Matt Smith is the head of content at CarGurus and has been an automotive journalist for over a decade. He’s test-driven and reviewed a ton of different vehicles. But as much as most journalists love to wax poetic about handling dynamics or interior materials, Smith knows the average buyer has a single concern. “You want to go from point A to point B and spend as little money as possible.”

When it comes to dollars per mile, he argues that a single sedan stands head-and-shoulders above every other vehicle. “I don’t think there is a more cost-effective vehicle on the market—from purchase price to operating costs, to expected longevity—than the Toyota Corolla Hybrid.”

Why the hybrid? Well, it doesn’t hurt that the 2025 FWD model received an EPA rating of up to 53 city/46 highway mpg. But your savings at the pump isn’t the only reason.

How hybrid cars became the most reliable vehicles around

In the latest Consumer Reports reliability ratings, hybrid cars outranked every other vehicle segment. This is based on the number of repairs that thousands of surveyed owners had to complete in the past year. 

How can a more complex hybrid system be more reliable? Its electric motor/generator helps slow the car down—and then launches it from a standstill. This saves wear and tear on the traditional engine and hydraulic brakes, reducing the amount of service you’ll need—and saving you even more money.

In the following CarGuru’s TikTok video, Smith’s co-host had to agree: “It’s true: dollar for dollar. You will get tired of driving that car decades before it wears out.” But he suggested a different Japanese sedan to fend off the boredom. “I’m a snob. I like my Civic. The Civic is a little more…it’s got a little more juju.” You can see the original video embedded below:

Note that the “Corolla Cross” SUV is a separate vehicle, with a separate fuel rating.