Regenerative braking only works if there is spare battery capacity to absorb the energy. In general that requires a large battery to be useful. A normal car battery is nowhere near large enough and is generally topped off by the alternator.
My ICE car has regenerative braking as well, but I certainly didn't buy it for that, nor have I been able to discern the impact of it. I have driven EVs before and the regenerative braking is unmistakable.
No, it is not a hybrid. But it uses brake energy regeneration to charge car's battery when you are not accelerating. The effect is not as pronounced as on EV cars, but enough to not use brakes often in normal traffic. In the context of the GP statement, it does reduce some brake pads wear.
