Have you ever wondered what car or platform offers the lowest maintenance costs in the long run? It’s a hot topic in the car world, and while some say it goes to electric vehicles (EVs) due to the platform being mechanically simpler than your traditional non-electric cars (ICE), others disagree and say it goes to ICE vehicles. While that’s an entirely different discussion, today, you’ll find out which hybrid (HEV) takes home the win for being the most cost-effective in maintenance costs.
Hybrids are some of the most sought-after vehicles on the market and have been on the rise in sales compared to their electrified counterparts (plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles). This makes sense, with some of the leading brands consisting of Toyota, Lexus, Kia, and Hyundai. Stereotypes are typically negative, but one positive stereotype that hybrids get is that they’re quite reliable compared to other vehicle types. Realistically, you can’t be reliable without keeping maintenance or repairs down, and while many hybrids do just that, there’s one that does it the best.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA and Edmunds.
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The 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Offers The Lowest Maintenance Costs
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid offers the lowest five-year maintenance costs out of all 2025 hybrids. That’s quite a feat, and it nearly leaps ahead of all other competition. As mentioned above, Hyundai is one of the leading car brands in the design and engineering of hybrids, and over time, it has cemented itself as one of the leading hybrid automotive manufacturers. Not only does Hyundai deal with HEVs, but they also offer incredible plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and EVs. As you’ve probably noticed throughout the last two years, electrified vehicles are here to stay, but if you’re not on board with charging a car or want efficient powertrains that still feel like a traditional ICE car, your best bet is to test drive a hybrid.
You Can Expect To Pay $3,316 On Maintenance After Five Years
It only seems right to explore the maintenance costs on the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, because if someone were to make a claim that it’s the most cost-effective in the maintenance category, you should probably go straight in with concrete evidence. Edmunds provides extensive data on a variety of ownership costs, and estimates that you’ll spend around $3,316 on maintenance after five years. If you aren’t acquainted with or know anything about vehicle maintenance, that’s almost as low as it goes.
2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 5-Year Maintenance Costs
|
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Total |
|
|
Maintenance |
$44 |
$200 |
$490 |
$1,093 |
$1,489 |
$3,316 |
|---|
So, what is maintenance, and what can you expect from these expenses? There’s a misconception that maintenance is the same thing as a repair and that both are almost seen as surprises. An example of this is when you’re driving down the road, and your tire pops or debeads. If you were to go get that fixed, that would be defined as a repair. Maintenance can be seen as a process that prevents future repairs. This is where the term “preventative maintenance” stems from. An example is taking your car in to get oil, which lubricates the engine to run smoothly. You can skip over maintenance, and you’ll pay for it, quite literally, but overall, you’re just trying to keep your vehicle in good condition for it to run well and prevent future repairs.
What Other Ownership Costs Look Like On The Elantra Hybrid
While the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid does well in maintenance, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is perfect in other categories. Ironically, though, it ends up doing incredibly well in all the fields you would want it to in terms of ownership costs, and it looks to be one of the most cost-effective hybrids you can buy.
For starters, you can skip over insurance, taxes and fees, and financing. While they’re crucial to the overall costs and estimates, it’s important to know that they are more prone to changing or varying based on the owner. This doesn’t mean they aren’t accurate or shouldn’t be added to the overall ownership costs; rather, it allows you to get a better idea of what the five-year ownership costs will look like with all of them combined.
2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid 5-Year Ownership Costs
|
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Total |
|
|
Insurance |
$681 |
$705 |
$730 |
$755 |
$781 |
$3,652 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maintenance |
$44 |
$200 |
$490 |
$1,093 |
$1,489 |
$3,316 |
|
Repairs |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$583 |
$583 |
|
Taxes & Fees |
$2,004 |
$255 |
$227 |
$198 |
$170 |
$2,854 |
|
Financing |
$2,014 |
$1,630 |
$1,216 |
$765 |
$279 |
$5,904 |
|
Depreciation |
$7,222 |
$1,604 |
$1,517 |
$1,780 |
$1,685 |
$13,808 |
|
Fuel |
$969 |
$998 |
$1,028 |
$1,059 |
$1,091 |
$5,145 |
|
True Cost to Own |
$12,934 |
$5,392 |
$5,208 |
$5,650 |
$6,078 |
$35,262 |
The areas that you will want to pay attention to are maintenance, repairs, depreciation, and fuel costs. With maintenance out of the way and fuel costs coming up in a bit, repairs and depreciation are what’s left. Edmunds estimates that you won’t have to spend any money on repairs during the first four years of owning the car. That’s impressive, and in the fifth year, you can expect to pay around $583 for repairs.
While $583 might seem like a lot for just one year, take it as you’ve only spent nearly $600 on repairs during the first five years. The second area is depreciation, and this is where most of the money goes. You’re not technically spending money; instead, you’re losing it. After five years, you can expect the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid to lose $13,808 of its value.
The 2025 Elantra Hybrid Costs $35,300 To Own After Five Years
Edmunds estimates that the first year will be the most expensive, totaling $12,934. For the following years, years two, three, and four stayed in the $5,000 range. At the five-year mark, it’s the second most expensive year, totaling $6,078. Adding up all ownership costs, the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is projected to cost $35,262 after five years.
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How The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Stacks Up Against Its Competition
The automotive industry is one of the most competitive fields, and that’s very true for the hybrid industry. As mentioned, you have dominating players such as Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and plenty more that have been in the game since the early 2000s. Brands like Toyota are constantly setting the norms and raising the bar high in areas such as fuel efficiency and affordability. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid may have a lead regarding its maintenance costs, but its competition doesn’t trail too far behind.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Versus Other Hybrid Maintenance Costs
|
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Total |
|
|
2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid |
$44 |
$200 |
$490 |
$1,093 |
$1,489 |
$3,316 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2025 Honda Accord Hybrid |
$72 |
$593 |
$432 |
$988 |
$2,003 |
$4,088 |
|
2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid |
$85 |
$454 |
$447 |
$915 |
$1,927 |
$3,828 |
|
2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid |
$43 |
$176 |
$392 |
$993 |
$1,957 |
$3,561 |
Honda Accord Hybrid
The 2025 Honda Accord Hybrid is another hybrid sedan that keeps its maintenance costs low at a five-year $4,088 price. Honda currently offers three hybrids, the Accord, Civic, and CR-V, and is competitive in many areas, such as efficiency and affordability. There isn’t too much data on the Civic Hybrid and its maintenance costs, but since both the Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid share almost identical fuel economies, it’s likely the Civic Hybrid would sit amonst these cars in terms of its maintenance costs.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
As you can expect, Toyota offers a wide range of hybrids that fit the bill for low maintenance costs, both with their cars and SUVs. The model that ranks best for lowest maintenance costs is the 2025 Corolla Hybrid. You can expect to pay $3,823 after five years. Compared to the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, the Corolla Hybrid costs $512 more in maintenance.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Hyundai seems to have the formula for engineering top-notch hybrids because the Elantra Hybrid’s sibling is the closest competitor. The 2025 Sonata Hybrid is the second and last hybrid sedan Hyundai offers, providing more features, space, and a larger price tag. When it comes to its maintenance costs, the 2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is expected to cost $3,561 after five years. This is $245 more than the 2025 Elantra Hybrid.
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The Elantra Hybrid Starts At $25,450
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid seems to be cost-effective all around, and the cherry on top is that it is one of the most affordable hybrids you can buy. Hyundai starts the Elantra Hybrid out at $25,450 for the Blue trim. The Blue trim is also the most efficient trim, which you’ll see in a second, and showcases the base standard features.
2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Trims And Prices
|
Blue |
$25,450 |
|
SEL Sport |
$27,425 |
|
Limited |
$29,800 |
The SEL Sport is the middle trim, with an MSRP of $27,425, and tacks on more standard features centered around comfort, convenience, and tech. If you’re looking for the trim that elevates the exterior and interior to a higher degree, that goes to the Limited, which raises its price tag to $29,800. This trim comes equipped with all the bells and whistles and is perfect for people who want all the add-ons a trim can offer.
The Hybrid Sedan With The Highest Fuel-Cost Savings
So far, you’ve covered the maintenance costs of both the Elantra Hybrid and its competitors, as well as its overall ownership costs. The last area to look at is its efficiency and fuel costs. The Elantra Hybrid Blue is the most efficient, offering 51 MPG in the city, 58 MPG on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 54 MPG. For the rest of the trims, you’ll get 49 MPG in the city, 52 MPG on the highway, and 50 MPG combined.
Lastly, both driving ranges on the Elantra Hybrid are just as impressive, with the Blue offering 594 miles while the SEL Sport and Limited offer 550 miles. The Elantra Hybrid Blue may have the edge over its other trims regarding efficiency and range, but all three trims nail both categories compared to its competitors.
2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Fuel Economy, Range, And Costs
|
Elantra Hybrid Blue |
Elantra Hybrid |
|
|
Fuel Economy (City) |
51 MPG |
49 MPG |
|
Fuel Economy (Highway) |
58 MPG |
52 MPG |
|
Fuel Economy (Combined) |
54 MPG |
50 MPG |
|
Range |
594 Miles |
550 Miles |
|
You Save |
$4,250 |
$4,000 |
|
Annual Fuel Cost |
$900 |
$950 |
|
Cost To Drive 25 Miles |
$1.50 |
$1.62 |
|
Cost To Fill The Tank |
$36 |
$36 |
|
Tank Size |
11.0 Gallons |
11.0 Gallons |
The fuel costs are the last expenses to look at, and for those who like spoilers, the Elantra Hybrid ends up being cost-effective in all categories. You can expect the 2025 Elantra Hybrid to cost $900 to $950 for its annual fuel cost. If you were to drive 25 miles, it would cost around $1.50 to $1.62. Lastly, with its 11-gallon fuel tank, it costs $36 to fill it up from empty to full.
A Breakdown Of Hyundai’s Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Powertrain
Many ownership costs revolve around the powertrain, and it would be a disgrace not to pop the hood and see what you’re dealing with. The 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder hybrid, delivering 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It may not be the most thrilling hybrid in terms of performance, but it does have one mechanical system that many sports cars utilize.
2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Performance Specifications
|
Powetrain |
1.6-liter Inline Four-Cylinder Hybrid Engine |
|
Horsepower |
139 HP |
|
Torque |
195 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
6-Speed Dual Clutch Automatic |
|
Driveline |
Front-Wheel Drive |
The Elantra Hybrid is one of the few non-sports cars with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). This transmission type is used in vehicles such as the Nissan R35 GTR or the Ford Mustang GT500. For its drivetrain, it’s only available in front-wheel drive.
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The Hybrid Sedan That Takes “Cost-Effective” To Another Level
It may not get any more cost-effective than the 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. Of course, some models may do better in other areas, but overall, the Elantra Hybrid makes a compelling case for being the hybrid to save you the most money after five years. On top of this, all three trims stay below $30,000. If you’re thinking that Hyundai skimped out on features or the interior or exterior is lacking in the design department, that isn’t the case. The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is a hidden gem and the perfect hybrid sedan for people looking to save money in the long run.
