13 Lies You’ve Been Told About Hybrid Cars

Like them or not, hybrids are now an integral part of the automotive landscape and a vital part of its future. There is a clear need to move towards more sustainable ways of getting around, and hybrids play a crucial part in that quest.

Despite how important they now are, some lies are continuously fed to the consumer, potentially to put them off buying them. But we are here to dispel those myths.

This list contains 13 lies you've been told about hybrid cars and the counterarguments that disprove those lies, including one or two that oversell hybrids. We aim to ensure you are fully aware of what lies to look out for if you consider a hybrid car.

The Car Will Stall If The Battery Runs Out

One myth associated with hybrids regards the electrical element of the cars. Some would like you to believe that the battery in the car will run down while you are driving, causing you to stall and leaving you stranded.

Of course, this isn't true. Many hybrids can simply continue using the internal combustion engine (ICE) only if the battery runs out. That is unlikely, as many modern hybrids replenish their energy levels thanks to regenerative braking, adding more power to the battery as the car slows down.

Hybrid Cars Need Special Gasoline

One myth that people regularly throw out there is that hybrids require particular gasoline in order to run. That's nonsense, as a hybrid car will happily run on regular octane fuel from the gas station. No special sauce is needed to get you back on the road.

Some hybrids do need their batteries recharging. But you can do this at any regular charging station and even do it yourself at home if you have a system. This gives us the term “plug-in hybrid electric vehicles” or PHEVs.

Hybrids Don't Save Much Money On Gas

Of course, a key selling point of hybrids is their efficiency and the money they can save on fuel. Despite overwhelming evidence, some want us to believe that hybrids don't offer any significant efficiency benefits over a regular car.

That, though, is simply not true. Data from FuelEconomy.gov shows how efficient hybrids are. The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid EX AWD can achieve 38 mpg combined in hybrid form but only 25 mpg as a regular ICE vehicle. That is a difference of 52%, showcasing perfectly how efficient hybrids are.

Insurance For Hybrid Cars Cost Too Much

Given their more complex powertrains, some believe that hybrids actually cost a lot more to insure than regular ICE-powered vehicles. Once again, though, that isn't true, as data from Lemonade shows us, even if there is some truth to the claim.

The data reveals that hybrid insurance costs can be around 7% to 11% higher than those of standard vehicles. Still, plenty of options exist to reduce those insurance premiums. Tax benefits are also available to hybrid users to help bring costs down, so while hybrids can cost more to insure, it's not by a massive amount.

Tax Credits Aren't Available For Hybrids

One of the benefits of electric vehicles is the Federal Tax Credits available to buyers, which can knock as much as $7,500 off the price of an EV. Despite what others might tell you, hybrid vehicles can also qualify for these tax credit benefits.

This is only possible with the previously mentioned PHEVs, which include cars such as the Toyota Prius Prime. Others include the Chevrolet Volt, Chrysler Pacific PHEV, and the Toyota RAV 4 Prime PHEV. The U.S. Department of Energy has a complete list available online of what PHEVs qualify for the Federal Tax Credits.

Don't Drive Hybrid Cars In The Rain

This myth can also be applied to electric cars. The electrical components within hybrids and EVs also led some to believe that driving them in the rain could pose risks — either to the car's electrical components or to those using them.

Of course, that isn't true. Regular ICE cars have electrical systems, and there would be no point driving a car if it wasn't safe in the wet. If a hybrid or EV is driven, there is no danger to the vehicle or its occupants in the rain. They are perfectly safe in the rain, whether it's a drizzle or a heavy rain shower.

Hybrid Cars Are Underpowered

One of the most unusual myths surrounding hybrids is that they are less potent than their regular ICE counterparts. However, the additional electric power only increases a hybrid's power levels, as the official data from manufacturers shows.

An example of this is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Combined, it produces 244 horsepower (hp), while the regular version produces a maximum of 188 hp. The 2025 Toyota Camry produces 225 hp as standard, but the hybrid version of the same car produces 232 hp. Therefore, there is a slight increase. Hybrid cars are certainly not underpowered.

Hybrids Are Way More Expensive Than Regular Cars

One inescapable fact is that electric cars are more expensive than their regular counterparts. A quick look at the Tesla Model X shows that, at the time of writing, it currently costs $63,990 after Federal Tax Savings and $77,990 without.

Yes, hybrid cars are more expensive than ICE versions, but it isn't by much. Take the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. The regular ICE version of the 2024 Corolla starts at just $22,050, which is extremely affordable. However, if you want the hybrid version, you are looking at less than $1,500 more with the current MSRP of just $23,500. There are some very affordable hybrids on the market.

Hybrid Cars Need Plugging In All The Time

Another common myth is that hybrids, like EVs, need plugging in all the time to keep their energy levels topped up. However, as hybrids can run on their own ICEs without needing the battery, that is one myth we can dispel.

However, it is recommended that you keep an eye on the car's battery level and chrage it up as much as you can. The idea of a hybrid is to promote more efficient driving and reduce the dependency on gasoline/fossil fuels. Not recharging the battery and running your hybrid purely on the regular engine defeats the point of having one.

There Are Not Many Choices Available For Hybrids

One of the most straightforward myths/lies surrounding hybrids is that there aren't many on the market for consumers to choose from. Whenever hybrid is mentioned, most people think of the Toyota Prius as the only hybrid available.

But that couldn't be further from the truth. Toyota has a hybrid version of the Corolla, the Camry, and the RAV4. There is a hybrid version of the Mitsubishi Outlander, and Chevrolet and Ford both offer hybrid versions of their staple pickup trucks, the Silverado and the F-150. Far from what the myth says, there are plenty of hybrid vehicles in North America in 2024.

Hybrid Resale Values Are Low

One of the other popular myths surrounding hybrids is that they have low resale values. That was true when the Toyota Prius was virtually the only hybrid on the market. But with hybrids now more mainstream, we are seeing a shift.

Cars will lose money over time, but there is a higher chance you could sell your used hybrid second-hand now than ten years ago. They are becoming increasingly attractive to the consumer, and if they can save money by buying a second-hand car, it would be even better.

Hybrids Are Not Reliable

Believe it or not, some think a hybrid is unreliable. There can be various reasons for this, such as the extra complexity of a hybrid, which means there are more things that can go wrong.

But as Motorama says, hybrids are some of the most reliable vehicles on the planet. The batteries should, in theory, last a whole lifetime of a vehicle, upwards of 200,000 miles, and thankfully, maintaining a hybrid is no more costly than with a regular ICE vehicle.

Hybrids Are Only For City Driving

Another myth that many seem to believe is that hybrids are only suitable for inner-city or suburban/urban settings. This is because of the stop-start nature of these areas and how that can allow the regenerative braking to work its magic.

Hybrids are very efficient in city driving, but naturally, they are just as efficient at home on highways. Many hybrids offer improved aerodynamics over regular cars, and the hybrid system allows for excellent fuel efficiency at higher speeds. Hybrids are some of the most versatile vehicles that money can buy.