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Gas Prices are Crazy. Is Now the Time to Buy a Hybrid? Episode 113

Gas Prices are Crazy. Is Now the Time to Buy a Hybrid? Episode 113

The AutoGuide Show Mar 16, 2026 66 min
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About this episode

Fuel prices are soaring amid global uncertainty, prompting many to reconsider their next vehicle purchase. Joseph Eune from Edmunds discusses how rising gas costs are driving increased interest in hybrids and electric vehicles, especially as used EVs become more affordable and practical. The episode explores the appeal of hybrids as a familiar, efficient alternative for those hesitant about full EV adoption due to infrastructure concerns. The conversation also touches on how political factors influence buying trends but ultimately, cost savings at the pump remain the primary motivator for consumers.

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Concept

electric vehicle (EV)

"Maybe now is the time to buy a hybrid, or perhaps an EV. I'm Greg Migliore, welcome back to the AutoGuide Show..."

An electric vehicle is a car that runs only on electricity instead of gas. You charge it by plugging it in, and it doesn’t make pollution when you drive.

Concept

hybrid

"Maybe now is the time to buy a hybrid, or perhaps an EV. I'm Greg Migliore, welcome back to the AutoGuide Show..."

A hybrid car uses both gas and electricity to help it go farther without using as much fuel. It can switch between the two to save gas.

Company

eBay Motors

"I'm Greg Migliore, welcome back to the AutoGuide Show, presented by eBay Motors. This week, we're talking to Joseph Eune of Edmonds..."

eBay Motors is a website where people can buy and sell cars and car parts online, kind of like an online car market.

Company

Mother's California Gold Car Care Collection

"This week, I'm also doing the gear test, and I reviewed a couple of products from Mother's California Gold Car Care Collection, including a spray on wax."

Mother's California Gold is a brand that makes special products to clean and protect cars, like wax that makes the car shiny.

Term

spray on wax

"I reviewed a couple of products from Mother's California Gold Car Care Collection, including a spray on wax. In the AutoGuide garage..."

Spray on wax is a liquid you spray on your car to make it shiny and protect the paint without much effort.

Car

Rivian R1-T

"In the AutoGuide garage, I've been driving the Rivian R1-T, and our road test editor, Kyle Patrick, joins me to talk about his time in the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid."

The Rivian R1-T is a fully electric truck that doesn’t use gas. It’s made by a company called Rivian and can drive a long way before needing to recharge.

Concept

fuel crisis

"Yeah, I think it's perhaps expected. Every time there's some sort of fuel crisis, people tend to look towards the most obvious thing affected by fuel prices, which is their cars..."

A fuel crisis happens when gas prices go way up or gas is hard to get, so people start thinking about buying cars that use less gas or run on electricity.

Term

electric vehicles

"but now that electric vehicles are in the mainstream for the most part. I think there's renewed interest whenever there's any kind of fuel spike for people that if they were in the market, maybe they wouldn't have considered it before."

Electric vehicles are cars that run on electricity stored in batteries instead of using gas. They are quieter and can be cheaper to run.

Car

Kia EV6

"Some of these are actually pretty good vehicles. We're talking like maybe a 2023 Kia EV6. This isn't like a 2011 LEAF or something. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's like this is a car that could be still very much of the moment as far as technology."

The Kia EV6 is an electric car that runs on batteries instead of gas. It's a newer model with good technology and can drive a long way before needing to recharge.

Concept

federal tax credit

"And that was kind of what the federal tax credit was for, right, to have mass adoption really quickly so that it can kind of filter down to the use market in a couple of your time."

A federal tax credit is money the government gives back to people who buy electric cars to help make them cheaper.

Term

MSRP

"practically brand new EVs for probably sometimes less than half what the original MSRP was. And these are great cars that still get plenty of good enough range"

MSRP is the price the car company says the car should be sold for before any deals or discounts.

Term

electric variant

"You think back to Prius, which now there is an electric variant of it, but it was Prius, Prius hybrid for most of its life."

An electric variant means the car runs only on electricity, without using gas. It’s better for the environment because it doesn’t produce smoke from the tailpipe.

Concept

EV infrastructure

"And I think in the early days of EV ownership and kind of still to this day, depending on where you live, that infrastructure support isn't there."

EV infrastructure means the places and equipment where you can plug in and charge electric cars. If there aren’t many chargers nearby, it can be hard to use an electric car.

Concept

charging network

"And if you live in a, even like a semi rural area where you may not have the charging network capabilities that exist for you, then that means it's not really an option for you to even consider."

A charging network is a group of places where electric cars can be charged. If you live somewhere without many chargers, it can be hard to keep your electric car powered.

Term

miles per gallon

"these cars are getting what, 40, 50 miles to the gallon now, you know, when you're driving in the city."

Miles per gallon tells you how far a car can go using one gallon of gas. The bigger the number, the less gas you use, so you save money.

Term

fuel prices

"...And, you know, it's six, seven months later, and they're like, well, wait, fuel costs this much. I don't really care if it's, this isn't a political issue for me..."

Fuel prices are how much it costs to buy gas for your car. When gas gets expensive, people often look for cars that use less fuel or run on electricity.

Term

alternative fuel vehicles

"...the adoption rate for these hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles might be lower but we'll have to see. I think the interest is definitely there..."

These are cars that run on different types of fuel instead of just regular gas, like electric cars or ones that use special fuels to be cleaner.

Term

impulse purchase

"...making the switch is not as easy as as it sounds it's not like a it's not like we can you know make an impulse purchase on a car these days..."

Buying something quickly without thinking about it much, just because you want it right then.

Term

average monthly payment

"...average monthly payment is flirting dangerously close to $800 a month and even if you consider leasing as opposed to financing an EV..."

This is how much money most people pay every month to have their car, either by loan or lease.

Term

federal incentives

"...because the incentives at least at the federal level aren't there anymore you have to fight much harder to get a worse deal than you could have prior to September 2025..."

These are special money savings or discounts from the government to help people buy cleaner cars like electric ones.

Term

leasing

"...and even if you consider leasing as opposed to financing an EV because the incentives at least at the federal level aren't there anymore..."

Leasing is like renting a car for a few years where you pay monthly but don't own it when the time is up.

Car

BMW X5

"...you know the BMW whatever well we have a hybrid x5 for you so it seems like they're sort of well positioned right now but if it does drag on you know it would be sort of like a back to the future sort of thing..."

The BMW X5 is a fancy SUV that can use both gas and electricity to help save fuel. It’s a popular choice for people who want a nice car that’s also more efficient.

Concept

K-shaped economy

"...a lot of things that people that talk about economics are talking about right now is the k-shaped economy where kind of a minority of the consumer base is upholding a big part of the economy and that reflects true in the auto industry as well..."

A K-shaped economy means some people or groups are doing well and making money, while others are struggling and falling behind.

Term

fuel efficiency

"...you're thinking oh man this car only gets you know 25 miles to the gallon what's it gonna cost me to get into something that's more fuel efficient..."

Fuel efficiency tells you how far your car can go using a little bit of gas. A car that goes farther on less gas saves you money.

Term

interest rate

"...plus the cost of the new vehicle plus whatever the interest rate is now which I don't think is any lower than four years ago if anything it's higher so when you factor in those things..."

Interest rate is the extra money you pay when you borrow money to buy a car. If the rate is high, you pay more each month.

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