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Hybrid vs Plug-in hybrid vs Electric: which is the cheapest car to run?

Running costs are a big factor when deciding which car to buy next. We’ve done the maths for you to find out which car is the cheapest to run between electric and hybrid cars.

Nimisha Jain

Words by: Nimisha Jain

Published on 21 April 2023 | 0 min read

As car technology improves and evolves, drivers are faced with an ever-increasing number of choices between hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric cars. More so now than ever, the main question for many is which is the cheapest and most cost-effective to run?
In our latest video, Rory Reid explores the running cost of a Honda Civic e:HEV, a Vauxhall Astra PHEV and a Mercedes EQS to find out which car works out to be the cheapest of all. To find out how closely electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars live up to their reputation as being ‘cheaper to run’, Rory estimates how much the running costs for these cars would typically be by using average mpg figures, the average cost of fuelling up and an estimated price of charging a car. While all cars come with an official mpg figure, in real life, these figures can vary quite a bit. Your car’s actual fuel economy is affected by factors like your driving style, the weather and the road conditions. While our video is a great starting point for finding the cheapest car to run, one thing to bear in mind is that the cheapest car for you may not work out to be the cheapest car for someone as else as it all depends on your personal driving style and needs. All three types of cars have their own benefits, so it depends on what you’re after, what kind of charging facilities you have near you, how much your electricity tariff is and how many miles you drive in a day to find out which car works out to be the cheapest for you. Find cars that suit your lifestyle on Auto Trader. You can also browse through thousands of electric and hybrid cars on Auto Trader.

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