The Disadvantages of a Hybrid

• Hybrid cars offer both advantages and disadvantages. Paul Guzzo/Creatas/Getty Images

  Hybrid cars, with their environmentally friendly engines and the ability to extend a tank of gas far beyond what was previously possible, have been touted by their fans in recent years as the car of the future. That belief is not shared by everybody, however, and even many hybrid supporters will readily acknowledge that there are disadvantages to such vehicles.

Hefty Sticker Price

• The major turn-off for many people with hybrids is their sticker price. Hybrids often cost several thousand dollars more than comparable vehicles with traditional internal combustion engines only; that difference in price is just too much for many people to bear, particularly during tough economic times.

Look Out for the Batteries

• Metal hybride batteries are what provide the electric juice for some hybrids, and such batteries run at high voltages -- voltages that some people fear could kill a person in the event of a crash. Hybrid manufacturers have downplayed the problem and its risks, but skeptics remain concerned.

Other Battery Concerns

• Another concern with hybrid batteries is their shelf life; while they can last up to 200,000 miles, they are expensive to replace. Additionally, the batteries can be balky when used in cold weather locations, and the hybrid may run far more on straight gas as a result. Additionally, the heaviness of the batteries leads some people to contend that hybrids may not handle as smoothly as they should.

Too Quiet

• It seems odd that a vehicle not being noisy would be seen as a disadvantage, but that's what some people contend, particularly the blind. The quiet operation of hybrids is difficult for the visually impaired to detect, leading to concerns for the safety of blind pedestrians.

Parts and Service

• Trying to find a hybrid to purchase can be difficult; they are made in limited numbers, and hard to find at times. Just as hard to find are parts and service, perhaps more so. The skills needed to work on hybrid vehicles different from regular cars, and finding a mechanic who is knowledgeable on hybrids may take some searching. Nor do all dealerships carry parts for hybrids.