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Part of the MotorTrend Automotive Group

Advice from Intellichoice: Compare Hybrid Car Costs of Ownership

Included in this year’s analysis are 64 hybrid vehicles, 19 clean diesels, one EV and one electric plug-in hybrid. We compared ownership costs for these models to those of the closest similar gasoline-only vehicles. In some cases, selecting a comparable vehicle is difficult because feature configurations between alternative-fuel and standard models differ. Several vehicles do not have a non-hybrid counterpart, such as the Prius, Insight, CR-Z and CT200h. Overall, pitting alternative-fuel vehicles against gasoline-only vehicles yields interesting findings.

To note:

  • Federal tax credits are no long available for hybrid and clean diesel models, ending at the end of 2010. Electric and plug-in hybrids are still eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.
  • In 2008, green vehicles were projected to hold their value better than traditional cars, trucks and SUVs. However, in 2011, most hybrid models are projected to have lower relative retained values than gas-only cars. Clean diesel vehicles are still expected to have higher retained values, though the margin is narrowing. The drop in retained values of hybrid and clean diesels is most likely do to market saturation, increased fuel economy among gasoline engines, and new alternative-fuel technology.
  • Alternative-fuel vehicles provide a strong hedge against a jump in fuel prices. In addition, if a large spike does occur, you can expect to see green vehicles' retained values trend slightly upward.

 

Hybrid Vehicle

Comparison Vehicle

Cost of Hybrid over Comparison Vehicle

5-Year Cost of Ownership Difference

Fuel Cost Difference

2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7

2011 BMW 750 i

$19,800

$14,523

-$1,347

2011 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 L

2011 BMW 750 Li

$19,800

$13,747

-$1,822

2011 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid

2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i

$21,700

$17,666

-$863

2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 2WD

2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV 2WD

$8,075

$2,616

-$3,624

2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 4WD

2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV AWD

$8,125

$2,440

-$4,128

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT 2WD

$6,875

$1,188

-$3,222

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Hybrid 4WD

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT 4WD

$6,875

$276

-$4,128

2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 2WD

2011 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 2WD

$8,315

$9,572

-$2,097

2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 4WD

2011 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4WD

$8,270

$9,376

-$2,097

2011 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD

2011 Ford Escape Limited AWD

$4,110

$2,485

-$1,723

2011 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD

2011 Ford Escape Limited FWD

$4,110

$2,127

-$2,144

2011 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited AWD

2011 Ford Escape Limited AWD

$6,620

$4,587

-$1,723

2011 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited FWD

2011 Ford Escape Limited FWD

$6,620

$4,246

-$2,144

2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2011 Ford Fusion SEL

$3,295

-$105

-$2,694

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab SLE 2WD

$13,205

$8,813

-$3,222

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab Hybrid 4WD

2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab SLE 4WD

$13,165

$7,593

-$4,128

2011 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid 2WD

2011 GMC Yukon Denali 2WD

$5,275

$3,891

-$3,624

2011 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid 4WD

2011 GMC Yukon Denali AWD

$5,125

$3,228

-$4,128

2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid 2WD

2011 GMC Yukon SLT 2WD

$7,150

$8,876

-$2,097

2011 GMC Yukon Hybrid 4WD

2011 GMC Yukon SLT 4WD

$7,105

$8,765

-$2,097

2011 Honda Civic Hybrid

2011 Honda Civic EX (Auto)

$3,545

$2,578

-$1,997

2011 Honda Civic Hybrid w/Leather

2011 Honda Civic EX-L (Auto)

$3,195

$2,031

-$1,997

2011 Honda Civic Hybrid w/Leather & Navigation System

2011 Honda Civic EX-L w/Navigation System (Auto)

$3,195

$1,968

-$1,997

2011 Honda Civic Hybrid w/Navigation System

2011 Honda Civic EX w/Navigation System (Auto)

$3,545

$2,541

-$1,997

2011 Honda CR-Z (Auto)

2011 Honda Civic LX (Auto)

$1,495

-$101

-$1,341

2011 Honda CR-Z (Manual)

2011 Honda Civic LX (Manual)

$1,645

$413

-$896

2011 Honda CR-Z EX (Auto)

2011 Honda Civic EX (Auto)

$1,005

-$498

-$1,341

2011 Honda CR-Z EX (Manual)

2011 Honda Civic EX (Manual)

$1,155

$175

-$896

2011 Honda CR-Z w/Navigation System (Auto)

2011 Honda Civic EX w/Navigation System (Auto)

$805

-$783

-$1,341

2011 Honda CR-Z w/Navigation System (Manual)

2011 Honda Civic EX w/Navigation System (Auto)

$155

-$545

-$813

2011 Honda Insight

2011 Honda Civic DX (Auto)

$1,595

-$201

-$1,997

2011 Honda Insight EX

2011 Honda Civic EX (Auto)

$1,085

-$125

-$1,997

2011 Honda Insight EX w/Navigation System

2011 Honda Civic EX w/Navigation System (Auto)

$860

-$360

-$1,997

2011 Honda Insight EX w/Navigation System & PZEV

2011 Honda Civic EX w/Navigation System (Auto)

$860

-$360

-$1,997

2011 Honda Insight EX w/PZEV

2011 Honda Civic EX (Auto)

$1,085

-$125

-$1,997

2011 Honda Insight LX

2011 Honda Civic LX (Auto)

$1,345

-$153

-$1,997

2011 Honda Insight LX w/PZEV

2011 Honda Civic LX (Auto)

$1,345

-$153

-$1,997

2011 Honda Insight w/PZEV

2011 Honda Civic DX (Auto)

$1,595

-$201

-$1,997

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

2011 Hyundai Sonata SE

$3,200

$1,304

-$2,038

2011 Lexus CT 200h

2011 Toyota Matrix S FWD (Auto)

$8,665

$4,039

-$3,537

2011 Lexus CT 200h Premium

2011 Toyota Matrix S FWD (Auto)

$10,445

$5,421

-$3,537

2011 Lexus GS 450h

2011 Lexus GS 460

$3,480

$5,280

-$1,581

2011 Lexus HS 250h

2011 Lexus IS 250 RWD (Auto)

$1,785

-$578

-$3,063

2011 Lexus HS 250h Premium

2011 Lexus IS 250 RWD (Auto)

$4,555

$2,330

-$3,063

2011 Lexus LS 600h L

2011 Lexus LS 460 L AWD

$36,770

$26,871

-$983

2011 Lexus RX 450h

2011 Lexus RX 350

$5,260

$1,859

-$3,062

2011 Lexus RX 450h AWD

2011 Lexus RX 350 AWD

$5,450

$1,968

-$3,103

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

2011 Lincoln MKZ FWD

$0

-$2,536

-$4,129

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid

2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4WD

$6,800

$7,576

-$2,906

2011 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

2011 Mercedes-Benz S550

-$2,650

-$3,106

-$1,918

2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid AWD

2011 Mercury Mariner Premier AWD

$4,480

$1,544

-$1,723

2011 Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD

2011 Mercury Mariner Premier FWD

$4,480

$1,218

-$2,144

2011 Mercury Milan Hybrid

2011 Mercury Milan

$6,320

$3,901

-$2,097

2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid

2011 Nissan Altima 2.5 S

$4,720

$2,178

-$1,338

2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid

2011 Porsche Cayenne S

$4,000

$0

-$1,811

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

2011 Toyota Camry SE (Auto)

$3,085

$833

-$1,578

2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD

2011 Toyota Highlander V6 4WD

$7,345

$3,439

-$3,457

2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 4WD

2011 Toyota Highlander Limited 4WD

$6,650

$4,238

-$3,457

2011 Toyota Prius Five

2011 Toyota Camry XLE

$1,970

$733

-$3,801

2011 Toyota Prius Four

2011 Toyota Camry SE (Auto)

$3,260

$679

-$3,801

2011 Toyota Prius One

2011 Toyota Camry (Auto)

$880

-$2,474

-$3,801

2011 Toyota Prius Three

2011 Toyota Camry LE (Auto)

$1,725

-$1,512

-$3,801

2011 Toyota Prius Two

2011 Toyota Camry (Auto)

$2,280

-$1,307

-$3,801

2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

2011 Volkswagen Touareg Executive VR6

$6,565

$2,772

-$2,448


Hybrids cover 29 different models and 15 brands, with a range of classes from Compact Passenger Car to Full-Size SUV. Amongst the hybrids is the Best Overall Value of the Year winner, (which accounts for 50% of all hybrid sales) as well as the Honda Insight, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Lexus RX450h, and GMC Yukon Hybrid.

The accompanying table indicates that every hybrid vehicle (except the Mercedes-Benz S400) has a higher MSRP than its gas-only counterpart. In 2008, over 50% of the hybrid vehicles had a lower total cost of ownership, but in 2011, only 30% have lower total cost of ownership. The key reasons for this change are the lack of a federal tax credit and the fact that hybrid models no longer have a retained value advantage.

IntelliChoice also reviewed maintenance and repair costs but found that nothing has significantly changed since we conducted the first hybrid study several years ago. In fact, hybrid and gas-only vehicles have similar maintenance and repair costs in the first five years of ownership.

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