Are hybrids actually proving reliable long-term in the UK? Thinking of going down the Japan vehicle
Been doing a fair bit of reading lately as I’m looking to change my car this year, and I keep coming back to hybrids. On paper they seem like a sensible option with fuel prices the way they are, especially for mostly town and A-road driving.
What I can’t quite get a clear answer on is long-term reliability once they’re a few years in and out of warranty. I’ve seen mixed opinions on battery degradation, inverter issues, and what happens once they start hitting higher mileage in UK conditions (cold starts, short trips, stop-start traffic etc). MOT-wise I’m also wondering if there’s anything extra to worry about compared to a normal petrol/diesel.
I’ve also been looking at importing, and keep seeing people mention going through a japan vehicle auction for cleaner, lower-mileage examples of things like Prius and Aqua models. Tempting idea, but I’ve got no experience with the DVLA import process, UK registration, or what insurance companies make of grey imports once they’re here.
Just wondering what people’s real-world experiences are? Are hybrids actually holding up well past 100k miles, or do they become a bit of a money pit once the hybrid system starts ageing? Any advice from people running them in the UK would be appreciated.