Should I buy a large hybrid SUV or a normal petrol/diesel?

QUESTION

Hi John,

I'm 74 (otherwise in good health) and I need / want to change my car over soon. Do I buy a hybrid or not?

I have a 6 year old Kluger Grande AWD 105,000K's. Excellent car for my purposes. Totally reliable and have an excellent local Toyota dealer and service department.

This is my second Kluger. First one was Grande FWD. AWD is much better.

I am waiting to see the new model that is due out in the next 6 months - Is this right? For the first time it will be offered as hybrid, or petrol (the only option now) as you would know.

While I acknowledge the environmental argument, I'm not really concerned about the fuel savings.

I live in Buderim (Sunshine Coast) and most of my driving is local with occasional longer trips.

I realise that the hybrids are dearer and that in the past another problem has been that the fuel saving was eclipsed not only by the higher purchase price but also the need to replace the battery after 5-7 years if the car was kept that long which in my case is unlikely as I change over around the 5 year mark.

Also I wouldn't make the decision until I had driven the hybrid to judge performance.

The question that I don't think you addressed in your presentation was resale value. With the current trend to more electric (hybrid or full EV) will petrol or diesel cars depreciate in value faster as time passes?

I gather in the UK fossil fuel powered cars will be banned by 2035 so it would seem the trend is on there at least. I think this ban includes hybrids.

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Having said all the nice things about the Kluger and the dealer (personal opinion of course) I am also considering the new Kia Sorento and watched you review of this with interest.

With no hybrid, I would probably choose the diesel, based on performance.

My daughter has a 4-year-old base model Kia Sorento. She lives in Melbourne and loves it (the car not Melbourne). Family car usage and child hauler: good.

The other vehicle that appeals is the Hyundai Palisade when it available which I gather is soon. Much bigger I gather but I'm sure you've said that sometimes size doesn’t matter.

Thanks for reading this rambling missive and "Bon Chance".

Regards,

Tim

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ANSWER

Hey Tim,

AWD is much better on Kluger - especially in the wet. Less front-wheel spinning and traction control intervention generally, smoother take-offs. And less torque steer.

Batteries in hybrids typically last 10 years-plus. Hybrids have been here 25 years, but they are still only one in 35 cars sold. There is no foreseeable obsolescence of internal combustion cars. It’s just not a thing, especially not in Australia.

This UK plan is - obviously - subject to all kinds of change: change of government, change of policy, etc. Governments can see only to the next election. We’re talking 15 years into the future.

Diesel is much more suited to your longer trips. The new Kia Sorento is a good SUV. New Hyundai Santa Fe (when it arrives in Jan) will be the same thing, executed slightly differently.

The also-new Hyundai Palisade is also about the same time, it is certainly much bigger. Size does matter but it really depends on what you need the vehicle to do…

All the best mate,

JC

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