People often believe that buying a brand-new car is more dependable than getting a used one. While there are some good reasons to think that way, the same can be true when purchasing a used vehicle.
Both new and used cars come with their own advantages, but it’s important not to assume that buying a used car is a bad decision or something you shouldn’t consider. This idea becomes even clearer when looking at vehicles like hybrid cars (HEVs), which have a strong reputation for being reliable.
Even the used versions are known to be very dependable—sometimes even more than new ones. When it comes to used cars, the most common type is the traditional gas-powered vehicle (ICE). Besides that, there are other types like electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and hybrids.
Among these, hybrids offer a wide range of choices. While they don’t quite match the number of ICE vehicles—since gas-powered cars have been around for over a hundred years—the hybrid market started growing quickly in the early 2000s.
This makes it a great time at the beginning of the year to look at older hybrid models from the past 25 years that are known for being very reliable.
To put this article together, we checked and compared data about car dependability, upkeep, and cost from reliable sources. Our goal is to give you the most recent and trustworthy information available. The models listed below are ranked from the most dependable to the least.
Because there’s not a lot of maintenance and repair data for older hybrid cars, we’ve included four common repair estimates to help give a better picture of the expected upkeep costs for the ten models we’re comparing.
These repairs include changing the engine air filter, replacing the brake pads, replacing the radiator hose, and changing a headlamp bulb. This doesn’t mean that all these cars will definitely need these repairs—it’s just a way to compare the cost of the same kinds of fixes across all ten models.
Also Read: 10 Electric Vehicles Perfect for Road Trips Without Worrying About Range
2007 Ford Escape Hybrid
The first hybrid being reviewed is the 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. Over time—and especially recently—the Ford Escape Hybrid has been one of the most fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles in the U.S. in 2024.
It was announced last year that Ford plans to stop making the Escape with a hybrid powertrain in 2025, but the older 2007 hybrid version is still a good option to consider.
J.D. Power gave the 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid a reliability rating of 82 out of 100. One thing that’s always important to check when buying a used car is if it had any recalls.
This hybrid SUV only had four recalls reported. Since many of the vehicles on this list are from 2015 or earlier, there isn’t a lot of detailed information on their long-term upkeep, repair frequency, or ownership costs.
The next best way to evaluate them is by looking at a few typical repairs that come up with older vehicles—like replacing brake pads, radiator hoses, engine air filters, and headlamp bulbs.
Now here comes a bit of simple math. The American Automobile Association (AAA) gives reliable repair and labor cost data for many models and trims. For the 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid, replacing the engine air filter costs somewhere between $83 and $128.
Taking the average of that range, the air filter replacement comes out to about $105.50. By averaging the cost of all four repairs—including both front and rear brake pads and radiator hoses—you get a total average that gives you an idea of basic repair expenses. The estimated repair cost total for the 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid came out to $1,054.50.
2011 Mercedes ML450 Hybrid
That last section might have been a bit tricky, but once you’ve gone through a few models, it’ll start to make more sense. What you’re doing is looking at a few possible repair needs for each model and comparing them to estimate what maintenance and repairs might cost.
The next vehicle is the 2011 Mercedes ML450 Hybrid, which is the first luxury hybrid on the list. You might not remember this model, and that’s because Mercedes later rebranded it as the GLE.
The 2011 Mercedes ML450 Hybrid scores a little higher with a reliability rating of 83 out of 100. It had four recalls related to safety and lost $3,496 in value over three years. Since this is a luxury brand and it’s an older vehicle, it’s expected that some repair costs will be higher.
When you average the cost of each repair and total them, the final amount comes to $1,771.50. While this isn’t terrible compared to the Ford Escape Hybrid, it is still the most expensive repair estimate among the ten models. The 2011 ML450 Hybrid currently falls around a price of $9,410.
2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid
One model that many people might have missed is the 2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid. Like several others on this list, Nissan stopped offering the hybrid version of the Rogue, though a plug-in hybrid version is planned for 2026. Even though this specific trim is no longer being made, it’s still a fairly recent used option with strong reliability.
The 2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid reached an even higher level of reliability, earning a score of 86 out of 100. It performed well when it came to safety, with just one recall reported. When it comes to repair and maintenance costs, the average cost for the listed repairs was $847.50.
Staying under $1,000, these repair estimates are better than those of the models mentioned earlier. Just to give a hint, the 2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid had the lowest “hypothetical” repair costs out of all ten models. If you’re looking at this hybrid SUV, you can expect to find one priced between $9,628 and $12,284.
2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Camry Hybrid is the first Toyota to show up on this list, and that’s not surprising, since Toyota has been known for making reliable cars for many years.
The Camry is a solid model that consistently proves how dependable it can be, with several years of strong ratings. Fast-forward to today, and the current version has been named TopSpeed’s best hybrid of the year.
Interestingly, the 2017 Nissan Rogue Hybrid and the 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid both received the same reliability score of 86 out of 100. The Camry had more recalls than the Rogue, with a total of three, but it didn’t lose as much value over three years—dropping by $5,921.
When the four repair estimates are averaged, the cost for the Camry comes out to $1,228. Toyota’s used cars often hold their value well, which can be seen in the 2017 Camry’s resale range, currently priced between $15,614 and $17,965.
2013 Acura ILX Hybrid
Another hybrid that doesn’t get much attention is the 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid. Acura briefly explored hybrid vehicles in the early 2010s but then moved away from them, going back to gas-powered cars while giving some attention to electric models like the ZDX. This Japanese brand takes a unique approach to luxury by offering extra comfort features.
The 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid boosts the reliability score by one point, earning an 87 out of 100. In thirteen years, this model only had two recalls. Because it’s an older car, the ILX Hybrid didn’t lose too much value in the last three years—just $3,759.
When it comes to the four repair estimates, the 2013 ILX Hybrid is the second most expensive to maintain, with a total estimated cost of $1,495. That’s $276.50 less than the Mercedes ML450 Hybrid, which had the highest repair costs on the list. As of 2025, the 2013 ILX Hybrid is fairly affordable, with used prices around $5,672.
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
The final Ford on the list is the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Like the Escape Hybrid, Ford ended both the hybrid and gas-powered versions of the Fusion due to lower sales, shifting their focus back to SUVs and trucks. This hybrid sedan stands out as a reliable car that’s also budget-friendly.
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid matches the reliability score of the 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, with a rating of 87 out of 100. What stands out the most is that it had zero recalls over the last fifteen years. It also lost only $618 in value during the past three years.
In terms of repair costs, the Fusion Hybrid ranks third highest among the ten models, with an estimated total of $1,490.50 for the four repairs.
That’s just $5.50 less than the ILX Hybrid, putting them very close. Along with the Escape Hybrid, the 2010 Fusion Hybrid is one of the most affordable used cars on this list, currently priced around $4,619.
2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The RAV4 Hybrid is another well-known Toyota model that has built a strong reputation for being very reliable. This vehicle comes in three engine types—gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid.
It was the top-selling SUV last year and the year before. Out of the ten hybrids on this list, the 2018 RAV4 Hybrid is the newest, making it the most current when it comes to tech and design.
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid scores one point higher than the ILX Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid, earning an 88 out of 100 for reliability. Like the Fusion Hybrid, it has had some recalls. Since this model is newer, its value has dropped quite a bit over the past three years—by $11,678.
When it comes to repair costs, it’s cheaper than the 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid, with the four estimated repairs for the RAV4 Hybrid totaling about $1,175. Even though it lost the most value among the ten models, this drop may slow down now that it’s past the five-year mark.
A used 2018 RAV4 Hybrid is currently priced between $15,254 and $21,193, depending on the trim level.
2009 Toyota Prius
It’s not surprising to see a Toyota in the top three, and it’s definitely not surprising that it’s the Prius. This model is often seen as one of Toyota’s most reliable and well-known vehicles. The Prius didn’t just have one good year—most of the years it’s been made have shown strong reliability.
The 2009 Toyota Prius almost reaches an A-grade with a score of 89 out of 100. Many people consider 2009 the best year to buy a Prius when it comes to reliability. It had six recalls, but it held its value pretty well, only losing $1,163 over the last three years.
What might surprise some is that the 2009 Prius had one of the higher repair cost estimates, totaling $1,345. Even though it’s a bit more expensive to maintain than a few others on the list, it still has a reasonable price, ranging from $6,305 to $7,885.
2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
The 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid comes in second place, although some might say it shares that spot with the Toyota Prius. This model might not be as well-known, but it was actually in production for a decent amount of time.
Lincoln made the MKZ Hybrid from 2011 until they stopped making the hybrid version in 2020. It had its own style as a luxury hybrid from an American brand.
The 2012 MKZ Hybrid tied with the 2009 Prius for reliability, both earning a score of 89 out of 100. It also had six recalls, just like the Prius. In terms of depreciation, it lost more value—dropping $2,725 over the past three years, which is double what the Prius lost.
The reason some might place it ahead is that it did better with repair costs, coming in at $1,066. That’s $279.50 less than the Prius. On top of that, the 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is one of the more budget-friendly options, with used prices around $5,329.
2017 Lexus ES Hybrid
It’s no surprise that a Lexus takes the top spot. Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand, made to offer more elegant versions of Toyota cars and to try and excel in all areas.
Lexus is also known as the most reliable car brand for used vehicles. Taking first place among the ten hybrid models is the 2017 Lexus ES 300h.
Also Read: 10 Early EVs That Are Still Cruising the Roads Today
The 2017 Lexus ES 300h stands out with a great reliability score of 96 out of 100. There’s a lot that makes this hybrid sedan stand out, but the main reason is that it’s a Lexus.
It had no recalls and lost $9,231 in value over three years. Its repair costs are the third lowest on the list, totaling $1,007.50. If you’re interested in buying this hybrid sedan, you can expect prices to be around $21,555.
