Marie lives in Seattle and after years of driving “hand me down” rides, she can finally treat herself to something nice. She wants a hybrid because her commute is long, it has to have a good stereo and needs to be somewhat stylish. With a budget up to $40,000, what car should she buy?
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Here is the scenario.
Two major things happened to me last year: I got a major promotion 65 miles from home, and the car I was driving finally bit it. I work from home full-time for now (fun fact: I never got to even sign my paperwork in person, since my first day was when we went into lockdown), but I’m going to need a car at some point because my entire family lives down near my new office. I’ve never bought a car before — I drove a 2000 Hyundai Accent GL 4-door that my parents financed in their name for 15 years before it gave out, and then “borrowed” my parents’ 2003 Honda Odyssey until that died. Now that I’ve got this promotion and am making enough to have built up savings and repair my credit, I feel like it’s time for me to embrace this newfound sense of responsibility and actually buy a car on my own. (I can’t say I like it, though.)
First off, I want a hybrid. I’m more reluctant on EVs, but I don’t know jack about cars so if it has great acceleration, I’m interested. There are days when I’m going to miss the train and need to drive the whole way down. That’s going to get expensive over time.
I want something that’ll keep me comfortable, but also be fun to drive. It’s got to have great sound — the stereo broke on both of my last cars and I really want to enjoy driving to music again.
Most of all, I want it to look cool. I drove a minivan, and every time someone would see me get out of it, their first comment was always “I never pictured you driving a minivan.” That cuts deep. I’m not a fan of the new Prius, and absolutely no Teslas
As for the budget I can spend up to $40,000
Quick Facts:
Budget: up to $40,000
Location: Seattle, WA
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Hybrid, stylish, good stereo
Doesn’t want: A Prius or a Tesla
Expert 1: Tom McParland - Fun And Frugal
There was a time when anything hybrid was a bit mutually exclusive from being enjoyable to drive. Now that more brands have embraced using batteries to both reduce fuel costs but also improve performance there are many models that offer the best of both worlds of keeping your MPGs on the higher side but also giving you a little more punch when passing.
Naturally, most folks are going to think of your choices from Honda or Toyota, but if you are looking for something different with a bit more flare, check out the Mini Cooper Countryman Plug-In Hybrid. Honestly, this is a car I forgot even existed with a hybrid option, but you get all the fun and style of a Mini with the added bonus of some pure electric range and boosted fuel economy.
While this is a Plug-In hybrid, the dirty secret to these cars is that a lot of owners never actually plug them in and just drive around using the hybrid part, but if you did have the ability to charge it you would get about 20 miles of pure EV range, which would work great for those around town trips. This 2023 model with the correct color combo of British Racing Green and brown seats is a loaded example with the “premium stereo” option.
Expert 2: Collin Woodard - In The Lap Of Luxury
After all that minivan slander, you’re lucky we’re still willing to help you, Marie. Doesn’t look cool? Pffft. Could any of your friends’ cars seat six adults comfortably and also hold all their luggage on a fun road trip? No, they could not, and the fact that your car could is pretty darn cool to me. Still, I’m a nice person, and I’m going to choose to be the bigger person here.
So you want a stylish hybrid with a good stereo. OK, we can work with that. I don’t know what you consider stylish, but considering the cars you’re used to driving, I have a feeling pretty much any new-ish car is going to sound better than whatever you had in a two-decade-old minivan. Especially if we go the luxury route, and with $40,000 to spend, you better believe we’re going luxury.
Specifically, we’re going with the BMW X5. It may take a minute to learn where all the controls are in a car with a fancy touchscreen, but the X5 will be quiet, comfortable, well-built, quick and just a great all-around vehicle. Plus, while luxury cars don’t have the best reputation for reliability, newer X5s are actually quite reliable. In fact, even Consumer Reports recommends it, and they’re famously harsh on most luxury brands.
Here’s a 2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e, which is the hybrid version, with 57,000 miles on it for a mere $40,989. That’s a lot of miles for a car that’s only a few years old, but they’re probably highway miles, so that’s no big deal. And since it’s a plug-in hybrid, you’ll be able to do short trips without even needing to turn on the engine. It’s like owning an electric car and a gas car at the same time. It’s basically a win-win.
Expert 3: Bradley Brownell - An Actually Good PHEV
If you want to look stylish and still have some semblance of practicality, the modern businessperson gets a hybrid Porsche. Not only does the Cayenne E-Hybrid really have the shove with 456 horsepower available from a 3-liter V6 engine and an electric motor system, but it can go about 27 miles on a charge. You can do all of your errand-running and get to the train and back without burning a lick of gasoline, but the engine is there when you need it for your long commute. I love my Cayenne and I love my plug-in hybrid, but getting both in the same package is the best combination.
This particular example is a Platinum Edition, so it comes with blacked out exterior trim for extra style points, and a nicer appointment interior with a high-quality Bose stereo. It’s comfortable, luxurious, and can use little to no gas if charged up regularly. You can flex a little without spending a fortune on fuel. Get the Cayenne, you’ll love it. It’s well within your budget at $37,000 and the odometer only has 38,500 miles on it. A bargain at twice the price!
Expert 4: Amber DaSilva - A Hybrid With Style
Marie, let’s be honest with ourselves here. Your priorities are style and fuel economy, you’re not looking for a blobby old Porsche or a midsize BMW crossover. You want fashion, and I’m here to give you the best looks that Scandinavian minimalism can offer: The Volvo S60 Recharge.
The S60's looks are incontrovertible class, just look at those headlights! The tail lights! The body lines! This is just about the most style you can get with electric power for under $40,000. No crossover can hold a candle. You also talked about wanting acceleration, and the S60 Recharge his 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds.
Here’s an example out in Bellvue for $38,000, with 41 miles of electric range to save you on those long commutes. It’s the fashion, the fuel economy, and the fast-ness you want. Look, I had a whole F thing going, and “speed” or “acceleration” didn’t fit.