Hybrid vs Combustion: Which Car Should You Buy?
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 3 months ago
5 min read
- Electric vehicles
- Car ownership
- Maintenance
WhoCanFixMyCar compares the annual maintenance costs of the Toyota Prius, a popular hybrid, with four similar combustion engine cars to find out which is the cheapest overall.
Buying a hybrid car sounds like a no-brainer, right? It's certainly better for the planet, but is it better for your bank account?
To help answer this question, we've compared the average maintenance costs of the Toyota Prius - one of the most popular hybrid hatchbacks in the UK - with four similar combustion engine vehicles: the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia, BMW 1 Series and Vauxhall Corsa.
Contents
Methodology
This guide uses average prices based on WhoCanFixMyCar's data from 2023. We selected five popular family hatchbacks to compare to the Toyota Prius; then, we calculated the annual cost of maintenance using the price of a full and interim service, aircon regas and MOT.
Hybrid vs combustion annual maintenance costs
As you can see from the table below, the Prius is the most expensive model overall, with an annual maintenance cost of £452.51 - £4.89 more than the BMW 1 Series, which doesn't exactly have a reputation for being affordable.
Model | Annual maintenance price |
---|---|
Toyota Prius | £452.51 |
BMW 1 Series | 447.62 |
Volkswagen Golf | £444.83 |
Skoda Octavia | £443.29 |
Ford Focus | £430.77 |
Vauxhall Corsa | £429.97 |
Although hybrid cars provide better fuel economy, using up to 30% less fuel per mile than a conventional vehicle, our data shows they are also more expensive to maintain. Let's take a closer look at how the Prius compares to the Corsa, which is the cheapest model out of the six.
Toyota Prius | Vauxhall Corsa | |
---|---|---|
Full service | £196.91 | £185.10 |
Interim service | £137.95 | £130.14 |
MOT | £44.44 | £43.67 |
Aircon regas | £73.21 | £71.06 |
Servicing the Prius is, on average, a lot more pricey than the Corsa. However, this is only part of the story because the Corsa is more expensive in the MOT and aircon regas categories.
Hybrid vs combustion brake costs
Replacing your car's brake pads and discs is another aspect of car maintenance, though this happens less often than servicing. The Prius fares better in this category, though it isn't quite as cheap as the Vauxhall Corsa.
Here are five brake problems you should never ignore.
Model | Brake pads & discs |
---|---|
BMW 1 Series | £676.11 |
Ford Focus | £420.53 |
Volkswagen Golf | £393.67 |
Skoda Octavia | £380.88 |
Toyota Prius | £369.61 |
Vauxhall Corsa | £354.54 |
Which is best, hybrid or combustion?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn't straightforward. It depends on where and when you drive and how you prefer to spend money. Below are the pros and cons of hybrid cars for you to consider, including insights from our data.
Hybrid car pros
Better for the environment
Better fuel efficiency on short journeys
Brakes last longer due to regenerative braking and are cheaper to replace
Engine experiences less wear and tear
No range anxiety, unlike with an all-electric car
Hybrid car cons
Annual maintenance is more expensive overall
When the battery dies on longer journeys, the car becomes much less fuel efficient than a 'cleaner' modern combustion engine
Less horsepower
More expensive to buy
Hybrid batteries cost more to replace than regular car batteries
Is your car in need of some TLC? If so, WhoCanFixMyCar is here to help you find the right garage at the right price.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is WhoCanFixMyCar’s Content Writer. She has a BA in English literature from Durham University, a master’s degree in creative writing, and three years of experience writing in the automotive industry. She currently drives a Suzuki Swift.