New Research Reveals How Much You Can Save by Driving a Hybrid Car

Society 19 July 2023 By

A new study has calculated the distance an average petrol, diesel and hybrid car can travel on £10. Comparing the average fuel cost in 32 major cities, the report has found the savings residents across the UK can expect if they switch to hybrid.

Southampton has been revealed as the city that will save the highest (£382) by swapping a hybrid car, while Bradford residents will save the least (£374).

Automotive manufacturer Suzuki has analysed how far £10 will take you in a diesel or petrol car compared to our hypothetical hybrid car, as well as surveying 2,000 drivers to understand their attitudes towards hybrid cars.

Drivers can save up to £400 a year on running costs by switching to a hybrid car

The study reveals that more than a quarter (27%) of respondents would like to buy a hybrid car, with almost half (46%) confessing their main reason to buy a hybrid car would be the lower running cost. Surprisingly, only 2% of the population correctly identified the average savings for running it, with nearly two-thirds (60%) estimating a lower saving of just £1–£300. The in-depth analysis shows drivers could save up to £386 per year.

A spokesperson at Suzuki adds: “There is a lot of misunderstanding about hybrid vehicles, mostly because there are many variants. Suzuki has hybrid technology as standard across the entire passenger car range, offering mild, full, and plug-in hybrid technology. This might appear confusing to some, but we do this so there is a model for everyone.

“Hybrid technology combines a conventional petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor. This electric motor and hybrid battery work together to support the engine – or, in some cases, power it on its own. The power level varies by hybrid type, so you’ll see variations of hybrids.”

Potential running cost savings in the UK’s top cities

  • Birmingham – £10 of petrol in Birmingham will take citizens around 50 miles, and £10 of diesel will take them up to 52 miles. However, with a hybrid car, they will go as far as 69 miles! This is a saving of almost 35%.
  • Coventry – People living in Coventry who switch to a hybrid car will save up to 35.26%, which is an average of £379 a year.
  • Manchester – Mancunians topping up the tank with £10 will see that a petrol car will take them around 50 miles, a diesel car around 53 miles and a hybrid car 70 miles! This is 35% saving compared to a conventional car.
  • London – Londoners that switch to a hybrid car will be able to save 35.3% on running costs, equal to around £378 per year.
  • Edinburgh – People topping up their car with £10 will be able to go up to 49 miles with a petrol car, 50 miles with a diesel and 67 with a hybrid car.
  • Glasgow – Glasgow residents making the switch to a hybrid car will be able to save on running costs up to £382, which is around 35.3%.

Hybrid cars are the future of the automotive industry

Hybrid cars are here to stay, with two-fifths (41%) of respondents believing that hybrid cars are the future of the automotive industry. The millennial and Gen Y age group, aged 24–42, are the strongest advocates (44%), with more than one in ten already owning a hybrid car (13%).

Greater London is the region with the most hybrid car owners (15%), followed by the West Midlands (11%) and the North East (11%). Wales has the lowest ownership at 3%.

Nearly a fifth of drivers (16%) say they will switch to a hybrid car in the next five years. The key reasons for respondents to move away from conventional cars include:

  • Lower running cost (46%)
  • Eco-responsible (41%)
  • Reduce noise pollution (26%)
  • No congestion charge (24%)

What’s holding people back?

The research also unveiled some common misconceptions around hybrid cars, with 39% of respondents claiming that the National Grid cannot handle the increasing demand despite many hybrid vehicles being self-charging.

And one in five (20%) think hybrid cars are slower than petrol and diesel cars.

A spokesperson at Suzuki adds: “We’re big believers that hybrid cars are right for the here and now. With genuine concerns over charging infrastructure and rangeability in electric vehicles, we’re confident that our Hybrid range can offer drivers the necessary convenience. In the meantime, we’re continuing to invest in Electric for when the time is right, with our first EV coming in 2025.”