04-22-2025, 07:29 PM
Car shopping can be stressful and really exhausting.
You can't go wrong with a Prius, plug-in or otherwise. Just get a 2015 or newer because the 2010-2014s had some engine problems that commonly showed up with higher miles.
If you just want a cheap car that you can buy with cash to get you by for a while, you could see what's available in an older generation Toyota Prius (2005-2009). Really, any older Toyota would get you by for a while (hybrid or not).
You could get another Volt or maybe a used Bolt or Bolt EUV. GM also makes a few other EVs now like the Equinox EV or Blazer EV, but those only came out recently so there will be few if any available used. They also have the Cadillac Lyriq EV (Hello, Speedy) that's been around for several years so there should be some used.
If I were going to get a Kia or Hyundai, I'd stick with a pure EV.
Finally, you might recall that I got a Ford C-Max Energi (plug-in hybrid) a while ago and I absolutely love it. The C-Max also is available in a version that is just a regular hybrid (no plug-in) which actually gets a little better mileage than the Energi when the Energi is run on gas only.
The Ford Fusion also comes in both regular hybrid and Energi versions. Both the Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi have a pretty limited range on EV-only at just 20 miles, but it's enough to get you around town without burning any gas.
You can't go wrong with a Prius, plug-in or otherwise. Just get a 2015 or newer because the 2010-2014s had some engine problems that commonly showed up with higher miles.
If you just want a cheap car that you can buy with cash to get you by for a while, you could see what's available in an older generation Toyota Prius (2005-2009). Really, any older Toyota would get you by for a while (hybrid or not).
You could get another Volt or maybe a used Bolt or Bolt EUV. GM also makes a few other EVs now like the Equinox EV or Blazer EV, but those only came out recently so there will be few if any available used. They also have the Cadillac Lyriq EV (Hello, Speedy) that's been around for several years so there should be some used.
If I were going to get a Kia or Hyundai, I'd stick with a pure EV.
Finally, you might recall that I got a Ford C-Max Energi (plug-in hybrid) a while ago and I absolutely love it. The C-Max also is available in a version that is just a regular hybrid (no plug-in) which actually gets a little better mileage than the Energi when the Energi is run on gas only.
The Ford Fusion also comes in both regular hybrid and Energi versions. Both the Fusion Energi and C-Max Energi have a pretty limited range on EV-only at just 20 miles, but it's enough to get you around town without burning any gas.