{"id":915,"date":"2026-05-14T13:34:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=915"},"modified":"2026-05-14T13:34:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:34:46","slug":"do-these-four-things-before-buying-a-hybrid-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=915","title":{"rendered":"Do these four things before buying a hybrid in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Does the high price of gas have you considering a hybrid for your next vehicle? We don\u2019t blame you, especially if you drive a lot. Fortunately, there are lots of hybrids to choose from, and many don\u2019t cost much more than their non-hybrid counterparts. But to recoup the extra cost of a hybrid the quickest and start saving money, we don\u2019t recommend purchasing just any hybrid. The car experts at Edmunds outline four tips that will give you the tools you need to find a hybrid that will maximize your savings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Aim for hybrids with the shortest payback periods<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>New hybrids typically cost more than similar gas-only vehicles, so aim for a hybrid that doesn\u2019t cost much more than its non-hybrid sibling. With this strategy, you will offset the price difference more quickly with the fuel savings a hybrid provides. For example, the SE hybrid version of the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, which is one of Hyundai\u2019s three-row SUVs, costs just $1,350 more than the regular Santa Fe. According to the EPA, the hybrid version can save you $850 a year in fuel costs compared to the regular Santa Fe if you drive 15,000 miles a year. So, depending on how much you drive, the fuel savings could cover the extra cost in less than two years.<\/p>\n<p>The Ford Maverick, which is Ford\u2019s compact pickup, and the Lexus NX small luxury SUV are two other models that will pay you back quicker than most if you get the hybrid version. In contrast, some hybrids may take several years to recoup their extra cost. For example, a hybrid version of the Honda Civic costs $2,700 more than a comparable non-hybrid Civic, and the EPA estimates that you\u2019ll save just $450 a year by getting the hybrid.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>To find out how long it will take to recover the extra cost of the hybrid you want, visit the EPA\u2019s mpg comparison tool. But if the hybrid you want isn\u2019t there, you can find out for yourself by comparing the price difference between the hybrid you want and the non-hybrid version of it. Then, compare the estimated annual fuel cost of each by entering the vehicles in the EPA\u2019s fuel economy website.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Find models that are mpg standouts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you aren\u2019t worried about price differences and just want to start saving money on gas, focus on getting a vehicle with high fuel economy estimates. The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is a great choice for a small SUV because it comes exclusively as a hybrid and gets up to an EPA-estimated 43 mpg combined.<\/p>\n<p>Want something smaller than a RAV4? The Kia Niro delivers up to 53 mpg. And what if you want the most efficient hybrid for 2026? The answer is something you\u2019ve probably heard of: the Toyota Prius. A 2026 Prius can get up to an EPA-estimated 57 mpg combined.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Go used or certified pre-owned for a better deal<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re OK with a used hybrid, then you can potentially avoid the hybrid price premium entirely. A hybrid model that has more miles or is a year or two older can cost the same or less than a comparable non-hybrid. To help offset the higher mileage or age, aim for a certified pre-owned hybrid because it typically includes an additional warranty.<\/p>\n<p>In some cases, you might be able to find a hybrid that\u2019s priced the same as a non-hybrid regardless of age or mileage if it\u2019s been on the dealership lot for an extended time. Dealerships tend to discount vehicles that aren\u2019t selling quickly to move inventory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>New three-row hybrid SUVs can save you more<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hybrid-powered three-row SUVs are a great choice if you\u2019ve got a large family and want to save on gas. There are also more hybrid models on the market than ever before. The all-new 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid SEL, for example, can save you up to $1,100 a year versus the non-hybrid version, assuming you drive 15,000 miles a year. With savings like that, you recoup the extra cost in about two years. The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is another roomy three-row SUV that could pay for itself in about two years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Edmunds says<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Saving money is just one of the advantages of owning a hybrid. Many hybrids are also more powerful than non-hybrids and deliver a smoother driving experience. They also produce lower emissions and have less brake wear because of their regenerative braking system.<\/p>\n<p>This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds.<\/p>\n<p>Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=909\">THURSDAY NEWS IN A RUSH: Top headlines in today\u2019s NewsMinute video<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=911\">Toon in Thursday<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=913\">The condition PCOS is now called PMOS. What to know about the name change and what it means for care<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does the high price of gas have you considering a hybrid for your next vehicle? We don\u2019t blame you, especially if you drive a lot. Fortunately, there are lots of hybrids to choose from, and many don\u2019t cost much more than their non-hybrid counterparts. But to recoup the extra cost of a hybrid the quickest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1101,1102,149,183,1103,1104],"tags":[1111,1112,185,1113,1114,1115],"class_list":["post-915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-0-no-apple-publish","category-1gridmagazine","category-a-town-magazine","category-cars","category-uncategorized","category-z-other-galley","tag-ford-maverick","tag-honda-civic","tag-hyundai-santa-fe","tag-lexus-nx","tag-toyota-prius","tag-toyota-rav4"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Do these four things before buying a hybrid in 2026 - Denver Moving Chronicle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=915\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Do these four things before buying a hybrid in 2026 - Denver Moving Chronicle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Does the high price of gas have you considering a hybrid for your next vehicle? We don\u2019t blame you, especially if you drive a lot. Fortunately, there are lots of hybrids to choose from, and many don\u2019t cost much more than their non-hybrid counterparts. 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