WIRED's Guide to Buying a Used Plug-In Hybrid

WIRED

2 days ago

Aug 16, 2025 6:00 AM Right now is a great time to get a used plug-in hybrid car. Here's what to know about PHEVs before plonking down that cash. An MG HS plug-in hybrid SUV. Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Photograph:With sales growth lagging, it's a weird time in the electric vehicles market. It's also, oddly enough, a good time to experiment with the plug.
The Donald Trump administration put the kibosh on several US federal policies aimed at boosting the development, production, and purchase of new-energy vehicles. Still, $4,000 tax credits for used battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids are available for qualified vehicles and buyers (more on that later) until the end of September.
If you want to take advantage of this incentive, you should know that used plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, are unique beasts. They're complicated vehicles, engineering-wise, containing both internal combustion engines and electric motors, and using two power sources—electricity and gasoline—to go. There's also a bunch of variation in the plug-in hybrid world. So there are tricks to picking out the best used one. WIRED asked car experts what to think about if you're going after a used PHEV.
Shopping for a full electric? Check out our guide to buying the best used EV. Know Your Terms
If you're after a plug-in hybrid, make sure first that you're getting the right sort of technology. Plain, old hybrid vehicles, sometimes called HEVs, also come with gas engines plus electric motors. But plug-in hybrids come with bigger electric batteries that can be plugged in and charged. Generally, that means that PHEVs drive on electricity until their batteries are depleted, at which point the gas engine kicks in.
Though PHEVs by definition go both ways, some are more battery-powered than others. First, older PHEV models have very limited electric ranges. Those made before 2019 tend to get less than 17 miles of range per charge, and some closer to 10 miles. Also, some plug-ins are more 'gas-biased' than others, which matters if your goal is to save on fueling. The Ford Escape PHEVs' gas engine comes on when you accelerate or turn on the air-conditioning. The Kia Sorento's heat system is powered by gas. Other models tend to tap into gas when they're hauling heavier loads. These biases can change between model years. Investigate the details of your specific used PHEV before deciding on a purchase.
As opposed to full battery-electric cars, PHEVs can't charge at 'fast chargers,' the sort you'll often find off highways, which can top up a car in around 30 minutes. Instead, PHEVs rely on standard 120-volt wall outlets, which can usually charge up a plug-in hybrid's electric battery overnight, or faster 'level 2' charging. Know Your Life
Picking a used PHEV—or knowing if a used PHEV is for you, period—will require thinking about whether one can fit into your life. Lots of people think of plug-ins as EV-lites, a gateway drug to the battery-powered car. But that's not quite right, says Joseph Yoon, the head of consumer insights at Edmunds. Those who want to save money on gas need to make sure that their daily driving is covered by the PHEV's limited battery range, and that they have the ability to charge their car overnight at home, he says. If drivers can't meet those conditions, 'I don't think plug-in hybrids are as practical as people think they are.'
In fact, PHEVs tend to be less gas-efficient than even some of their hybrid gas-powered counterparts. So if you're not able to charge one overnight regularly, it might actually cost you more to fuel. Consider a used hybrid instead.
For those who really want to try a plug and have a slightly bigger budget, it's probably worth considering a newer used one, which can have battery ranges up to 50 miles per charge and tend to switch between electric and gas propulsion more smoothly. Know Your Battery
Just as with full battery-electric vehicles, PHEV batteries can be expensive to replace. The good news is that, just as with full battery-electric vehicles, the PHEV batteries have proven more robust and reliable than automakers once feared. Still, make sure you ask the dealer to provide some kind of battery health test. It's also worth asking how the car was used. If the previous owner tended to forget to plug in their car and drove mostly on gas (really: don't do that), then the battery might be 'newer' and healthier than the car's age or mileage indicates. Know Your Warranty
PHEVs come with the typical bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties you see in gas-powered cars. Most will also come with battery warranties, which can cover up to (though sometimes more than) eight years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first. It's worth calling up the vehicle's automaker to make sure that those warranties are transferable between owners.
Warranty coverage is especially important because PHEVs 'have an awful lot of moving parts,' says Sean Tucker, the lead editor for Kelley Blue Book. A Consumer Reports analysis of internal combustion engine, electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles from the last three model years found that PHEVs have 70 percent more problems than gas-powered or hybrid vehicles. (By contrast, EVs have 42 percent more problems.) Tucker says he would be 'reluctant' to buy off-warranty PHEVs, especially from brands known for reliability issues. Consumer Reports' analysis found the least reliable brands to include Cadillac, Jeep, and Volkswagen; most reliable were Subaru, Lexus, and Toyota. Know Your Mechanic
Because PHEVs are so mechanically tricky, you'll want a thorough understanding of a used one's service record. Make sure your dealer gives you access to that. And remember: Unlike an EV, plug-ins need regular oil, filter, and spark plug changes. Test the Charge
It's worth testing out a used PHEV's charging and connecting cables before you take it home. The vehicles can be powered up using 120-volt and 240-volt chargers. Check both. Check Out Incentives
Until September 30, some used PHEV buyers will have access to US federal tax credit incentives of up to $4,000 or 30 percent of the sale price, whichever is lower. You can find details here, but in short: Qualified vehicles must be priced at or below $25,000, and their batteries must have a capacity of 7 kilowatt-hours or higher (most PHEVs, even older ones, do). Buyers qualify if they've earned less than $150,000 a year filing jointly, or $75,000 as an individual.
Keep in mind, too, that states, cities, and local power utilities sometimes offer their own new-energy-vehicle incentives programs, and some of those apply to plug-ins. Some also have programs to help new battery-powered-car owners install home charging. Do your research, and maybe you'll save.