Despite the rapid rise in demand for SUVs and crossovers, hybrid sedans are still holding their own when it comes to new vehicle sales in the U.S. This proves that there are still many consumers who value affordability and general practicality above versatility and visual presence. Toyota, Honda, and Lexus are currently the front-runners when it comes to hybrid sedans, with each brand offering equally competitive compact and midsize offerings. Reliability is a big deal for a lot of those shopping in this segment, which again is an area that all three brands have mastered.
All three brands apply a trusty Atkinson-cycle and electric drivetrain to their hybrid sedans, resulting in a promising track record that has bolstered their HEV presence in the U.S. The best way to approach this is by analyzing each respective brand’s most popular HEV sedan option, which are the Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Camry, and Lexus ES 300h. These are three monikers that enjoy a strong and long-standing reputation among American car owners, primarily thanks to their impressive reliability track record. Adding HEV drivetrains into the mix improves their efficiency and long-term cost factor.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources.
The Lexus ES Hybrid Sets The Standard For Reliability
88/100 Reliability Score Makes It A Solid Hybrid Sedan In Terms Of Fuss-Free Ownership
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.5L I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
-
CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
176 HP @5700 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
163 lb.-ft. @ 3600 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
43/44/44 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Lexus
- Model
-
ES Hybrid
The Lexus ES Hybrid benefits from the highest reliability ratings among most HEV sedans currently on the market, making it one of the brand’s most respected and highly rated models. J.D. Power awards it an 82/100 consumer-verified overall rating, which includes 88/100 for quality and reliability, 73/100 for the driving experience, and 74/100 for resale, alongside an 87/100 rating for the dealership experience.
iSeeCars backs this with an 8.7/10 overall score, which includes 8.6/10 for reliability, 7.6/10 for retained value, and 10/10 for safety. Its reliability assessment also indicates that it benefits from an average lifespan of 15.9 years and should cover 174,223 miles without any major mechanical faults. The probability of reaching 200,000 miles is 32.7 percent if you typically drive 10,362 miles every year.
According to the Edmunds True Cost To Own calculator, you can expect a base-level Lexus ES 300h to lose $15,176 of its initial purchase price after three years and $21,107 after five years and 60,000 miles. $8,894 of this loss occurs after the first year of ownership. Additional costs during this period include $5,771 on maintenance, $1,087 on repairs, and $8,382 on fuel.
Lexus ES True Cost-To-Own Estimates
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | $1,711 | $1,771 | $1,833 | $1,897 | $1,963 | $9,175 |
| Maintenance | $236 | $924 | $525 | $1,476 | $2,610 | $5,771 |
| Repairs | $0 | $0 | $0 | $429 | $658 | $1,087 |
| Taxes & Fees | $4,374 | $324 | $302 | $283 | $263 | $5,546 |
| Financing | $3,156 | $2,546 | $1,892 | $1,187 | $431 | $9,212 |
| Depreciation | $8,894 | $3,458 | $2,824 | $3,165 | $2,766 | $21,107 |
| Fuel | $1,579 | $1,626 | $1,675 | $1,725 | $1,777 | $8,382 |
| True Cost to Own | $19,950 | $10,649 | $9,051 | $10,162 | $10,468 | $60,280 |
According to CarEdge, you can expect the very same model to lose 44 percent of its value over three years while covering 12,000 miles a year, resulting in a $24,769 sale price. By 10 years, it’ll be worth about $13,770, reflecting a 30.86-percent residual value. This higher depreciation rate is to be expected considering it is a luxury car, which it clearly makes up for in terms of reliability.
The Toyota Camry Wins Many Hearts
It Is The Most Reliable Toyota Hybrid Sedan With A Score Of 86/100
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.5L Dynamic Force I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
-
CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
184 HP @6000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
163 lb.-ft. @ 5200 RPM
- Fuel Economy
-
53/50/51 mpg (best: LE FWD)
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
53/50/51 MPG
- Make
-
Toyota
- Model
-
Camry
According to J.D. Power, the 2025 Toyota Camry sits with an 83/100 overall score, which includes top 88/100 for quality and reliability, 78/100 for the driving experience, 85/100 for resale, and 78/100 for the dealership experience.
iSeeCars issues the Toyota Camry with an 8.6/10 overall score, which includes 8.0/10 for reliability, 9.0 for safety, and 8.8 for retained value. It indicates that the model will cover 13 years or 170,562 miles of usage before encountering any noteworthy issues, with a 30.9-percent probability of reaching 200,000 miles.
Where depreciation is concerned, you can expect the model to lose $10,829 or 37.7 percent of its value over five years or 60,000 miles, which is well under the segment average. CarEdge highlights that the Toyota Camry will cost $36,432 to own over the same period, with $14,274 accounting for depreciation, $10,060 for insurance, $4,530 for fuel, $6,056 for interest, and $1,512 for maintenance.
2025 Toyota Camry True Ownership Cost
|
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Total |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Insurance |
$1,423 |
$1,473 |
$1,524 |
$1,578 |
$1,633 |
$7,631 |
|
Maintenance |
$36 |
$482 |
$350 |
$904 |
$1,441 |
$3,213 |
|
Repairs |
$0 |
$0 |
$111 |
$269 |
$393 |
$773 |
|
Taxes & Fees |
$2,724 |
$245 |
$232 |
$220 |
$206 |
$3,627 |
|
Financing |
$1,948 |
$1,572 |
$1,168 |
$733 |
$266 |
$5,687 |
|
Depreciation |
$2,587 |
$1,998 |
$1,891 |
$2,218 |
$2,101 |
$10,795 |
|
Fuel |
$1,361 |
$1,402 |
$1,444 |
$1,487 |
$1,532 |
$7,226 |
|
True Cost to Own® |
$10,079 |
$7,172 |
$6,720 |
$7,409 |
$7,572 |
$38,952 |
According to Edmunds’ True Cost To Own calculator, you can expect a new base front-wheel-drive 2025 Toyota Camry LE to cost you $38,952 over the course of five years. This includes $10,795 worth of depreciation, but excludes the $28,700 MSRP.
The car’s electrified drivetrain is not only smooth and quiet, but it delivers excellent fuel economy and provides all the performance you could really ever need from a family-friendly car.
– Craig Cole, TopSpeed Journalist
You’ll also find yourself spending $7,631 on insurance, $3,213 on maintenance, and just $773 on repairs. Your taxes and fees will also be incredibly low, with the calculator showing that you’re only likely to spend $3,627. If you opt to finance the base 2025 Camry, this will add $5,687 to your ownership costs, while fuel will cost you $7,226, based on average driving distances in the U.S.
The Honda Accord Hybrid’s Trustworthy Reputation
A Score Of 79/100 Puts It Just Behind The Toyota
- Base Trim Engine
-
2L I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
-
CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
146 HP @6100 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
134 lb.-ft. @ 4500 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
46/41/44 MPG
J.D. Power holds the Honda Accord range to a very high standard, with an 81/100 consumer-verified overall score, consisting of 79/100 for quality and reliability and the driving experience, 87/100 for resale, and 81/100 for the dealership experience. iSeeCars issues the model with an 8.1/10 overall score, including 8.0/10 for reliability, 8.4/10 for retained value, and 8.0/10 for safety. The publication also highlights that you will get to cover 12.4 years or 162,402 miles of driving before encountering any major issues, with a 26.5 percent probability of hitting 200,000 miles.
The 2025 Honda Accord Hybrid also benefits from impressively low ownership costs, with the Edmunds‘ True Cost To Own indicating that you’ll only spend $35,087 on the base Sport Touring model over five years. This includes $3,920 on maintenance, $601 on repairs, $12,114 on depreciation, and $5,340 on fuel.
Honda Accord Hybrid Five-Year Cost-To-Own
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | $916 | $948 | $981 | $1,016 | $1,051 | $4,912 |
| Maintenance | $69 | $536 | $388 | $887 | $2,040 | $3,920 |
| Repairs | $0 | $0 | $87 | $209 | $305 | $601 |
| Taxes & Fees | $1,745 | $93 | $93 | $93 | $93 | $2,117 |
| Financing | $2,084 | $1,681 | $1,249 | $785 | $284 | $6,083 |
| Depreciation | $5,396 | $1,636 | $1,547 | $1,815 | $1,720 | $12,114 |
| Fuel | $1,006 | $1,036 | $1,067 | $1,099 | $1,132 | $5,340 |
| True Cost to Own | $11,216 | $5,930 | $5,412 | $5,904 | $6,625 | $35,087 |
You can expect this model to lose $13,690 or 40.7 percent of its value after five years, which is pretty much on par with the rest of the segment. Where reliability is concerned, it indicates that you can expect 13.4 years or 175,912 miles of problem-free driving, with a 33.6 percent chance of you hitting 200,000 miles. According to CarEdge, the average Honda Accord ownership experience is likely to cost you $38,553 over five years, which includes $13,966 on depreciation, $5,250 on fuel, and $1,888 on maintenance.
The Accord Hybrid is by no means an unreliable option, but it scores lower than the Toyota-based products, which is why we have to put it at the bottom of this list. It’s also worth noting that, alongside the Lexus, it also isn’t subject to any recalls for 2025, while the Camry is currently subject to a recall for a damaged second-row seatbelt.
Source: J.D. Power, iSeeCars, Edmunds, CarEdge, and the NHTSA.