The typical dilemma when defining the purchase of a car based on the type of fuel has changed in this last period. The classic comparison between a naphtero, one adapted to CNG or a diesel model (which implies a 15% higher outlay) now incorporates another type of vehicles: hybrids, which operate on gasoline and electricity.
This paradigm shift is driven by several factors, the main one being the introduction of vehicles with this motorization combined with the line up of several terminals.
In order to know the differences in price and savings, iProUP carried out a survey of the alternatives that are exhibited in the market, in order to analyze the pocket advantages in case of opting for double motorization models.
Offer and prices
Unlike 2009, when the only hybrid was the Toyota Prius, the current Argentine market has seven models:
- The Toyota Corolla, RAV4 and CH-R
- The Hyundai Ioniq
- The Ford Mondeo and Kuga
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The Mercedes Benz, a plug-in SUV option
The transcendental data is that, little by little, the prices of these versions - before unattainable - shortened the gap with respect to other top-of-the-range with conventional thrusters.
Some examples:
- The Ford Mondeo in the most equipped version, Ecoboost Titanium, is offered at the same value as the Hybrid Vignale (one step up in equipment): Both, at $ 2,177,000
- In the case of the Toyota Corolla, while the naphtera SEL variant is trading at $ 1,920,000, the hybrid implies a similar outlay ($ 2,010,000)
In addition, there are versions that arrived in recent months with a hybrid engine but that have direct competitors that facilitate the task of evaluating which one is more convenient:
- The Toyota RAV4, a medium-sized SUV that arrived in the country in the middle of the year, is now only offered with hybrid engines from $ 41,000 ($ 2.5 million)
- Its eternal rival, the Honda CR-V continues to face it with its conventional gasoline version with a price that starts at $ 59,000 ($ 3.7 million)
For those looking for a compact SUV, Toyota recently launched the new CH-R, a direct competitor of the Honda HR-V and other SUVs that are positioned among boys and mediums, such as Renault Captur or Nissan Kicks.
- The CH-R, combined engine, is priced at $ 37,000 ($ 2.3 million), while the cheaper version of the HR-V, conventional engine, starts at $ 1,300,000 with bonus
- Toyota Prius hybrids (medium-sized car with the latest technology and market pioneers) and the newcomer Hyundai Ioniq are worth $ 37,000 ($ 2.3 million)
- On the sidewalk of the conventional appears the Chevrolet Cruze, the most modern in its segment with a gasoline engine, which does not differ much in value: $ 2 million
This shorter gap was key for customers to start having a different vision when buying.
Consumption
The consumption versus autonomy equation is undoubtedly the criterion that tilts the balance most in favor of hybrid models.
Only when a certain speed is exceeded or the accelerator is depressed thoroughly does the gasoline engine intervene in a greater percentage. This implies that if a driver has a quiet ride around the city, the car can be moved to electricity most of the time.
It is not a minor fact: after the last increase in the price of fuels, filling a medium-sized car tank means disbursing some 3,000 pesos.
In all cases, according to the consumption declared by the brands, a saving close to half is estimated. In other words, while a gasoline engine uses between 9 and 10 liters in a combined route (route and city) every 100km, with the hybrid the average is just 5 liters.
In this way, a fuel tank lasts twice as long, especially when the use of the car is mainly urban. Thus, at low speed and with several braking and accelerated, charge is recovered in the battery and the electric motor is driven more over the naphtero.
Some specific cases are the following:
- Ford Mondeo: the naftero consumes 10 liters per 100km in combined use. Thus, to go from the Obelisk to Zárate (almost 100km) with premium gasoline, $ 615 will be spent. With the hybrid engine, which consumes 5.85 liters per 100km, this amount is reduced to $ 360
- Toyota Corolla: the hybrid version, with a full tank, travels 1,000 km without stopping to recharge. That is, you can go from Buenos Aires to Córdoba (680 km) without stops at service stations and fuel will be left to travel through the Mediterranean province
The only ones that approach autonomously are some of the diesel models that, depending on the way of driving, reach a consumption of 7 liters per 100 kilometers. So:
- The conventional Corolla (which in the new generation premieres engine) declares a consumption of 7.5 liters per 100 km
- Instead, the hybrid variant requires 4 liters to cover the same distance.
- So far, all the Japanese models spent about 9 liters.
Other cases are the Toyota Prius and the Hyundai Ioniq, two medium hatch that are offered only in hybrid version: according to the companies, the first consumes 3.4 liters per 100km, while the second varies between 3.3 and 3.9 liters .
Compared to a gasoline model of the same segment, a reference is the Chevrolet Cruze, the most modern medium in the market. With 1.4 engine, this newcomer to the country achieves a consumption of between 8 and 9 liters per 100 kilometers, average mark of most sedans. The same goes for the Volkswagen Vento.
Operation and service
To take full advantage of one of these vehicles, it is necessary to know how a hybrid car works: in addition to having a gasoline engine they have another electric powered by a pack of high voltage batteries (lithium ion) that, in general, are on the floor of the trunk. Between them they generate a power with greater torque than another model.
Does it plug in? No. The battery pack is regenerated when the gasoline engine is activated (exceeding 50 km / h) or the brake is applied. As it is already a trend, there is no manual box, but an automatic one.
This section is where another advantage of hybrids appears. Having a smaller gasoline engine, they have fewer parts, synonymous with less friction. That generates less heat and pollution and the parts wear less.
This combination translates into an after-sales service in which the replacement of spare parts is more accessible. In addition, the battery is guaranteed for 8 years. While there is no record of how long they last, everything indicates that there will be lower long-term costs.
Tariffs and patents
Those who target hybrid or electric motor models should know that they are exempt from the extra-zone import tax (35%). This is one of the first benefits that the previous government decreed to encourage more users to get into environmentally friendly vehicles.
This means that those units that are not manufactured in the Mercosur have a more reasonable price, since they only apply 2% or 5% according to their characteristics and compete in a more balanced way with the conventional ones.
But another incentive was added: the exemption of the payment of patents in Federal Capital and in Neuquén. In other cases, such as Mendoza, the discount is 50%.
The long-term plan is that the same incentives will be applied throughout the country, as it is one of the measures that cooperated with the penetration of these new vehicles in international markets.
What's coming
2019 was a turning point for the automotive industry. At the level of production and sales, an unpublished floor was touched, with falls of 30% in the first case and 40% in the second.
Faced with this reality, companies remained firm in their objectives of joining the global plans to become increasingly sustainable terminals. And despite the worrying context, it was the period in which the largest number of electric and hybrid cars were launched to the market.
At first the expectations around these consumer vehicles seemed numb, but then interest flourished. This was observed in recent months with hybrids and electric: at first, they did not even consult at dealerships and today, after the year, the change in trend attracts attention.
As explained in official dealers, a large number of customers ask about the Toyota Prius and Corolla. The same goes for Ford: the Mondeo was a before and after for the segment with the incorporation of the combined motorized version.
In Nissan, the launch of the Leaf also allowed it to position the brand on a step higher, being the first to offer a passenger vehicle with 100% electric motor. Renault, meanwhile, had done it before with its utility Kangoo ZE.
In these models the savings are much greater than with the hybrids, although the prices of the vehicles are higher. For example, the Leaf, since it was launched in 2019, suffered the impact of the internal tax (now it will change its price again) and that takes it away from the pocket of the people.
All in all, it is a category that advances at cruising speed and progressively becomes a great option for those who wish to buy a car that allows them to save on fuel.
