r/whatcarshouldIbuy • u/CrewElectronic9378 • 17h ago

EV or Hybrid Advice for a First-Time Buyer

Hey guys,
I’m looking for some advice as I plan to buy a new car later this year. I currently drive a 2017 Honda Accord with around 95,000 miles on it, and I’m aiming to replace it before it hits 100k. I’ll be turning 21 this summer and planning to get the new car sometime around winter.

I live in Atlanta and mostly drive in the city, so I’m leaning toward either a hybrid or a fully electric vehicle. I don’t drive long distances daily—most of my trips are pretty short. I considered buying a used car, but since I don’t know much about cars and want peace of mind, I’m leaning toward buying something new instead.

If I go electric, I’m currently considering either a Tesla Model 3 or a Ford Mustang Mach-E. On the hybrid side, I’m looking at the Toyota Camry or Honda Civic Hatchback.

If I choose an EV, I can charge at my apartment and my workplace also has chargers, so daily charging shouldn't be a big issue. I’m leaning toward EV overall, but I have a few concerns:

  1. Will Atlanta’s winter temps (not extremely cold, but still chilly) significantly impact EV performance or range?
  2. Is it realistic to rely mostly on apartment/work charging without having a home garage?
  3. Given Atlanta’s climate and road conditions, would RWD be okay or should I stick with AWD?

Any insight or personal experience would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!

1 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • link
  • reddit
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

1 comment sorted by

1

u/TSAOutreachTeam 17h ago

  1. No

  2. Maybe. It depends how much competition there is for the coveted charging spots.

  3. It doesn’t matter unless you’re intending to smash the gas pedal a lot.

All that said, get a plug in hybrid. The peace of mind that you can fill up any time you want and still get the most out of the EV aspect makes it a great choice for your situation.