Best hybrid and plug-in deals after 5 years of ownership
February 11, 2012
From Hybridcarblog.com
Kipplingers, Forbes, Intellichoice, Consumer Reports, US News & World Reports, etc. have all offered up best and most cost-effective vehicle lists in recent months, and it’s sometimes a little surprising the lack of consensus. Consequently, I’ve often wondered if there isn’t some sort of advertising-related objective.
Regardless, these lists are still interesting and usually useful for buyers, and the latest one comes from Kelly Blue Book.
According to Kelly Blue Book the Honda Insight offers the lowest cost of ownership of all hybrid cars after 5 years, just edging out the Honda CR-Z hybrid. With a 5-Year ownership cost of $32,884, KBB cites lowest entry price as well as low depreciation.
KBB also offers up a hybrid utility segment, won by the Ford Escape hybrid and its 5 year ownership cost of $45,051. However, since the Escape hybrid is being phased out, this pick seems a little irrelevant. The Toyota Highlander hybrid was second and offered better resale value and lower maintenance costs compared to the Escape hybrid, but still over all higher cost of ownership. However, considering the Escape hybrid is dead, might as well give consumers something.
Finally, for the first time ever KBB has rated electric cars. With a 5-year cost of ownership of $40,629 — after tax credits of course — the Chevy Volt beat out the Nissan Leaf, despite its higher price. Thanks to slightly lower maintenance costs and much cheaper insurance, the Volt edged out the Leaf.
Lower maintenance costs? Higher insurance? Seems kind of funny assuming 5 year costs on two cars that haven’t been around for but a year and that have only moved around 10,000 units apiece. Still, until the data proves otherwise, the bragging rights go to the Volt.
Source: KBB
Posted by dahcredyns, aka Chad Snyder.
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