Electric, hybrid or gas car quiz
Should your next car be gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric? Answer seven questions about how far you drive, where you can charge, your winters and your budget, and see which fits best, with the trade-offs for each.
Seven quick questions
A regular outlet is slow but works for short daily drives. A home charger is faster.
Cold lowers an electric car's range, often by a quarter or more in deep cold.
Answer any of the questions above and your result appears here. You can skip ones that do not matter to you.
Keep going with Uobo
Uobo is your personal car agent. Text it what you need and it does the research and the checks, asks dealerships about availability, condition and price for you, and helps you decide. This is the text you would send:
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How it works
Each answer gives points to the kinds of car it favours. The page adds them up and ranks the four options, and tells you which of your answers pointed that way. The rule is simple and visible: nothing is hidden.
Charging at home or work changes the answer more than anything else. If you cannot charge where you park, a hybrid or gas car is usually easier, whatever else you answer.
Your privacy comes first. Your answers stay on this device. You can text Uobo your result if you want help finding cars.
What this does not cover
- It is a starting point based on general rules of thumb, not a verdict. Individual models vary a lot in range, efficiency and price.
- Incentives and rebates change often and differ by province. Check the current federal and provincial programs before you decide.
- For the running costs of a specific electric and gas car in your province, use the electric vs gas cost calculator.
Common questions
Is an electric car right for me?
It suits you best when you can charge where you park, drive mostly short to medium distances, and only occasionally take very long trips. Cold winters reduce range, so think about the coldest weeks.
What is the difference between a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid?
A regular hybrid charges its small battery by itself and never plugs in. A plug-in hybrid has a larger battery you charge from the grid for daily driving, and a gas engine for longer trips.
Do electric cars work in Canadian winters?
Yes, but cold lowers range, often by a quarter or more in deep cold, and charging takes longer. Preheating while plugged in helps. If you drive long distances in very cold weather, a hybrid may suit you better.
Are electric cars cheaper to run than gas cars?
Usually, per kilometre, because electricity costs less than fuel and there are fewer parts to maintain. They often cost more to buy, so the saving takes time to build. The electric vs gas calculator compares two cars with your numbers.