Not surprisingly, electrified vehicle (hybrid and EV) sales have picked up this year, thanks to the unstable fuel prices and growing number of choices. No doubt, you likely have a friend or two who has already made the switch.

They say that once you go electrified (whether hybrid or EV), you’re unlikely to switch back to conventional internal combustion engines (ICE). I’m starting to find that generalization to be more and more true, based on my own experience.

I don’t own a hybrid or EV yet, but as the motoring section editor, I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to borrow these kinds of vehicles from time to time in order to write reviews and shoot videos.

The past couple of months have already been quite an eye-opener as a string of hybrid and electric EVs were lined up for review. Some of the vehicles I’ve had the fortune to sample were interesting hybrids like the Mazda CX-60 Hybrid, BYD Seal 5 DM-i, Honda HR-V Hybrid, and Nissan X-Trail e-Power. I’ve also had the opportunity to borrow full EVs like the GAC Aion UT, and Dongfeng Nammi. I didn’t see it coming, but it seems these vehicles have spoiled me and have quite possibly ruined my long-held love for ICEs.

The string of hybrids were returning anywhere from 15 – 20 km/L in the heavy traffic, over my usual weekly routes. Chalk it up to the very active hybrid systems that quickly turn off the engine and switch to electric mode whenever you’re crawling forward, coasting, or waiting at a stop light. With our traffic, it happens quite frequently, and felt like the cars were on electric mode more often than being powered by the gasoline engine.

The EVs were an even bigger treat as, despite being quite small cars, they returned the kind of acceleration and response you’d expect from a large V6 or V8-powered sedan, but in a compact form. These EVs came with many of the same driver-assist features and 360-degree cameras that has become standard in larger, more high-end cars.

Best of all, whether EV or hybrid, there’s much less guilt when simply sitting in the car idling with the air conditioning on; whether just outside the house or in a mall’s underground parking lot. The hybrids simply use the battery rather than idle the engine, whereas the EVs do so very silently and effortlessly.

Range wasn’t a concern either, as even both EV’s smaller 300 – 350-km driving range proved to be more than enough for a week’s commutes and even additional errands. Even though both vehicles were supplied with a charger, I never had the need to whip it out and top up the car throughout the week.

I didn’t realize just how good I’ve had it until the string of weeks driving electrified cars was finally punctuated with a week with ICE cars. Don’t get me wrong, the last ICE I got to drive was a Changan Eado Plus. This sedan is priced at just ₱850K and is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine. And yet for that price, it’s much larger than the Vios in its same price segment, and also offers far more luxuries like a dual clutch automatic transmission, sunroof, and proper leather seats. It was followed by an even much more desirable ICE, the Toyota GR Corolla AWD.

The first cold slap of reality was the bold black plate number, reminding me that this vehicle is unfortunately banned one day of the week. The second was the higher fuel consumption. Don’t get me wrong, the Changan returned a very commendable 10-km/L in very heavy traffic. After weeks of being spoiled by high fuel efficiency, the speed at which that fuel gauge needle drops catches you by surprise.

Thanks to the hybrids’ and EVs’ extreme fuel efficiency, instant power, and buffet of features, it’s hard to deny that the benefits of owning an electrified vehicle can sometimes outweigh even the most well-priced and specced ICE models. What seemed like a ridiculously high price difference for that hybrid or EV model suddenly seems worth it the more you use the car.

After driving electrified vehicles for several weeks and then suddenly shifting back to an ICE, it feels like going back a decade, even if the ICE vehicle is still brand new. The technology involved and the convenience electrified vehicles bring truly are a world apart.

Like going from a GSM phone to a modern smart phone, once you’ve made the shift, going back just seems irrational. Perhaps later on in life, with more disposable income, I’ll keep an ICE as a weekend toy. But for daily driving, electrified really is the way to go.