Hybrid sales are up 22% this year while EV sales fall. What that means for upkeep

What NADA reported

In its September 2026 Market Beat, NADA said new light-vehicle sales ran at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.0 million in September, down 3.6% from a year earlier. SAAR is the yearly total the market would reach if it kept that month’s pace, adjusted for the season. For the year so far, the rate is 16.1 million, down 1.9%.

Inside those numbers, the mix is shifting. Hybrid sales are up 22.4% so far this year, and hybrids are now 15.6% of sales. Battery electric sales are down 29.2%, to a 6.2% share. NADA called conventional hybrid sales “red hot” and said electric sales have fallen since the federal EV tax credits ended in September 2025, which also pulled some 2025 sales forward.

Why it matters at the pump

A hybrid still runs on gas, but it uses an electric motor and battery to burn less of it. Fuel is expensive right now: AAA said the national average was $4.36 a gallon on October 8, and that 2026 is the first year the average has been above $4 in October. Our gas vs. EV cost guide shows how to work out cost per mile for your own car.

How hybrid upkeep compares

The U.S. Department of Energy says hybrid maintenance is similar to a conventional car, because a hybrid still has a gas engine. It needs oil changes, filters, coolant, tires and the usual inspections.

Two differences stand out:

• Brakes often last longer. Hybrids recharge their battery through regenerative braking, which slows the car with the electric motor, so the brake pads do less of the work.
• There are two batteries. A large high-voltage battery drives the electric motor, and a small low-voltage battery starts the car before the big one is engaged. That small battery wears out like any car battery.

Many mobile mechanics handle hybrid oil changes, brakes, filters and the low-voltage battery in your driveway. Work on the high-voltage system needs special training and equipment, so ask before you book.

One thing to know before winter

Cold weather hits hybrid fuel economy harder than a regular car’s. The Department of Energy says hybrid mileage can drop about 30% to 34% in city driving at 20°F, compared with roughly 15% for a gas car.