MAKE The Case. WHY Would You Spend ALL That Extra $$$ On An Electric Vehicle When Today’s Hybrids Are SO Damn GOOD?

We know all the buzz is around Tesla these days but if you really take an objective look at the current state of the car biz, we think people are missing something that they shouldn't.

And what is that thing you ask?

That the hybrid vehicle makes so much sense and there are some really good ones out there. FOR CHEAP!

Case in point...My son's 2017 Ford Fusion 1.5 SE lease was about to end so I did some spying before buying.

Advice I give to you all the time. SPY before you BUY!

The car business is shifting (see what I did there?) all the time and markets change, sometimes overnight.

I thought I would never beat the crazy lease deal I got for him on the last one...$154.10 per month, 36 months, 10,500 miles, tax included with only first payment to start. Msrp on the car was 25k and change. I mean you can't RENT a car for that cheap. And it had all the goodies...backup cam, carplay, sat radio, bluetooth.

So as I shopped, what I found out is because the consumer focus (oops, I did it again!) is on Tesla, hybrids have become unloved.

So when my sales person shot over the numbers and we did some final negotiation, my son is now driving a $28,550 MSRP 2019 Fusion Hybrid SE for $169.04 per month, tax included, 36 months, 10,500 miles, $350 down to start. And that includes all the safety stuff and goodies you want for your child INCLUDING active cruise with FULL stop and go!

The 1.5 motor was getting 23 city and about 28 hwy real world mileage. This hybrid is getting a whopping 46MPG CITY! So even though the payment is a little higher his gas expense is 50% less. It's a great sedan, good handling, fun to drive and handsome.

There are some others out there but you would get them for the price of the Fusion.

Oh, and by the way, here's a little interesting stat for you...The Ford Fusion Hybrid has OUTSOLD the the Toyota Prius so far in 2019!

So that begs the question...Make the case for us and the readers....WHY Would You Spend ALL That Extra $$$ On An Electric Vehicle When Today’s Hybrids Are SO Damn GOOD?

Also, special thanks for the hard work from my SpyGirl Crystal (cover pic) at Kearny Pearson Ford.

runninglogan1 - 6/10/2019 11:53:49 PM

-5 Boost

Just go drive a Fusion Hybrid and then a Model 3. You'll see why.

Agent001 - 6/11/2019 12:04:06 AM

+2 Boost

But you can't lease one for that price NOR could you buy for the street selling price of UNDER 19k for a $28,550 MSRP car.

001

runninglogan1 - 6/11/2019 12:45:07 AM

-3 Boost

True. If what you really want is a steep discount then the Model 3 is not for you.

MDarringer - 6/11/2019 8:14:09 AM

+7 Boost

Comparing a car that can easily be had in the mid $20K range nicely equipped to one costing $60K is asinine. The Ford has far better quality.

SanJoseDriver - 6/13/2019 3:56:59 AM

+1 Boost

A coworker has a lease for a Golf EV that is $110/mo and all maintenance is included for the 3 year term. New car, has the tech amenities you would expect. I think that is as low as you can go.

TomM - 6/11/2019 6:12:39 AM

+7 Boost

If you are looking for a daily driver for transportation - or for a vehicle that does not require plug-in - the Hybrid is the logical winner here. My company has used Hybrids for the staff for a while - I had two of them - and they served quite well.

EVs require more than just a plug - they require a place to consistently store the car - which is not what a territory manager can do during the week. WHen you add in the cost of even a Bolt - compared to the Hybrid - the Hybrid is the clear winner. Now that they have determined that the overall cost to the environment for EVS exceeds that of ICE cars - the Hybrid is the Green way to go too.

However - I will admit that most Hybrids are not satisfying for performance use. Since that is NOT what our company buys them for - we come out ahead. We currently use the Chevy Malibu - which replaced the Fusion. If I were buying today - the Accord and the Malibu are leagues ahead of the others.

MDarringer - 6/11/2019 8:15:41 AM

+4 Boost

A hybrid reduces gas consumption--a PHEV even more so--but you are never "stranded" waiting on a charge. EVs simply aren't viable yet as real replacements to normal cars.

atc98092 - 6/11/2019 9:58:29 AM

+3 Boost

I'm a month into my Niro PHEV lease, and overall quite pleased. I took quite a performance hit moving from my Outback 3.6R, but so far I've driven 850 miles and the gas tank is still more than 2/3 full. The only place it feels lacking is on a freeway onramp or climbing a hill. Trying to stay out of the engine starting, it's rather lackadaisical. However, if I really need the power, it has plenty of pep if I push into the engine starting range. But it does become a bit of a game to try to stay out of the engine.

If I had the same EV range as a Volt, and could press the electric motor a little harder without the engine starting, it would be perfect. Having cooled seats is a fantastic bonus. :)

rockreid - 6/11/2019 8:39:11 AM

-2 Boost

Hybrids still require oil changes, oil filters, gas station stops, and brake pads/ rotors as a normal wear item.

Full EV’s do not require these including not requiring normal brake pad replacement except every 80,000 miles or so thanks to regenerative braking - brake pads are used really only for full stop or emergency braking. Regen makes them last a long long time.

The messy oil change reality of yesterday is being replaced by cleaner EV tech and there is no turning back. Plain and simple. A full EV can also be designed from the ground up where a hybrid is compromised from the start- witness the problems with the Audi e-Tron hybrid chassis to see what I mean... it is not designed for full EV range and efficiency. It shares a platform with ICE models and suffers from it.

Truthy - 6/11/2019 8:47:59 AM

+4 Boost

Makes sense only in warmer climates like California where the vast majority of Teslas are sold. And if you have the hour or more to refuel versus less than 5 minutes for ICE. Hybrids make more sense in 49 states and for people who do not need a creepy CEO to worship and make themselves fell smug.

MDarringer - 6/11/2019 9:06:13 AM

+3 Boost

Why are oil changes messy? I've changed a lot of oil and have not made a mess. Do you need instruction or are you just a socialist castrati drinking his soy latter and apologizing for his non-existent male privilege?

atc98092 - 6/11/2019 10:02:44 AM

+5 Boost

Hybrids have the same regen advantage with brake wear as a full EV, so that's not an advantage over a hybrid. Yes, you still have the same sort of maintenance an ICE vehicle, but you have the advantage of still being able to drive if a charger isn't available. That's the reason I went with a PHEV for the time being. Perhaps in a few years there will be a battery breakthrough that allows filling to 90% in 10 minutes, and have 300 miles range. But until we reach that, there's still a place for the HEV and PHEV.

SanJoseDriver - 6/13/2019 3:55:46 AM

+1 Boost

Charging is only inconvenient if you are doing a ton of long-distance travel. It is super easy to charge at home or at places you go to regularly in most developed areas these days. I greatly prefer even slow charging to going to a gas station.

ricks0me - 6/11/2019 11:40:43 PM

-2 Boost

AGENT001 said: We know all the buzz is around Tesla these days ...

maybe in your world, not mine