Hybrid vs Combustion: Which Car Should You Buy?

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.

Methodology

This guide uses average prices based on FixMyCar's data from the last 12 months (as of 4th August 2025). 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 third cheapest model out of the six, with an annual maintenance cost of £474.20 - £9.52 less than the most expensive car, the Skoda Octavia.

Although hybrid cars provide better fuel economy, using up to 30% less fuel per mile than a conventional vehicle, our data shows they aren't necessarily any cheaper to maintain.

Let's take a closer look at how the Prius compares to the Focus, which is the cheapest model out of the six.

Servicing the Prius is, on average, more pricey than the Focus.

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.

Here are five brake problems you should never ignore.

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 slightly 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, FixMyCar is here to help you find the right garage at the right price.

If you found this guide helpful, you might also like:

• The ultimate guide to hybrid cars

• Electric car myths debunked: fact vs fiction

• VW vs Audi vs SEAT vs Skoda - which costs the most to maintain?

• Are electric cars easy to maintain?

• The difference between a full service and an interim service

• Top ten cheapest cars to service

• Are self-driving cars legal in the UK?