Consumers still have a long way to go before prices throughout the electric auto industry steady themselves. Consumers also have to think about the range offered by electric vehicles. For many looking to spend less and get more range, buying a hybrid vehicle might be the cheaper, greener option.
Without taking federal EV tax credits into account, the average transaction price for a new electric vehicle was $59,739 in Jan. 2023, according to Edmunds. Fortunately, there are a number of hybrid EVs on the market that cost between $20,000 and $30,000 offering consumers another option.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the following nine hybrid cars give the best bang for your buck and feature lots of standard tech and driver assistance features, plus comfortable cabins and stylish exteriors. With starting prices under $30,000, there’s even an affordable hybrid pick-up on the list.
1. 2023 Toyota Prius
- Starting Price: $27,450.
- Fuel Economy: 57 mpg city/56 mpg highway.
2. 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid
- Starting Price: $27,490.
- Fuel Economy: 42 mpg city/44 mpg highway.
3. 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid
- Starting Price: $28,355.
- Fuel Economy: 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway.
4. 2023 Ford Maverick
- Starting Price: $22,595.
- Fuel Economy: 40 mpg city/33 mpg highway.
5. 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
- Starting Price: $24,550.
- Fuel Economy: 53 mpg city/56 mpg highway.
6. 2023 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
- Starting Price: $28,250.
- Fuel Economy: 50 mpg city/54 mpg highway.
7. 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid
- Starting Price: $26,590.
- Fuel Economy: 53 mpg city/45 mpg highway.
8. 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- Starting Price: $22,800.
- Fuel Economy: 53 mpg city/46 mpg highway.
9. 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
- Starting Price: $27,970.
- Fuel Economy: 45 mpg city/38 mpg highway.
How Do You Protect Your New Car’s Paint?
Best Protection Option: Paint Protection Film
Paint protection film, also known as PPF or clear bra, is a flexible but durable polyurethane film that is applied to the painted surfaces of the vehicle.
We use the Xpel Ultimate Plus line of ppf, which has a 10-year warranty against cracking, peeling, fading, and yellowing in addition to the long warranty, the ppf also has self-healing properties to remove swirl marks from the film’s surface.
Clear bra protects your vehicle from rock chips and other impact-related damage that can occur with everyday driving. Making it the ultimate way of protecting your paint.
If you’re a commuter doing a lot of driving, live in an area where a lot of construction is going on or there is a lot of debris in the roads, you care about not getting rock chips, your vehicle maintaining its look and finish matters, or you want to keep the paint in good condition for when you plan to sell it, then paint protection film is the right option.
There are generally two finish options when it comes to clear bra, satin or gloss. The gloss clear bra will not affect the look of your vehicle. A satin clear bra will turn the color of the vehicle to a satin, or semi-gloss, finish. So if your vehicle is a gloss pearl white, then wrapping it in a satin clear bra will make it satin pearl white.
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Second Best Protection Option: Ceramic Coating
The ceramic coating utilizes nanotechnology to provide a completely invisible layer of protection. Nanoparticles, when applied to the surface, seal all the pores in the clear coat making the surface stronger, hydrophobic, and UV resistant.
All while making the surface more resistant to swirl marks, etching, and water spots. The nano-coating forms a semi-permanent bond with the surface of your vehicle’s paint, resulting in a “sacrificial” layer over the factory paint.
So if the car does need some kind of paint correction you would be working on the ceramic coating and not your vehicle’s clear coat. Ceramic coating provides protection from contaminants as well as providing a deeply shiny, and glossy finish to your vehicle by bonding to the clear.
These products are called permanent because they can be removed only through polishing or lack of maintenance.
Learn more about the Benefits of Ceramic Coat here!
Keep Your Interior Cooler and Protected From UV Damage: Window Tinting
Ceramic window tint can offer more benefits than just darkening your windows. It also offers UV rejection, up to 62% depending on the shade(s) chosen.