Your questions answered: What is the best hybrid car up to $40,000?

We’re creeping up on holiday season and plenty of carsales readers are ready to hit the road.

Electric cars are taking a back seat in this week’s mailbox (we don’t expect it to last long!) but hybrids are quickly filling the void.

It also seems some of those would-be hybrid buyers could make an EV work, something that is indicative of the hesitations many have in making the electric switch.

Our hybrid queries even cross over into used ones that have travelled big kilometres.

Plus, we’ve got readers ready to hit the road with a caravan in tow. We look at options for keeping them rolling.

Question:

Answer: Start with the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, which is the pick from a value perspective in the smaller end of the hybrid space.

There are many more options in the SUV space rather than sedans or hatchback. You could just sneak into a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid for your budget, for example, or look at the Yaris Cross Hybrid.

That said, the Corolla is a more convincing hybrid – and car overall – compared with the Yaris Cross.

And… you could afford an EV. Check out the MG4, which was our 2023 Car of the Year and is currently available with on-road costs thrown in for free. The entry-level car is great buying and fun to drive.

Question: I can’t afford an EV but am considering buying a new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Corolla Cross. Any other recommendations would be appreciated. Both my husband and I are older and both tall and solid, so we need something with space. We are both retired and live 45km from our closest town.

Firstly, how fuel efficient and practical are hybrids when most of the trip is at 100km/h? Secondly, I happened to read an article about motion sickness caused by the regenerative braking. I don’t get sick when I’m driving but as a passenger I suffer if I do not keep my eyes on the road ahead.

So, if a hybrid is not the best option, do you have any other suggestions for alternative slow combustion engines? – Janine

Answer: You’re looking in the right place for a hybrid. Toyota sells more petrol-electric vehicles than any other brand and the Corolla Cross and RAV4 are among the best.

If you don’t need the size of the RAV4 then save some dollars and get the Corolla Cross, which also has a newer-generation hybrid system.

Be prepared to wait, though, because Toyota has some healthy waiting lists on its hybrids. Different dealers may have different wait times, so shop around. See our recent article on Should I buy a Toyota RAV4 or a Toyota Corolla Cross?

Also look at the Honda ZR-V and Nissan QASHQAI e-POWER, each of which makes for a terrific alternative to the Toyota.

Oh… and you can afford an EV if you’re looking at a RAV4 Hybrid. The BYD Atto 3 represents great value and the upcoming Kia EV5 is also worth keeping in mind. Pricing should kick off at about $65,000, which may be above your budget.

If you’re employed and can take out a novated lease then packaging an EV can mean taking advantage of the government’s fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption on electric vehicles, helping save thousands a year. It’s available on EVs up to the luxury car tax threshold, which is $89,332 for the 2023-2024 financial year.

Question: We are a couple in our early 60s who want to do more Outback trips. We have a Ranger that we have used for previous trips, including the Simpson crossing. With all the recovery gear and a large fuel tank and water tank it is too heavy to be able to legally tow anything, which is what we want to do (we are a bit over tents).

We want to buy a new vehicle but every vehicle has the same problem with weight even with a GVM upgrade. What vehicle would you suggest? – Lyn

Answer: Bigger and heavier tends to work well. You could aim for one of the large American pick-up trucks, but they’re enormous (and expensive) machines that are fairly cumbersome in the suburbs. Plus you’d have to go for the 2500 versions because the regular 1500 models don’t have enough in the way of carrying capacity.

Another option is the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series. Depending on the model you buy it has about 1.2 tonnes of payload to play with. Crucially, it can tow up to 3.5 tonnes and still carry that circa-1.2t.

The downside is it’s a very basic bit of gear that’s not particularly comfortable for country road cruising. But it should at least get the job done. There have been crazy wait times for the 70 Series, but the recent arrival of the four-cylinder has eased that slightly. And by the way, the four-cylinder is better for towing than the V8 – plus it’s easier to get hold of.

You could also look at the INEOS Grenadier, including the Quartermaster ute variant.

It has a similar GVM to the LandCruiser 70, although it’s also a heavier car, so its payload is around half a tonne less. But you’ll find that some of the additional weight includes equipment that you’ll likely have to option on the Toyota. So the net result may end up not being as dramatic as it initially looks on paper, provided you can swallow the circa-$120K price tag.

Or you could stick to tents…

Question: I am a 73-year-old female and live near Montville in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. I own a 2000 Toyota Corolla Ascent which has served me well for 24 years but is starting to let me down and no mechanics appear to know what’s wrong with it.

Consequently, I have been looking for a new car which is a bit more comfortable and reliable. I decided a small SUV is what I am after but am hesitant about EVs and hybrids due to lack of charging availability up here.

I know nothing about motor vehicles and would really appreciate your advice. – Christine

Answer: Lovely part of the world Christine, I'm envious of your locale. There’s nothing to worry about with regular hybrid cars that aren’t plug-in models – there’s no need to recharge them.

As for the Skoda Kamiq, as you’ve established it’s a great driving vehicle and one that benefits from well-sorted dynamics that give it a surefooted stance on the road. And even though it has a small engine it won’t have the slightest issue getting up decent hills. A turbocharger helps with performance and it’s a zippy enough engine to comfortably do the job.

It may not be as trouble-free in the long run as your Toyota; the Japanese brand has a well-earned reputation for reliability and not many European brands get close to it.

Question: We have just retired and are looking at joining the grey nomads around Australia. We are looking at buying a Jayco Penguin which has a gross mass of 1200kg. Could you please provide an idea of a suitable car to tow – somewhere around the $50K new mark.

We’d head off-road occasionally but definitely not predominantly. New for the price would be good but two or three years old with usual wish list of low kilometres is also fine. And SUV is the preference as space is a consideration. – Michael

Answer: Two vehicles that are worth taking a look at are Kia Sportage (ideally the diesel version, given its torquey nature that’s well suited to towing) and Hyundai Tucson (also diesel).

They’re both mid-size SUVs that will tow the small van and offer great overall performance and packaging along with a long warranty (in the Kia’s case it’s seven years).

They use the same diesel engine, so you’re mostly buying on values, styling and features.

Each also has a 1900kg tow capacity, which will work fine. But the maximum tow ball download weight is 100kg, which would mean you fall 20kg shy of the generally accepted 10 per cent.

So chat to the caravan retailer (or an expert) to see if the one you’re looking at will be okay with only 100kg pushing down on its tow ball.

Another option is the Subaru Outback, which will be more comfortable on-road and has a slightly larger cabin. The Outback also has respectable off-road credentials, keeping in mind it’s more towards the softer side.

However, also keep in mind that Subaru stipulates an 80km/h maximum when towing. That may work for the pace you want to soak up the landscape, but equally it could be frustrating if you’re hoping to cover big kilometres.

Question: How safe of a bet would it be to take a chance on a high-mileage, late-model Toyota RAV4 Hybrid? There’s one example at Toyota in Ferntree Gully; it’s 2019, white with 175,000km on it (I’m guessing it’s been used for things like Uber or pizza delivery). – Craig

Answer: You have to be very careful buying any used car that’s travelled that far. Any vehicle with that sort of mileage has the potential for major issues, even if Toyotas have been known to go a lot further.

Some of the tech in newer Mazdas would partially make up for their lack of a hybrid system, for example. Or you could look at a slightly smaller – but still practical – Toyota hybrid, perhaps the Corolla Cross.

If you’re wedded to a high-mileage RAV4 then go in eyes wide open and ensure you check the service history and get an independent inspection to hopefully spot any potentially big issues.

RedBook Inspect mobile inspectors can take the guesswork out of buying a car with a comprehensive vehicle inspection.

Find more of Your Questions Answered by carsales