Thanks for not knee-jerking like most posters.
My old man was a Mechanical Engineer who loved efficiency and mileage before it was cool. Loved diesels. Taught people that you burn gas when you brake. Would have loved regenerative braking.
I think most people here misunderstand. The choice for Toyota is not internal combustion vs hybrid, it is hybrid vs pure electric, thanks to congress. Old man Toyoda thinks plug in electrics are not practical, and refuses to build them as the once Big 3 have acquiesced to. . He is out there resisting the sophomoric liberal arts majors running our global central planning experiment, calling for all electric mandates. Bless him for resisting the plug in only mobility surrender narrative.
Although hybrids are complex, Toyota has experience building the least troublesome vehicles and experience with hybrids. Some say the hybrid RAV4 is the most in-demand, hard to find vehicle in the market (best used value retention).
Hybrid battery replacement is easier and cheaper than full electric by far, and battery technology has improved.
Not putting down Tesla, I wouldn’t turn it down if somebody was going to give me one. And wouldn’t drag race against one.
I agree with the poster who said Lexus are often cheaper and better cared for than the equivalent Toyota, in the used market.
Remove the liberal politician’s demands for MPG in a manufacturers fleet and those batteries would disappear.