a difference of $30,000. It should be noted this is a 3.0L turbo petrol demanding premium fuel. The base model consumes 6.7L/100km combined, or $1,167 per year. The hybrid consumes 2.3L, or $462 per year.
9. Volvo XC90The cheapest XC90 going around has a price guide of $89,990, which gets you into the ‘Momentum’ 2.2L turbo diesel model. The cheapest hybrid, however is $114,990, which is the ‘R Design’ - a difference of $25,000. The regular base model consumes 5.9L of diesel per 100km, or $1,028 per year, while the hybrid consumes just 2.1L of petrol per 100km. However, the petrol motor demands premium fuel, so we’ll use the increased rate of $1.50 per litre, for total annual cost of $422.
However, the Volvo hybrid model has a lot more creature comfort features than the base model, which seems to be a common theme in general among the cars we’ve looked at. 8. Volvo V60The sporty wagon’s base price has a price guide of $56,990. The hybrid model starts at $86,990 - a price difference of $30,000. Both are petrol engines demanding premium fuel. The regular base model consumes 7.3L/100km, or $1,467 a year, while the hybrid consumes just 2L/100km, or $402.
7. Hyundai IONIQ / Hyundai ElantraThe IONIQ is Hyundai’s newest ‘green car’ offering with both hybrid and electric models, and is based on the Elantra. The base model Elantra has a price guide of $21,960, while the cheapest IONIQ hybrid has a price guide of $34,790 - a difference of $13,100. The Elantra ‘Go’ model consumes 7L/100km combined, for an annual cost of $1,219, while the IONIQ hybrid consumes just 3.4L/100km, for an annual cost of $592.
However, it’s important to note you’re not comparing like-for-like models here. 6. Mitsubishi OutlanderThe cheapest Outlander has a price guide of $29,490. And yes once again it comes in manual form. Meanwhile the cheapest hybrid ‘PHEV’ model comes in at $47,390 - a difference of $17,900. However, the fuel savings could be worthwhile. The regular base model consumes 7L/100km combined, or approximately $1,219, while the PHEV consumes just 1.9L/100km, or $331 per year.
5. Toyota RAV-4To get the cheapest RAV-4, you’ll be looking at a two-wheel-drive GX model with a manual. This has a price guide of $30,990, while the cheapest hybrid comes in at $35,490 - a difference of $4,500. The hybrid combined fuel cycle is 4.7L per 100km, or approximately $819 per year. Meanwhile the petrol variant consumes 6.8L/100km, or $1,185 per year.
4. Toyota CorollaTo get the cheapest Corolla, you’ll likely need to opt for the manual version, which has a price guide of $23,335. Compare that to the cheapest hybrid, which costs $26,335 - a $3,000 premium. The hybrid combined fuel cycle is 4.2L per 100km, or approximately $731 a year, while the petrol base model consumes 6.3L/100km, or $1,097 per year.
3. BMW 330The base model has a price guide $71,900, while the hybrid starts at $78,900, for a difference of $7,000. The base model consumes 6.4L/100km and demands premium fuel, or $1,286. So, too does the hybrid, and it consumes just 2.2L/100km, or $442.
2. Mercedes-Benz E300The cheapest E300 has a price guide of $114,300, while the cheapest hybrid is $119,600, for a price difference of $5,300. The regular base model consumes 7.2L/100km and commands premium fuel, costing $1,447 per year. The hybrid consumes just 2.2L/100km, or $442.
1. Toyota CamryFor a Camry, about the cheapest you’ll find has a price guide of $28,290. This is the Ascent Auto. The good news, however, is that the cheapest hybrid is just $30,590 - a difference of $2,300. The regular base model consumes 7.8L/100km combined, or $1,359 per year, while the hybrid consumes just 4.2L, or $732.
This list is dominated by Toyota, as they generally lead the charge - pardon the pun - in the hybrid vehicle sector. However, other makes are quickly catching up, especially in the luxury segment, with BMW, Volvo and Benz all offering intriguing hybrid variants of their popular cars. Considerations to make when weighing up the cost benefits of hybrid vehiclesWhile the above is generally a good indicator of how long it takes you to recoup the extra sticker price of a hybrid vehicle, there’s a few considerations that may make or break your purchasing decision.
Dealer promotions and your ability to haggle also factor in. Experts recommend demanding up to 10 to 15% off the sticker price if you want to play hardball with a dealer. Savings.com.au's two centsAs you can see above, our scenarios suggest the Toyota Camry hybrid takes the least time to recoup the cost of the extra sticker price paid. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. It may be that the Camry line-up has the widest berth between base trims and top trims, but it’s still interesting food for thought. Overall, though, in a pure financial sense it rarely makes sense to go for the hybrid model. The average age of cars on Australian roads is ten years. This means only three or four models we’ve assessed would theoretically be owned long enough to see the benefits in fuel savings - if average mileage per year is taken into account. Cars are rarely a purely financial decision. Hybrid motors are often attached to higher-spec models, and the extra outlay could be worth it, especially with luxury cars. There’s also that whole thing about carbon emissions. The extra price you pay may be worth it to emit less carbon… and not stopping at the fuel station as much is nice, too. Is it worth getting a RAV4 Hybrid?Yes, the 2023 RAV4 Hybrid is a great SUV. The RAV4 Hybrid features an airy and durable interior with seating for up to five passengers, a generous amount of cargo space and a sleek and intuitive infotainment system. It comes packed with standard safety features, and it has garnered a stellar reputation for reliability.
How many miles can a 2022 RAV4 Hybrid go on a full tank?2022 Toyota RAV4: MPG Ratings
That's because this SUV comes with a standard EPA-estimated 27 city/35 highway MPG. Couple this fuel efficiency with the SUV's 14.5-gallon fuel tank, and you can travel up to an estimated 507 miles on one tank of gas.
What are the benefits of a RAV4 Hybrid?Take your adventures as far as you can go. RAV4 Hybrid's advanced engine produces an ample 219 combined net horsepower for impressive acceleration all the way to highway speeds. And with an EPA-estimated rating of 41 mpg city, * you can take the scenic route. Hybrid Woodland Edition shown in Midnight Black Metallic.
Is RAV4 Hybrid good on gas?2022 Toyota RAV4 Limited Hybrid – 41 MPG city / 38 MPG highway.
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