Are Hybrid Cars High Maintenance?

At Suntrup Automotive Group, we’re proud to offer new and pre-owned hybrid vehicles from popular automakers like Hyundai, BMW, Kia, and more! Hybrid cars are a great choice for St. Louis drivers who want to add an extra level of performance and efficiency to their daily commute without having to change up their driving habits. Despite all their benefits, hybrid cars sometimes have a reputation of being higher-maintenance than their gasoline-powered counterparts. 

However, the hybrid car maintenance cost is generally the same as maintaining a gasoline car, and so is their reliability. In fact, some components don’t require as much maintenance on a hybrid car! The service team at Suntrup Automotive Group has more details on hybrid car maintenance in the guide below.

Typical Hybrid Car Maintenance

So, now that we’ve established that the hybrid car maintenance cost is not typically higher than for a gasoline car, let’s see what you can expect in terms of routine services for your hybrid. In general, hybrid car maintenance isn’t too different from the typical car. The only major difference is that a hybrid car uses a battery, which needs to be replaced every 200,000 miles or so. Here’s a brief overview of the services you’ll need for your hybrid in St. Charles:

• Oil: Like traditional gasoline-powered cars, hybrid cars need oil to lubricate the engine and keep it running efficiently. You’ll typically need to get your oil changed every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, and the cost of getting a hybrid’s oil changed is the same as for a traditional vehicle!
• Battery: Hybrid cars have two batteries under the hood: a standard vehicle battery that powers the car’s electrical systems, and a hybrid battery that provides power to the car itself. A standard battery costs the same to replace as a traditional vehicle, and most hybrid batteries last long enough that they don’t need to be replaced. However, in the event that you do need to replace your hybrid battery, most vehicles come with battery warranty coverage for at least eight years or 100,000 miles.
• Wear & Tear Maintenance: Wear and tear maintenance includes general replacements of your vehicle’s components as they wear out, and this tends to cost the same for hybrids as for any other vehicle.

Hybrid Car Maintenance: Benefits

In addition to similar maintenance costs, there are actually some maintenance-related benefits to driving a hybrid! In addition to being more efficient and environmentally-friendly, driving a hybrid vehicle comes with the following advantages:

• Increased brake life: Hybrids make use of regenerative braking technology, which uses the momentum of your vehicle to regain energy. It also means that you’ll use your regular brakes less, so they’ll last longer!
• Longer oil change: With the benefit of an electric motor, you won’t use your internal combustion engine as much, which means you can go longer between routine oil changes.
• Less overall maintenance: Electric motors have a simple design and don’t have a lot of moving parts, which leads to less overall maintenance for a hybrid vehicle.

Keep Your Hybrid in Top Condition at Suntrup Automotive Group!

For more ways to keep your hybrid or gas-powered car running smoothly on the Fenton roads, check out our service tips and tricks! You can also contact our office for more information about the services we offer at Suntrup Automotive Group.