I’m on the fence about Hybrids now. Past generation Priuses were over-engineered marvels but it can’t be said today. Toyota’s Hybrid reputation was built on top

I’m on the fence about Hybrids now. Past generation Priuses were over-engineered marvels but it can’t be said today. Toyota’s Hybrid reputation was built on top of the Prius so they had to build a lightweight car that would go past 200k miles and then some to show the world that it’s reliable. I own two Priuses so here are my thoughts: My 2nd generation model is going strong at 190k miles even after surviving a cat theft and a cell degenerated. I was able to buy a ebay NiMH cell for $33 and replace one out of 28. But for a long time, I was still able to drive the car around with a degraded battery because it essentially is a Yaris Atkinson engine. Newer hybrids however, are using smaller engines and a Lithium Ion pack. A Li-Ion pack would have degraded quicker in the hot sun where I usually park my car and with more energy cycling. I’m not sure how repairable Li-Ion packs are now and Ebaying for them is a bad idea. The 3rd generation had some refinements done but the car I own has been getting reports that it isn’t as reliable as its predecessor. I don’t have enough miles on mine to give you all a good anecdote. Would I still buy a Toyota Hybrid today? It depends. On a compact car, yes. For Toyota, it was easier to prove you have the right tech on a small compact like a Corolla or Camry. But for larger cars, the jury is still out there as they now offer a Hybrid option for almost every vehicle in their lineup. If my only option was between a turbo or a hybrid, I would get the latter option any day. But I would stay away from large SUVs and people haulers with small engines—which is harder to do these days because of emissions standards. The power split device (hybrid synergy drive) has been absolutely reliable. That type of transmission alone is actually worth the Hybrid option and more of the reason why Toyotas can get to 200k miles trouble-free, not merely the engine. When someone says ‘Toyota Hybrid’, it’s really the transmission that deserves the accolades. The transmission is actually is what breaks before engines in most cars. Toyota has this one figured out unlike most other car manufacturers. Toyota engines don’t die by going out with a bang like other cars. But, it’ll start burning motor oil with fuel and damage your catalytic converter. For most consumers, that’s good enough for reliability. People consider it totally acceptable that a smog technician tells you that your car cannot be driven over a mechanic.