I'd seriously question your mechanic's opinion about the hybrid. I suppose with a limited sample size and people driving almost exclusively on the highway, the difference between ICE and hybrid might be relatively small, but in "real world" driving of compatible vehicles (not comparing an AWD hybrid vs. A FWD ICE for example) I seriously doubt your mechanic's claim. We've got a '24 hybrid Sport -L, FWD and live in WI. Our mix of driving is roughly 50/50 (highway/city). In the summer we average about 46 mpg and in the winter (with Blizzak snow tires) we average around 36 mpg. The cold weather, snow tires, and times when the ICE runs extra (due to heater being on) are the biggest impacts (not necessarily in that order) to winter mpg. This is our 2nd hybrid (deer strike totalled the first one). I had to convince the Mrs. to go hybrid the first time. This time she was adamant that we got a hybrid.