Fuel price shock! Buying a hybrid might not be the best choice as it can take up to eight years to pay off the extra up front cost of a 2026 Chery Tiggo 4, but less for hybrid versions of the GWM Haval H6 and Hyundai i30 sedan

Fuel prices continue to increase in Australia.

Hybrid models generally offer better fuel efficiency than a comparative petrol model, but they are also more expensive. 

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Below is a comparison based on some of the most popular models in Australia offering petrol and hybrid choices and the potential increased savings in the current climate. 

Figures have been calculated based on the average yearly kilometres driven at 15,000km, and the cost to fill-up based on average NSW pricing data using the official recommended fuel for each model. 

Small car/sedan

Hyundai i30 sedan

Variant	Price (before on-road costs)	Engine	Recommended fuel	Fuel tank size	Fuel efficiency	Average driving range	Fill-up cost @ $2.35/L	Yearly cost @ 15,000km	Yearly saving	Break even point (to the nearest year)
Petrol	$29,250	2.0-litre petrol	Unleaded 91	47L	6.1L/100km	770km	$110.45	$2151.62	N/A	N/A
Hybrid	$33,250	1.6-litre petrol hybrid	Unleaded 91	42L	3.9L/100km	1275km	$98.70	$1161.18	$990.44	4 years

The Hyundai i30 is one of few passenger car models which are available with petrol and hybrid variants in its lineup. Many of its rivals have become hybrid only, such as the Toyota Corolla and Camry as well as the Honda Civic. 

The hybrid is cheaper to fill up and goes further on its tank, so it takes around four years to pay off the $4000 hybrid premium - well within the seven-year warranty period for the car. This is also due to the smaller and more efficient hybrid motor compared to the bigger petrol engine.

Small SUV

Chery Tiggo 4 

Variant	Price (drive-away)	Engine	Recommended fuel	Fuel tank size	Fuel efficiency	Average driving range	Fill-up cost @ $2.35/L	Yearly cost @ 15,000km	Yearly saving	Break even point (to the nearest year)
Petrol	$23,990	1.5-litre turbo-petrol	Unleaded 91	51L	7.4L/100km	694km	$119.85	$2590.42	N/A	N/A
Hybrid	$29,990	1.5-litre petrol hybrid	Unleaded 91	51L	5.4L/100lkm	1033km	$119.85	$1740.32	$850.10	7 years

The Chery Tiggo 4 is one of the cheapest SUVs on the market, with a drive-away price under $30,000 for both petrol and hybrid variants. 

The Hybrid carries a $6000 premium over the petrol, which means it will take roughly seven years to pay off the extra cost. This is part due to the $850 year-on-year saving, which is less than many of the other cars on this list. 

Unlike the other examples, there is no change in engine capacity between petrol and hybrid variants of the Tiggo 4.  

The seven-year break-even point matches the seven-year warranty provided on the car. 

Medium SUV

GWM Haval H6

Variant	Price (drive-away)	Engine	Recommended fuel	Fuel tank size	Fuel efficiency	Average driving range	Fill-up cost @ $2.35/L	Yearly cost @ 15,000km	Yearly saving	Break even point (to the nearest year)
Petrol	$35,990	2.0-litre turbo-petrol	Unleaded 91	61L	7.4L/100km	824km	$143.35	$2609.53	N/A	N/A
Hybrid	$40,990	1.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid	Unleaded 91	61L	5.2L/100km	1363km	$143.35	$1577.59	$1031.94	5 years

There is a $5000 gap between pricing on the petrol and hybrid versions of the Haval H6, but the smaller and more efficient hybrid engine sees savings of more than $1000 year-on-year. 

The H6 hybrid offers an average of more than 500km of driving range than the petrol. This means the extra cost of the hybrid can be paid off in just under five years. 

This falls within the seven-year warranty period for the H6. 

Large SUV

Hyundai Santa Fe

Variant	Price (before on-road costs)	Engine	Recommended fuel	Fuel tank size	Fuel efficiency	Average driving range	Fill-up cost @ $2.35	Yearly cost @ 15,000km	Yearly saving	Break even point (to the nearest year)
Petrol	$54,000	2.5-litre turbo-petrol	Unleaded 91	67L	9.1L/100km	736km	$157.45	$3208.90	N/A	N/A
Hybrid	$57,650	1.6-litre turbo-petrol	Unleaded 91	67L	5.6L/100km	1172km	$157.45	$2015.16	$1193.74	3 years

The Hyundai Santa Fe was CarsGuide’s 2026 Overall Car of the Year, and offers one of the most competitive hybrid/petrol pricing comparisons. This is because the hybrid Sante Fe is less than $4000 more expensive than the petrol and offers more than 400km average driving range. 

With nearly $1200 of savings each year, it would take around three years to pay off the hybrid premium, and the majority of the car’s seven-year warranty will also still be valid.

Ute

Dual-cab pick-up variant	Price	Engine	Recommended fuel	Fuel tank size	Fuel efficiency	Average driving range	Fill-up cost	Yearly cost @ 15,000km	Yearly saving	Break even point (to the nearest year)
Toyota HiLux	$53,990 (before on-road costs)	2.8-litre turbo-diesel	Diesel	80L	7.4L/100km	1081km	@ $2.78 $222.40	$3086.03	N/A	N/A
BYD Shark 6	$57,900 (drive-away)	1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid	Unleaded 91	60L	2.0L/100km	800km	@ $2.35 $141	$2643.75	N/A	N/A

This comparison uses the cheapest dual-cab variant of the Toyota HiLux Workmate and the single-variant BYD Shark 6. 

While these utes are obviously not variants within the same lineup, the Shark 6’s petrol status offers savings over the diesel ute. It also has a smaller fuel tank, which makes filling up cheaper. The HiLux is also slightly more expensive to drive-away, costing about $59,500 in NSW.

Fuel efficiency on the Shark 6 dramatically decreases when the ute has less than 25 per cent of battery charge, dropping to 7.9L/100km. This still makes it less expensive to run than the diesel HiLux.
 

Variant	Price	Engine	Recommended fuel	Fuel tank size	Fuel efficiency	Average driving range	Fill-up cost	Yearly cost @ 15,000km	Yearly saving	Break even point (to the nearest year)
GWM Cannon Alpha	$51,990 (drive-away)	2.4-litre turbo-diesel	Diesel	78L	8.9L/100km	876km	@ $2.78 $216.84	$3713.01	N/A	N/A
GWM  Cannon Alpha PHEV	$61,490 (drive-away)	2.0-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid	Unleaded 91	75L	1.7/100km	1060km (NEDC)	@ $2.35 $176.25	$2494.10	$1218.91	8 years
Ford Ranger	$56,690 (before on-road costs)	2.0-litre turbo-diesel	Diesel	80L	6.9L/100km	1159km	@ $2.78 $222.40	$2879.34	N/A	N/A
Ford Ranger PHEV	$71,990 (before on-road costs)	2.3-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid	Unleaded 95	70L	2.9L/100km	750km (est.)*	@ $2.53 $177.10	$3542	N/A	N/A

*Petrol engine only fuel use figure not provided by Ford but calculated over several CarsGuide road tests once battery had been depleted

The plug-in hybrid set-up in the Canon Alpha does make it cheaper to run overall, but the substantial price difference between the plug-in hybrid and the petrol, means it would take eight years to break even on the extra cost. 

The Ranger PHEV is more of a curve ball, it is harder to hit on exactly how much fuel it will use. It all depends on how ofter you charge the battery. If you don't charge it every night it'll be more expensive to run than the diesel, as it needs to be topped up more often. If you regularly charge it the cost equation flips and it's a wallet saver.

You'll need to be vigilant about charging to pay off the $15,000 premium, though.