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I've seen both ends of performance with my 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. After getting trailer tow lighting installed, the mileage computer reset. It was mid summer. A drive home with no heat or air conditioning from San Diego to Idaho yielded 33 MPG. The vehicle longer term average had been running at 27 MPG over a range of temperatures and seasons. Recently, the battery failed. A new one was installed. Again, the mileage counter was reset. This time, the temperatures were below 20F for weeks. The vehicle dropped to 20 MPG. The engine must run to provide heat. Trips are mostly around town, so there are some opportunities for electric mode.

This will be the first and last hybrid we buy. They are simply unsuitable for use in a cold climate. The mild San Diego weather/traffic is a decent match for the vehicle. We'll resume a decent gasoline engine with enough power to tow a small trailer with a couple motorcycles aboard (2500 lbs). Need a 4x4 to handle the snow in our part of the world.

The vehicle never lived up to the mileage claims. Further, the promised $3,000 tax credit turned out to be only $1202 when I actually filed. A goat rope in every way.

"This will be the first and last hybrid we buy."

It would be best to drive it into the ground. There is no, zero resale value. Any trade-in value is a gift.

yitbos

A drive home with no heat or air conditioning from San Diego to Idaho yielded 33 MPG.

Good grief, my gas non-turbo Forester (full disclosure: manual shift & I'm talented with it) will do that sometimes. It will do 28 - 30 all day.

I don't hate hybrids/electrics/etc. like some here do, but the technology is, to put it charitably, not completely developed yet. And without nuclear power, you're not really helping that much with the electrics.