Hybrid financing jumps as EV demand cools, Experian reports
Hybrid vehicles are gaining momentum with U.S. buyers as EV demand cools, with hybrids reaching a larger share of new-vehicle financing while also offering the lowest average monthly payments.
– Hybrids accounted for 16.80% of new-vehicle financing in Q2 2026, up from 12.99% a year earlier.
– EV financing fell to 8.15%, down from 9.21% last year.
– Hybrid loans had the lowest average monthly payment at $646, compared with $692 for EVs and $721 for gasoline vehicles.
– Hybrid leases averaged $566 per month, also below gas vehicles at $602 and EVs at $641.
– The expiration of the federal EV tax credit and continued gas-price pressure are helping make hybrids more attractive to shoppers.
– The average new-vehicle loan amount increased $1,715 year over year to $43,610, while the average payment climbed $16 to $765.
– Despite higher vehicle costs, the average new-vehicle interest rate fell to 6.35% from 6.79% a year earlier.
– Refinancing also gained momentum, with consumers saving an average of $83 per month by refinancing their auto loans.
– Credit unions delivered the largest average refinance savings at $102 per month.
The financing data reinforces a broader shift in the market: consumers aren’t necessarily abandoning electrification—they’re increasingly choosing the lower-cost middle ground of hybrids. For dealers, hybrids can offer an attractive combination of fuel savings, lower payments and familiar ownership compared with fully electric vehicles.
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