‘It’ll Last Another 10 Years’: Man Raves After Purchasing Used 2016 Lexus Hybrid for $16,000. So What Are the Best Used Hybrids?
'Crazy good price.'
A man who purchased a used Hybrid Lexus gushed about the vehicle’s premium feel and range, despite its entry-level price tag. And it might be one of the best ways for hybrid-curious drivers to play the market.
Social media user Eli Galindo (@eli_mgalindo) shared his assessment of the pre-owned Lexus ES 300H he bought for $16,000. In a caption for his post, he remarked that he’ll “never buy a new car again.” Furthermore, he said that when he does indeed buy another car, it’ll most certainly “be another hybrid.”
That’s because the “crazy good price” still allowed him to “feel luxury” every time he drives without having to break the bank, he said.
Galindo broke down his buying decision in a text overlay for the video. “When you purchase a 2016 Lexus ES 300H Hybrid and absolutely freaking love it! I get over 500 miles to one tank of gas my friends. And did I mention the luxury feel? Why didn’t someone tell me = $16,000,” he said.
Pre-Owned Lexus: Hybrid Heaven?
It’s difficult to argue with Galindo’s logic here. Kelley Blue Book writes that Lexus’s certified pre-owned purchase program as “one of the best in the automotive industry.” So if buyers want a sumptuous ride without stressing about affording a monthly car note, this could be a good option. Certified pre-owned Lexus vehicles are rigorously inspected to ensure they’ve been properly maintained.
Furthermore, the 161-point assessment ensures that key vehicle components are thoroughly scrutinized and replaced if needed. As KBB writes, the brand even provides the exact list technicians implement to meticulously audit the cars that attain CPO certification. This way, folks buying a used car know what to keep an eye on once their car’s 2-year CPO and manufacturer’s warranties have expired.
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Even without CPO distinction, used Lexuses can still be a phenomenal purchase. That’s because the brand has consistently ranked at the top of Consumer Reports’ reliability scores. The luxury arm of Toyota takes the Japanese automaker’s legendary status for churning out dependable commuter vehicles to another level. According to Find the Best Car Price, “Lexus cars last 200,000 to 300,000 miles with an average lifespan of 16-20 years.” Moreover, the car-shopping resource also writes that repair and maintenance costs for Lexus vehicles are “cheap” when compared to comparable brands. Meaning that even though buyers are getting a premium product, they’re able to avoid premium costs to service their rides.
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Toyota Hybrid Technology
Much of this can be attributed to Toyota’s manufacturing philosophy. The automaker has touted its stringent “vehicle performance and testing” protocols in its Tahara, Japan plant. While often receiving criticism for being late to the party when it comes to new driving technology, Toyota/Lexus devotees claim that this approach ultimately benefits car buyers. New components introduced to drivers are thoroughly tested and subjected to an exhaustive number of variables at the Tahara plant. Consequently leaving consumers with cars that have reduced probabilities of failure.
Which is the top of a buyer’s list of concerns when considering a used vehicle. Additionally, this same rigorous testing applies to Toyota’s hybrid technology. Throngs of auto enthusiasts would agree that there’s no one who does hybrid better than Toyota or Lexus. And while the Japanese car manufacturer wasn’t the first to make a hybrid vehicle, they’re certainly known for popularizing and fine-tuning it with the introduction of the Prius.
In fact, Toyota makes such dependable and efficient hybrid drivetrains that Mazda partnered with the brand when crafting its CX-50 hybrid crossover. Instead of reinventing the wheel, Mazda opted to just use decades of Toyota’s R&D to its benefit; that’s how reliable its hybrid offerings are.
Used Car Buying Tips
Numerous financial experts will tell consumers that buying a new car is almost always a bad idea. The worst years of depreciation for a vehicle are in its first five years of ownership. After just 12 months, a car’s value will go down as much as 20%. After 60 months, depreciation can skyrocket as high as 60%.
So when it comes to smart financial decisions, Galindo’s already ahead of the game in buying a used car from a manufacturer with historic stalwartness. But there are other factors ones should consider when buying a new ride. Ensuring that a car hasn’t been involved in an accident by utilizing services like CarFax is also important. Oftentimes, these reports will also include detailed history of maintenance records, too. So you can ensure previous owners gave the ride you’re thinking of buying the TLC it needs.
It’s also worth considering the total number of owners a car has had. Multiple exchanges can suggest there’s something wrong with the vehicle. Search tools like Cars.com allow buyers to filter for used vehicles that have only had one owner. Which could suggest that the ride was a joy to drive, and the only reason its original buyer got rid of it was to upgrade for something that better suited their needs.
EV Battery Repair Shops
One of the biggest fears folks have with purchasing any used car, especially with hybrids and EVs, are repair costs. For Lexus, the average annual maintenance costs run around $551, according to CarEdge, which the outlet states is significantly lower than European rivals. However, as anyone who’s dealt with a faulty EV battery will tell you, the expenditures for servicing batteries can get costly.
Thankfully, there are several hybrid battery repair and service centers in the United States. Like Greentec Auto in Livingston, New Jersey, which has been servicing hybrid and electric vehicle batteries for over 12 years. The business lists that it can fix and replace throngs of battery packs from various manufacturers.
As with any used car, locating a trusted third-party service tech team can save buyers money. So if you’re considering purchasing a hybrid vehicle, it’ll behoove buyers to first find a local shop with a positive reputation. They’ll almost always be more affordable than buying directly from a branded dealership. This way, in the event of any problems, proactive used car buyers can extend their lives of their vehicles without going bankrupt.
In one Facebook post, Greentec Auto writes that most used hybrids can extend its life by another 10 years with just a $1,000 to $2,000 investment to service its battery pack. Additionally, the business claims hybrid batteries last longer than most people think. And that oftentimes, just a few cells need to be replaced in order to get them back on the road, holding full charges for tens of thousands of miles.
Best Used Hybrids To Buy
Again, Toyota and Lexus options will always make the top of recommendation lists to the brand’s vaunted long-term reputation of hybrid vehicles. Hyundai has also been making hybrids for well over a decade, too. The Korean auto-manufacturer, like Toyota, offers a slew of HEV and PHEV (plug-in hybrid) offerings worth considering. The brand also offers a standard 100,000 mile powertrain warranty on most of its cars, too.
While Hyundai hasn’t consistently ranked as high as Toyota and Lexus on Consumer Reports’ reliability testing, the research group did heap praise on the brand. “In our testing, most Hyundai models benefit from a hybrid drivetrain,” they wrote. Going on, Consumer Reports stated, “Hyundai’s EVs are some of the best values among electric cars,” too.
Used Toyota and Lexus prices might be too much for some buyer’s wallets. So folks may want to consider Hyundai or Kia, especially if they can find a used model that fits their budget. Again, ensuring that the specific model hasn’t incurred significant damage and has been properly maintained is paramount.
For compact sedans, the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid is a good alternative to 2024’s greenest car award winner, the Prius Prime. For crossovers, folks may want to look at the Lexus RX 450h+ PHEV or RX 500h used. Hyundai also has hybrid SUVs in its lineup too, like the Santa Fe. Of course, a Hybrid Toyota Rav4 is always a reliable option, but good luck finding a deal on what is one of the most popular cars in America.
InsideEVs has reached out to Galindo via TikTok comment for further information.
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