EV vs Hybrid compared: Which makes for a better buy in today's times

I have not compared subjective things like ride quality, build quality, looks, After Sales service etc.

BHPian ferrarirules recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

With the falling EV prices and tax benefits still in place (5% GST + '0' or less Road tax in most states). I was trying to see how do EVs compare to Hybrids today.

I picked all 4+m cars (One exception - Explained later) that are available in Hybrid or EV avatar.

Following is the pick of cars:

• MG ZS EV - Excite or Exclusive
• XUV 400 - EL PRO - 39.4 KW
• Hyundai Kona - Premium
• Tata Nexon - Empowered Plus LR
• Toyota Hyryder - V Hybrid
• Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara - Alpha Plus Hybrid

Price comparison of all the cars:

Below is my take on EVs vs Hybrids based on the price and features analysis:

XUV400 EL Prod 39.4 KW:

It has come a long way since the launch. It just misses on one crucial EV feature selectable regen.

Savings over an hybrid - Rs. 4.5 lakh

Additional features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Dual Zone Climate control
• Decent boot space. Battery doesn't eat into the boot.
• 10 inch Instrument cluster and 10 inch infotainment system

Missing features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Panoramic sunroof
• 360 camera

Detailed review (Mahindra XUV400 EV Review)

Tata Nexon - Empowered Plus LR:

The car is a sub 4-m car but it punches above its weight. It is a feature and tech loaded car.

Savings over an hybrid - Rs. 2 lakh

Additional features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Decent boot space. Battery doesn't eat into the boot.
• 10 inch Instrument cluster and 12 inch infotainment system
• EPB and Auto hold

Missing features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Panoramic sunroof
• Space is cramped due to raised floor (Not a feature but a big problem for taller people)

Detailed Review (2023 Tata Nexon.EV Review)

MG ZS EV - Excite and Exclusive:

MG was long constrained due to lack of investment (govt policies). Investment from JSW group has brought about a new push. The new competitive pricing is a reflection of the same.

Coming to MG ZS EV has the best battery size available in the segment today.

Model - Excite

Savings over an hybrid - Rs. 2 lakh

Additional features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Decent boot space. Battery doesn't eat into the boot.
• 10 inch infotainment system
• EPB and Auto hold

Missing features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Sunroof
• Wireless Phone charger
• Leatherette seats
• 360 camera
• Ventilated Seats

Model - Exclusive

Additional Cost over an hybrid - Rs. 2 lakh

Additional features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Decent boot space. Battery doesn't eat into the boot.
• 10 inch infotainment system
• EPB and Auto hold

Missing features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Ventilated Seats

Detailed Review (2022 MG ZS EV Facelift Review)

Hyundai Kona - Premium:

This was the first proper EV in the country launched in 2019. Still it holds relevance in the market shows, how advanced it was for its time. Hyundai needs to update it to the global model.

There are unofficial discounts upto 4 lakhs running on Kona. The below comparison is based on the declared ex-showroom price.

Additional Cost over an hybrid - Rs. 2 lakh

Additional features compared to the hybrid cars:

Decent boot space. Battery doesn't eat into the boot.

EPB and Auto hold

Heated Seats

Missing features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Smaller Infotainment display (7 inch)
• Panoramic Sunroof

Detailed Review (Hyundai Kona : Official Review)

Toyota Hyryder - V Hybrid:

India finally got proper hybrid cars in 2022. Hyryder is a competent car and toyota is known for its reliability and fuss free ownership

Additional features compared to the EV cars:

• Panoramic Sunroof
• HUD

Missing features compared to the EV cars:

• Smaller Infotainment display (9 inch)
• Smaller Instrument cluster display (7 inch)
• EPB and Auto hold
• Smaller boot (Battery taking up boot space)

Detailed Review (Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Review)

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara - Alpha Plus Hybrid:

The car is similar to Toyota Hyryder, thanks to Toyota-Suzuki partnership. It is just about the badge when picking either of the car.

Additional features compared to the EV cars:

• Panoramic Sunroof
• HUD

Missing features compared to the hybrid cars:

• Smaller Infotainment display (9 inch)
• Smaller Instrument cluster display (7 inch)
• EPB and Auto hold
• Smaller boot (Battery taking up boot space)

Assumptions:

• Took 24 kmpl average for a hybrid car
• Took electricity rate at Rs. 8 per unit.

My thoughts - If you have heavy city usage and do occasional outstation trips, EVs are an better bet today from pure economics standpoint.

Based on this comparison, what will you buy today?

Disclaimers:

• This is not a EV vs Hybrid and their pros and cons discussion. This thread is more about "bang for one's buck"
• This is not a discussion about govt policies - how EVs are taxed lesser than hybrids.
• I have not compared subjective things like ride quality, build quality, looks, After Sales service etc. as that depends on person to person liking and experience.
• I have not included Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun and Honda Elevate as there is no hybrid version.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

The choice of hybrids is way too limited today and that's only because of Toyota's lethargy. It's a technology that was available even 20 years ago, but well, that's Toyota India for you. Today, there is a far greater choice in EVs which is a far newer tech.

In terms of tech, whether hybrid or EV really depends on your running pattern & whether you have provision for even a basic 15A home charger (home charger is a MUST for EVs).

Leaving the tech aside, if we look at the kind of models available, I find the Grand Vitara / Hyryder to be very uninspiring, boring to drive, average quality interiors & an unrefined drive (Honda City Hybrid is far superior). The kind of EVs we have today blow the Maruti-Toyota twins away in terms of product competency. Where the Maruti-Toyota siblings are boring, the competing EVs are fun!

Here's what BHPian sumeethaldankar had to say on the matter:

If one has a spare gas powered car than going for an EV is a good idea as once you the hit highway for a long drive the range anxiety will kick in. If one can have only one car than as far as today is concerned getting a hybrid makes more sense. The Honda's hybrid City claims to get ~20 kmpl something in city traffic which in my books makes it a great buy. I voted for the Toyota though.

Here's what BHPian Sreshth_EV had to say on the matter:

Disclaimer : Already own the Nexon EV prime since Nov21 (21k km done)

My preference would obviously be EV because my running is high enough to justify EV premium but not high enough to justify hybrid premium. For my own calculations, my EV breaks even with Nexon diesel in 4y at around 40K km The same for hybrid will be in excess of 120K km.

I also have home solar so anything without a plug is inherently costlier to me.

So it would only make sense to use hybrid in my case if running is exclusively on highway trips longer than 200km on daily basis. I doubt many people fall in this category, including me.

Hybrid is worst for low city use because you’ll probably never recover the premium spent, at least 100km per day in city is needed. EV can breakeven in half of that distance ie 50km per day.

Assuming two ev’s and hybrids cost same (say 25L) then owing to lesser recurring costs (charging and service is still cheaper than fuel + service) the EV will always be cheaper and you can never break even on hybrid vs EV.

This can be represented by a simple linear equation y = mx + C, C being fixed cost (purchase) and M being the cost/km, X being distance driven and y being the total expense

As simple math tells us, the slope (m) for EV is less steep than hybrid, thus there would be no point in the graph where there is an intersection point between the two linear equations.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.