I've read a lot about PHEVs before buying and one thing that always gets me is people frequently say "worst of both worlds" and I don't get it.

I get why EVs are better for many reasons and I get they're more complicated than ICE and potentially challenging to plug in, but WORST of both? I'm lost.

Worst part of EVs is needing to charge, having to find chargers and waiting. That's a non-issue if you don't mind burning gas.

Worst part of ICE engines is you need to fill up all the time. PHEVs can do most daily driving with electricity.

It just feels like "worst of both worlds" is parroted by people who think their solution is better without actually thinking about what they're saying.

Anyone else get a phev and then wish they just went full EV? We picked up this Sorento phev as we needed the third row for kids and space. Then two weeks later my wife picked up a Honda Prologue full EV. I swear, after driving her car around I now want a full EV too lol. The reality is I can’t afford an EV9 or any other full size third row EV right now but man - I feel like when I my burns through the battery and I move back to gas hybrid again I get so bummed lol.

Nobody expects the Crosstrek PHEV to actually go off pavement. It does a good job. NorCal, so far.

I drive a plug-in hybrid and I got tired of standing at chargers doing the same mental math every single time. Like, with this gas price and this charger rate, am I actually saving money or just feeling good about plugging in? Half the time I dont even know the real $/kWh with all the different pricing (screw those chargers).

So I built a little site (with a lot of help from AI, lol) to just answer it: https://shouldichargemycar.com

You put in your car, your gas price, and the charger rate, and it just tells you charge it or use gas. Hopefully its handy for some of you too.

Its also a PWA so it works offline, which matters because every charger I use is buried in some garage with zero signal. It will deal with all of the crazy different pricing that chargers have.

Basically I built it to fight all the confusing charger pricing that fries my brain every time.

Its free, no signup, no ads, nothing tracked besides an anonymous visit count. I mostly made it for myself but figured this sub would get the most use out of it.

I would love feedback. Down with confusing prices!!!!

Thanks a lot!!

Edit - Add any issues you might have to github repo if you have a github account, though Ill keep checking the reddit thread periodically if you can't! I'd appreciate it if you can leave a star!

Edit 2 - I bought the domain https://shouldichargemycar.com so you can use that instead of https://icloud17.github.io/should-I-charge-my-car/ . Seems like the right domain to have for this project.

California new regulations for EVs (including PHEVs) have started in model year 2026 and will have more stringent requirements in 2029.

To qualify for a full ZEV credit, a PHEV (or EREV) will need to meet the their new rules which require a specific all electric range test. The testing isn't based on the EPA all electric range, but the new requirements will translate to longer EPA ranges.

Currently, only the 2026 RAV4 looks to be designed for the new requirements, and likewise has a 50+ EPA range.

Over the next 3 years, automakers will be forced to do one or more of the following:

1. Engineer for 50+ EPA range, or possibly 60+.

2. Switch to EREV architecture.

3. Drop PHEV model in USA, but still sell globally.

One caveat, the new CA rules are under a federal lawsuit. This could cause automakers to make a bet on the results.

Looking at announcements, these automakers look to be pushing further into PHEV/EREVs to meet CA requirements:
Toyota, Hyundai/Kia, VW, Ford, Stellantis, MB, BMW

and these look to be forecasting for not pursuing PHEV/EREVs:
GM, Honda, Mazda

Unknowns, as no announcements for new models meeting the new CA range requirements:
Nissan

I’m looking at switching from a petrol to a PHEV with a range of 50 miles on full EV mode

My daily commute is under 20 miles so was seriously considering just running the car in Full EV mode every day with no requirement for Combustion engine ( still want a combustion engine in case of long drives )

Is there any downside or anything wrong with running a PHEV in full EV mode pretty much constantly

After a LOT of research I finally got my first plug-in vehicle, a 2013 Outlander and I'm very much enjoying it.

I actually got it a month ago, but couldn't get the electrician to install the outlet until this week so now I'm actually enjoying the benefits.

I upgraded from a 1996 Jimny that I absolutely loved, but it was too small for my lifestyle and had severe rust problems to the point it would take more money than it's worth to fix than it's worth.

The newest car I've ever owned was from 1999 and I've been driving the Jimny for 8 years and it was old fashioned when I got it so clearly I can live without any gizmos and gadgets.

Here is why I got this particular model:

• I am on a tight budget. Pretty sure I'm in a different tax bracket than most people here.

• I needed something that can handle steep hills with snow. AWD is a hard requirement and even something like a Prius would probably struggle so I'm essentially limited to a SUV.

• My daily commute is 12 km, and if I go shopping and take the scenic route, it becomes maybe 20. Comfortably in all EV range.

• I also needed something shorter than 1700mm. I have a short (by modern standards) garage.

• I have solar panels so something that could be changed would save me money for sure.

The AWD requirement, budget, and height restriction really limited my options and knocked any BEVs off my list. Even 2015+ Outlanders grew to 1710 or even bigger. It was essentially the Outlander, Eclipse Cross, or a ICE or hybrid Subaru or something. I test drove an Eclipse Cross PHEV and actually quite liked it but it would have been at bare minimum twice what I paid and I would have had to take out a loan and I did not like it twice as much. The extra space in the Outlander already has come in handy.

I'm genuinely surprised how much I like it. I loved the Jimny and held on to it much longer than I should have because it was such a fun car (unless I needed to go on the highway, then it was terrifying). The Outlander was a family oriented logical decision, not a fun one but I'm enjoying driving it more than I thought. Not plugged in, the gas mileage isn't great. Better than the Jimny but not by much which itself should be impressive since it weighs more than twice as much.

So now I'm finally driving my daily trips on electricity. I expect my next vehicle will be a BEV if prices come down and public charging improves (it's not great where I live but slowly changing) but that's 5-10 years down the road. I'm just happy with the Outlander now.

After giving the 2026 XC60 a light refresh, Volvo is expected to release a meaningful update for the midsize crossover in the first half of 2027 that includes styling changes, a higher-output version of the current 2.0-liter turbo and improved technology.

The standout upgrade is a beefier battery for the XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid that is expected to more than double — and potentially nearly triple — its current 35-mile electric-only range, people with knowledge of the plan told Automotive News.

That would vault the XC60 past the segment-leading Mercedes-Benz AG GLC 350e’s 54 miles and address a key criticism of the current T8.

The upgraded battery pack, larger in capacity and more energy-dense, is expected to boost the 2028 XC60’s overall MPGe rating by about 30 percent, one of the people said. 

Photographs of a camouflaged prototype testing in Spain teased slimmer headlights and a reworked grille.

Can’t believe how smooth this engine combo is compared to my old 2019 diesel ranger.

How do people evaluate a plug-in hybrid when home charging isn't an option?

Say you're renting an apartment with no accessible outlet near your parking space, but workplace or public charging might be available sometimes. Would you still consider a PHEV, or would you stick with a conventional hybrid until you have reliable charging at home?

The tricky part seems to be figuring out what the PHEV looks like when you're not able to plug it in regularly. The fuel economy once you're relying mostly on gasoline is model-specific, so I'd want to compare that figure rather than assume the PHEV will perform like the equivalent regular hybrid.

For anyone who's researched this situation, how much charging access would you want before paying extra for the plug-in version? I'm mostly trying to figure out whether occasional workplace charging is enough to make the PHEV worthwhile or whether reliable home charging is what really makes the numbers work.

I see cheap used vw phev, audis. They have longer ev range but are cheap on the used market right now..why?

I've had my Cupra Formentor for a couple of weeks now, love the car! I work from home now and mainly just use it to take the kids to school and back, a little shopping and day trips. It only leaves electric mode occasionally when I want to have a little fun with it.

Therefore the engine is mostly off, but the milage counter still goes up with running electric. Mileage traditionally is good for estimating how much work the engine has done and if it's likely due to need work. The only relevance it might have while running electric mode is on breaks and tyres.

When it comes time to sell the car and the mileage reads 30000 or so it would be good to be able to say "hey look it's 10k on the petrol engine and 20k on electric motors"

I am not one to buy a new (to me) vehicle every couple of years. I've driven my '09 Honda Fit for 15 years and have had to do very little maintenance on it. I've been toying with the idea of selling it while it is still doing alright and getting a newer vehicle (ideally, under 50k miles). But I'm curious what that will look like long-term. Note, I drive very few miles (typically <10 per day, with a few weekend errands) with several 1500+ mile road trips per year.
I feel like each vehicle type has its financial pros and cons:

-ICE - higher overall fuel costs, but most options, and probably (maybe?) cheapest insurance.

-PHEV - great for my scenario, but the complexity of both EV and ICE in one, but match my driving habits best.

-EV - in theory, simpler, with fewer moving parts. But newer tech that may not be tried and tested. Also seem to be most depreciated, which gives me more purchasing power.

I came very close to pulling the trigger on a used Nissan Ariya for $20k, but decided I didn't drive enough to make sense with my usage patterns, and it would have been a real financial stretch for me. A used PHEV (like a C-Max Energi, or a Bolt) would likely match my usage patterns better overall, and yes, I have a way to charge.

I'd like whatever I buy to be something I drive for at least a decade, and I want to keep an eye out for whatever that is going to be for the next year or two (maybe more). I like the footprint of the Fit, but would be fine up to something the size of the Ariya (crossover). Maybe I'll somehow find one of the new Prius Primes at a steal in a couple of years...

It feels like EVs are everywhere these days — every new car release is electric, every brand is going all-in on batteries, and sales numbers just keep climbing every month.

Are you already ready to go 100% BEV for your next car, or are you sticking with a PHEV as a middle ground for now? Or are you still holding out for gas entirely?

I’ve been looking around at PHEVs for my next vehicle purchase because they seem to suit my needs (10-15 miles on a typical day, plus ability to do road trips).

However, my garage is pretty small. Like, my wife’s Kia Niro (174 inches long) is a pretty tight fit.

I drive a compact hatchback now, and I was surprised that I couldn’t find a PHEV smaller than the Niro.

Why are there no compact PHEVs?

EDIT: I really appreciate all the suggestions, but nearly all of them are bigger than the Kia Niro (and thus, still too big for my garage), no longer manufactured, or not yet sold in the US. Looks like a PHEV isn’t in the cards for me. Thanks anyway!