In the last article we looked at whether hybrid cars are
worth the extra sticker price, and whether you really get the best of both
worlds: cost saving while saving the environment. Today we will look at whether
the same conclusion applies in the hybrid SUV category. Just for fun I have
added the Porsche Cayenne S and Hybrid into the mix, not like you would care
about fuel cost if you drove a Porsche but just for entertainment purposes why
not!
Short answer is, NO, it's still not worth it after looking
at the extra MSRP price and its fuel consumption.
As you will see from the chart below in the Net Loss
(Saving) column, you are actually losing thousands of dollars by going with a
hybrid SUV! This is in addition to the sluggish performance of most hybrids. Yes
you can argue that an electric motor has more torque and initial power, but we
also have to keep in mind the extra weight that the battery and hybrid
components add to the vehicle, and what about passing on a highway? Sadly, initial or low-end torque won't matter if you're flying down on the 400-series highway trying to
go from 100km/h to 120km/h to pass another vehicle.
Note: 8 years have been chosen as the comparison time frame because that's how long the warranty is on the battery.
Just for fun I have put in some numbers for the Porsche Cayenne S hybrid. It's only been recently introduced so not much information is available online, even Porsche's website doesn't have warranty info on this vehicle. Looking at the other warranty areas though, it seems to me like it would be combined into other warranty areas for now, so likely around 4 years of coverage is my estimate. Looking at the partial figures in the chart above, you can already assume you won't save enough to cover the extra costs. However, like I mentioned earlier I don't think you would worry about fuel costs if you are driving a Porsche Cayenne S!
So there you have it, it's not worth it. Originally I
thought maybe the electric motor can save a lot of the engine's work (and
thereby fuel) given how electric motors have much more instant torque than a
gasoline engine, and we know that torque matters the most in a heavy vehicle
like an SUV. Turns out you lose even MORE money buying a hybrid SUV due to the
upfront price difference between hybrid and non-hybrid. Although relative to
the sedans, SUV hybrids do save more fuel over 6 to 8 years.
I must say however, the new Porsche Cayenne S looks stunning!
-TT
