Five Used Hybrid Cars To Consider Steering Clear Of Page 2
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2005-2007 Honda Accord Hybrid
Though we haven't been able to track down the ad, the Honda Accord Hybrid was reputedly marketed with the tagline, "Sips Gas. Hauls Ass."
It was, in other words, a performance hybrid--the only time Honda has fitted its Integrated Motor Assist mild-hybrid system to a 3.0-liter V-6 engine, rather than 1.5-liter (or smaller) fours.
The notion of a performance hybrid proved deeply confusing to the market, since the success of the second-generation Toyota Prius had firmly defined "hybrid" as "fuel-efficient."
After a burst of initial interest, sales of the Accord Hybrid waned significantly, and it was finally withdrawn after three model years and total sales of 28,500 cars.
Its gas mileage, at a combined 25 mpg, was about 20 percent better than the non-hybrid V-6 model's 21 mpg. But the mild-hybrid system didn't let the Accord Hybrid travel only on electric power, so that piece of the hybrid experience was lost.
Honda has made almost 1 million mild hybrids to date, all but the Accord Hybrid being high-mileage compacts or subcompacts.
The Accord Hybrid's role turns out to be serving as a case study of the fact that niche vehicles sometimes simply never find their market.
2007 Saturn Vue Green Line, 2008-2009 Saturn Vue Hybrid,
Finally, we come to three different hybrid models from GM's now-defunct Saturn brand.
The one-year 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line was the first vehicle to receive the mild-hybrid Belt-Alternator-Starter system, which GM proudly pointed out made it the highest-mileage sport-utility on the market for 2007--at a combined 26 mpg.
The BAS hybrid system restarted the 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine after the car came to a stop, added electric torque to the engine output, and acted as a generator to recharge the battery pack under braking.
But the system was rough, with shuddering when the engine switched on or the electric motor kicked in, which made the "Green Line" Saturns slightly unnerving to drive.
And a 2008 recall of the first 7,000 nickel-metal-hydride battery packs used in BAS-equipped cars probably sealed the system's fate, given the collapse of the auto market later that year and the subsequent bankruptcies and restructuring of GM (and also Chrysler) in the U.S.
Over a short three years, three Saturns were offered with the BAS system: the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line compact crossover, its all-new replacement for 2008-2009--first called the Saturn Vue Green Line as well, then changed to Vue Hybrid--and also the 2008-2009 Saturn Aura Green Line sedan.
The same first-generation BAS system was also used in the 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid (see above).
With an orphaned brand, a recalled high-voltage battery pack, unpleasant driving characteristics, and gas mileage ratings not all that much better than non-hybrid variants, the hybrid Saturns had a rough row to hoe.
Sales of less than 10,000 over three model years testified to their lack of appeal--and we suspect the same may apply when they show up on used-car lots.
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We certainly wouldn't classify the Volt as a hybrid; it's a plug-in vehicle, or extended-range electric car. But please elucidate ...
The Volt should be on the list of "Used Hybrids to steer clear of" because well......where shall I start.
It's not a Hybrid for the faint of heart to own especially when it comes time for service save for maybe a simple oil chance. In fact this is my main beef with all EV's and Hybrids......the owner has very little recourse but to deal with the dealer when it comes to maintenance. I thought most people wanted to stay away from dealers for maintenance because of high shop rates and expensive parts replacement save for warranty work?
May I suggest a model T.
The Nissan Frontier has been pretty much trouble free and at less than 10k miles a year it should outlive me :-)
The Honda should be good for another 3-5 years. At least that is what the plan is.
PS No model T because no room in the garage :-)
Let's not overgeneralize here. Not all hybrids are the same. The Toyota Prius for instance requires LESS maintenance than a normal car.
The Prius transmission has all of 27 moving parts, no CVT belts, no clutches, no torque converter, no gear-shifting wear-and-tear. As long as the transaxle fluid is changed every 60K miles, the Prius transmission would last practically forever (unlike your Honda's transmission).
And the Prius uses regen braking. It is not unusual to see a Prius with 150,000 miles on the odometers and still on its original set of brake pads.
Do some research and read up on how the Prius drivetrain works. It is truly a marvel of reliable simplicity (contrary to popular belief that it's "more complex than a normal car").
Mechanically sound vehicle. Gas mileage on the highway is better than that of a 4-cyl., mixed driving matches the 4-cyl., performance of a 6-cyl., mbe smaller trunk space... Oh well. Maybe the article should say "if efficiency is not you primary goal of buying a vehicle then here are hybrids that efficiency is not their primary goal." Otherwise, I say go out and try out these rides, you'll be surprised.
By the way. The official classification for the Volt is PH-EV, Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle, thus making it officially Hybrid vehicle.
By the way hybrid does not always refer to electricity and gasoline. Hybrid hydraulics vehicles, I g2g. Consider the above
While HV battery failure is few and far in-between, past warranty coverage the owner is on his own if something does happen. Personally, I wouldn't buy a used hybrid car with less than 3 years left on its warranty.
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck then it's a duck. Like the AFLIC Duck rumor has it that it's a Hybrid ;-)
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