SUV or wagon recommendations: hybrid vs electric vs neither?

[Anonymous]

We are thinking hybrid but wondering about the relative merits of hybrid vs leasing a standard (non-hybrid) car waiting for the technology to improve then getting a great electric in a few years.

We aren't fancy car people but my husband has me thinking maybe it's unwise to be investing in buying a good hybrid when we could go electric in a few years. So now thinking we lease a hybrid or standard car? Also, electric cars seem to be too small (we have a big dog and 2 kids and like to carpool).

Are hybrids really worth it for the driver and for the environment??? Is the science really there on their impact on carbon footprint? Downside of hybrids is fewer options of SUVs.

We like the reviews for the Toyota Highlander. Love the look of some of the Audis and Acuras and Volvos but hear less positive feedback about the maintenance and the internal space.

Would love advice of the NON-snarky kind

[Anonymous]

We have the hybrid RAV4, and I love it. It's fun to drive, has great pick-up, and on long highway trips we both like trying to game the little dashboard notification to use as little gas as possible. It's better gas mileage than a comparable SUV, but not as good as if we had gotten a Civic or something smaller.

[Anonymous]

What are your driving patterns? Mostly city or mostly highway? Long or short trips? Any road trips?

[Anonymous]

We are almost entirely city/suburbs. Live in Woodley Park but have to trek out to suburbs for kids' activities and schools. Our current minivan has only 70,000 miles and we have been driving it for TEN years!!!....We take a VERY Occasional trip to NY or Baltimore. Not a big road trip family.

Anonymous wrote:What are your driving patterns? Mostly city or mostly highway? Long or short trips? Any road trips?

[Anonymous]

Car person here (and one of the cars we own is electric). Forget about electrics improving in the future -- they will by a bit, but not a huge jump. Go with the Chrysler Pacifica if you want electric. It can go 33 miles on all-electric, which is plenty for you typical city runs. Most hybrids use engine and can't be charged, but the Pacifica you can actually charge it and never have the engine turn on during a typical drive.

[Anonymous]

We have a Tesla Model X and love it, but I also know it's out price range for most people. Ours seats seven, and we happily haul our three kids and their friends (or other adults) around in it. It's ridiculously fun to drive.

All that being said, I also think the Pacifica is a solid choice, or one of the Toyota SUV hybrids. The real benefit of the Teslas are the long range, and it doesn't sound like you'll need that typically. So, please, choose a hybrid or electric. Plenty of good options, and there's little justification for buying a non-hybrid or electric car these days (with some exceptions).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Car person here (and one of the cars we own is electric). Forget about electrics improving in the future -- they will by a bit, but not a huge jump. Go with the Chrysler Pacifica if you want electric. It can go 33 miles on all-electric, which is plenty for you typical city runs. Most hybrids use engine and can't be charged, but the Pacifica you can actually charge it and never have the engine turn on during a typical drive.

We have a Ford Fusion and a Chrysler Pacifica and they charge while they drive so we only gas up every couple months.

I like the environment thing but also I like rarely having to gas up and the $ it saves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Car person here (and one of the cars we own is electric). Forget about electrics improving in the future -- they will by a bit, but not a huge jump. Go with the Chrysler Pacifica if you want electric. It can go 33 miles on all-electric, which is plenty for you typical city runs. Most hybrids use engine and can't be charged, but the Pacifica you can actually charge it and never have the engine turn on during a typical drive.

We have a Ford Fusion and a Chrysler Pacifica and they charge while they drive so we only gas up every couple months.

I like the environment thing but also I like rarely having to gas up and the $ it saves.

We have a Chevy Volt (I realize it's too small for OP). It' runs on electric the first 35 miles, then switches to gas to generate power. I drive it to work and my employer provides free charging stations (and electricity). I fill up the tank about once every 6 months. I use fuel on the occasional long drive, and also it will start the engine every few weeks for a few minutes to give it exercise.

Nice feeling to almost never visit the gas station!

[Anonymous]

Take a look at the Kia Niro. I love mine. It gets over 500 miles to a tank and average about 50 mpg. It's not expensive for a new car, but still has lots of bells and whistles.

FYI, the non-touring models have more pep and better mpg than the fully kitted out touring version. Try to test drive a non-touring version. I think the plug in version just hit dealerships recently as well.

[Anonymous]

We just got a Highlander hybrid and its great! One thing to consider about Hybrid vs Electric is that the battery range decreases significantly when the weather is cold, as it was here recently. So the hybrid does not get as good MPG under these conditions. Still though, it is much better on gas than a purely gas Highlander - ours gets up to 29 mpg in mostly city driving when the temp is above 50 degrees, and about 22 when its below 25 or 30. My wife's friend's regular gas powered Highlander only gets 14 mpg.

As far as electrics go-I think it will be a while before electric SUVs are practical and hybrids give you a lot more flexibility if you want to go someplace that does not have the charging infrastructure. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint: try taking fewer trips in the car and lower your house thermostat in the winter. Just my 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

Have had a Toyota Highlander hybrid for about 8 years, no problems, very reliable.

[Anonymous]

The Tesla looks SO FUN. Do they ever lease them or just sell?

Anonymous wrote:We have a Tesla Model X and love it, but I also know it's out price range for most people. Ours seats seven, and we happily haul our three kids and their friends (or other adults) around in it. It's ridiculously fun to drive.

All that being said, I also think the Pacifica is a solid choice, or one of the Toyota SUV hybrids. The real benefit of the Teslas are the long range, and it doesn't sound like you'll need that typically. So, please, choose a hybrid or electric. Plenty of good options, and there's little justification for buying a non-hybrid or electric car these days (with some exceptions).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Tesla looks SO FUN. Do they ever lease them or just sell?

I'm almost positive you can lease them. They're crazy fun to drive, but I will say that I think you need to be a fairly experienced and good driver to handle them. They accelerate so fast, and the X at least is a heavy, heavy vehicle.

But, yeah. Hard to find another combination of environmentally friendly + practical + that fun to drive

Anonymous wrote:We have a Tesla Model X and love it, but I also know it's out price range for most people. Ours seats seven, and we happily haul our three kids and their friends (or other adults) around in it. It's ridiculously fun to drive.

All that being said, I also think the Pacifica is a solid choice, or one of the Toyota SUV hybrids. The real benefit of the Teslas are the long range, and it doesn't sound like you'll need that typically. So, please, choose a hybrid or electric. Plenty of good options, and there's little justification for buying a non-hybrid or electric car these days (with some exceptions).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Car person here (and one of the cars we own is electric). Forget about electrics improving in the future -- they will by a bit, but not a huge jump. Go with the Chrysler Pacifica if you want electric. It can go 33 miles on all-electric, which is plenty for you typical city runs. Most hybrids use engine and can't be charged, but the Pacifica you can actually charge it and never have the engine turn on during a typical drive.

Anyone have the electric hybrid Pacifica?
We looked at it at the DC car show today.

[Anonymous]

Volvo is supposed to go to market with a plug in hybrid SUV next year.