Consumer Reports: Most Reliable Used Cars

Steve, do you have an opinion/experience on hybrids ? 2 power/drive train systems ( electric and gas ) seems to have a “twice as many things can go wrong” feel to it, to me. I’ve watched a few utube vids put out by a mechanic, and there are a few models ( Kia and Hyundai, if memory is good ) that the mechanic said to not own for longer than 5 years, that parts that are sure to need replacement require lots and lots of labor just to get access to them. Very crammed engine compartment, engine needs to be lifted out for a lot of what used to be routine part replacements. Not ripping on Kia or Hyundai, probably most hybrids are like that.

I can still not wrap my head around pure battery powered vehicle up here in the winter, and have nagging concerns about hybrid maintenance costs. I helped a kid in his Mom’s Prius get out of the xc ski area parking lot a few winters ago, snow tires are a must have instead of those low friction/hi mpg tires that come standard on them.

( hopefully the snow starts falling in a couple of months ! )

Not data, but I’ve owned seven hybrids and only had a significant problem with one of them (at 87K miles).

DB2

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I don’t have any first hand experience. Check the CR dot charts.

The comments you repeat about service access on newer cars seems to be par for the course.

Meanwhile, you might care to chew on this article.

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