The end of winter is on the horizon, at least theoretically, and maybe you’re starting to dream of hitting the ice-free road in a new car. Maybe you’ll spring for a hybrid — it would be a little pricier, of course, but with the added fuel efficiency, it’s sure to pay for itself, right?

Well, maybe. The real answer ­depends on a range of factors that vary wildly from driver to driver.

Buying a hybrid is almost always about more than just the possibility of saving money. The satisfaction of knowing you’re helping reduce carbon emissions and keep the environment healthier are very real, although they are not always easy to put a price on.

But when it comes to the bottom line, there are some questions you need to ask before making the hybrid leap:

What kind of car do you want? This first question is both the most obvious and most important. If you are eyeing a mid-size crossover vehicle, the price difference between conventional and hybrid models is probably more significant than the gap in the compact car category. A Toyota Highlander, for example, has a base price of $29,990. The hybrid version costs nearly $18,000 more. For a compact Prius C, however, you’d pay $4,665 more than a Toyota Yaris.

Do some careful comparison shopping to determine the exact premium you will pay for hybrid technology.

How much do you drive every year? Fuel is an obvious — but highly variable — source of savings for hybrid drivers. On average, over a five-year span, a hybrid midsize sedan will use $2,073 less in fuel than its conventional counterpart, assuming an annual driving distance of 15,000 miles, according to auto data firm Vincentric. If you drive twice as much, your fuel savings would double as well.

Be realistic about how much you use your car and how that will affect savings.

How long do you plan to drive the car? If you tend to trade in your cars after a few years, take note: Hybrids and conventional vehicles can depreciate at significantly different rates. Sometimes, hybrids hold their value better. Other times they don’t.

Use an online resource like kbb.com or Edmunds.com to look at trade-in values for recent model years to get a sense of whether your chosen vehicle will have much value down the road.

Have a consumer question or complaint? Reach Sarah Shemkus at seshemkus@gmail.com.