Hybrid SUVs Command Premium Prices on the Used-Car Market

CarGurus reports that used 2026 Toyota Rav4 hybrids are fetching $3,000 to $6,000 over the price of new cars, a reversal of the usual depreciation pattern. The model’s shift to an all-hybrid lineup last year, after Toyota dropped the gas-only version, has intensified demand, echoing the chip-shortage era when used-car prices spiked. Hybrid sales grew 29% in the third quarter of 2026, and hybrids now represent about one-in-six new U.S. vehicle sales, according to Cox Automotive.

Higher gasoline prices—up 40% from a year ago and reaching $6.36 in California—are prompting consumers to seek more efficient options. Meanwhile, electric-vehicle sales have fallen nearly 50% after the Trump administration reduced a federal tax credit, leaving hybrids as a more practical alternative. Analysts note that used hybrid prices are up roughly 5% year-over-year, with an average used hybrid price of $34,500, surpassing used EVs and gasoline cars.