The popularity of the Outlander means that there are parts and expertly trained service technicians who can help in case of a breakdown. Similarly, Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV has been around for a few years now, and taps into the current popularity of SUVs, with the added bonus of being able to recharge it at home. The Hybrid Camry, Toyota’s first mainstream hybrid offering, was popular when it was introduced for the 2010 model year, and has a large amount of dealer support for parts shared with its fuel powered stable mates. A majority of the hybrid vehicles sold in Australia have been around long enough that there is a decent support network for whichever brand you choose.įor example, the original Toyota Prius was introduced in Australia around fifteen years ago, and there are healthy amounts of used car stock as well as service support and parts for the lift-back model, as well as the expanded range including the Prius C and Prius V. Once your hybrid battery has died, though, some cars will shutdown completely until it’s replaced – others may be able to run on the ‘normal’ engine, though it’s probably not recommended for the extra stress it places on the powertrain.ĭepreciation affects all cars, but it hits vehicles particularly hard if they’re not supported in the marketplace (either through small sales or lack of dealer service and support). Hybrid cars can run with a less than fully charged battery, relying on the engine – but if it has lost the ability to re-charge fully you’ll lose the benefit of efficiency, because the combustion engine will probably be working harder to power the whole car. Most car owners replace their car after around three to five years, so the first owner of a hybrid generally won’t worry about anything but maintenance but if you’re buying an older hybrid car, particularly one that is starting to climb double digits in age, you might be stuck with the cost of replacing a battery. Most hybrid cars come with a separate warranty for the battery, so it’s important to check if this is still valid, along with the condition of the battery itself.Īll batteries lose charge over time, even the large, rechargeable versions you’ll find under the hood of a hybrid vehicle, so they must be replaced at some point during the cars lifetime – but most hybrid batteries are guaranteed to last for the better part of a decade. Often the battery powers the car at low speeds and other times when the car would inefficiently use fuel in the engine. A hybrid car is running two powertrains: one run by a battery, the other by a regular combustion engine.