Electric vehicles are grabbing all the headlines, so it can be easy to forget that hybrid cars are the better choice for many drivers. There aren’t very many diesel hybrid cars on offer, but they can offer a superb combination of low emissions and excellent mpg figures. Here’s everything you need to know about diesel-electric hybrid cars and some of the best hybrid models available.
Best Diesel Hybrid Cars to Buy in 2024
- Audi Q7 3.0 e-tron
- Citroën DS5
- Mercedes C-Class C300h
- Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4
- Range Rover Sport Hybrid 3.0 SDV6
- Volvo V60 D6
- Mercedes GLC 300 de
- Do Diesel Hybrid Cars Exist?
- Pros of Diesel Hybrid Cars
- Cons of Diesel Hybrid Cars
Audi Q7 3.0 e-tron (2017-2018)
Audi’s e-tron name has come to symbolise its electrified models and the Q7 was one of the first it offered, arriving back in 2017 – although it was only sold new for a very short time. Combining a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine and electric motor, it delivered a total of 368bhp. That was good enough for 0-62mph in a rapid 6.2 seconds from this plug-in hybrid, though more drivers will be interested in the claimed 156.9mpg and 34 miles on EV power. That was achieved under the previous fuel economy assessment system, but you can still expect excellent economy and around 25 miles of silent battery-only driving. As an alternative to the BMW X5 xDrive40e or Volvo XC90 T8, the Q7 e-tron is extremely refined and cost-effective if you can plug it in to make the make the most of the EV range.
Audi Q7 Review
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Citroën DS5 (2012-2015)
You used to see the DS badge on the back of Citroens before it became a brand in its own right, and the Citroen DS5 was one of the first cars available as a diesel hybrid. It’s a handsome hatchback with nicely detailed cabin, while the 161bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and 36bhp electric motor deliver brisk performance – expect 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds. Power from the diesel engine goes to the front wheels and the electric motor powers the rears, so you have all-wheel drive when the two work together. If you make the most of the hybrid electric power, the DS5 is capable of 85.6mpg average economy, though a real world figure of around 50mpg is more likely. It emits 99g/km of carbon dioxide, which helps to keep running costs low.
Citroen DS5 Review
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Mercedes C-Class C300h (2014-2018)
Mercedes-Benz went straight to the heartland of company car drivers with the C300h, which arrived in 2014. Its 2.1-litre turbodiesel engine was mated to a 27bhp electric motor and the drivetrain offered excellent performance of 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds. The C300h’s CO2 emissions of between 94-99g/km, depending on which trim level and wheel size you choose, helps to make it affordable to run. The claimed combined economy of 78.5mpg was measured under the previous system rather than today's WLTP process, but is attainable as the hybrid drivetrain system switches off the diesel engine when you lift off the accelerator pedal when the car is in Eco or Comfort modes. This makes the Mercedes a good choice over rivals from Audi, BMW or Lexus. So does that fact that it provides a comfortable and relaxing driving experience, along with a cabin that’s roomy enough and plush enough to make it feel like a mini limousine.
Mercedes C-Class Review
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Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (2012-2016)
Peugeot’s answer to offering all-wheel drive in its 3008 SUV was to fit its Hybrid4 system, shared with the Citroen DS5. It comes with 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and electric motor to give a total of 197bhp and a claimed 74mpg average consumption. In normal driving, around 50mpg is more realistic, but it’s worth remembering this earlier generation of Hybrid4 can only drive for up to three miles on electric power alone. Worth considering for the smooth drivetrain, but the ride is quite firm to cope with the weight of the battery pack compared to rivals such as the Ford Kuga or Volkswagen Tiguan.
Peugeot 3008 Review
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Range Rover Sport Hybrid 3.0 SDV6 (2014-2018)
Before Land Rover offered its plug-in hybrid model there was the Sport Hybrid 3.0 SDV6. As well as its turbodiesel engine, it came with a 35kW electric motor to deliver a massive 516lb ft (700Nm) of low-down shove for supreme off-road ability and on-road performance. This Sport only has regenerative braking to charge up the battery, so it can only drive for very short bursts on just electric power. However, its claimed 44.1mpg average economy and real world 40mpg are both useful improvements over the diesel-only SDV6 model, so it will help minimise your fuel costs. It also gives a Porsche Cayenne diesel a run for its money with 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds.
Range Rover Sport Review
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Volvo V60 D6 (2013-2018)
The Volvo V60 D6’s clever powertrain was a revelation when it was launched in 2013. Plug-in cars were a novelty then, but Volvo saw the potential for a car that could drive for up to 32 miles with zero emissions from its exhausts. The six-speed automatic gearbox made it easy and smooth to drive, while 149mpg claimed economy and 49g/km CO2 output still make this estate easy on the wallet as a used car. There was also the option to charge up the battery as you drove on the motorway and store the energy to use for EV-only use in town. The major downside was the battery and electric motor reduced boot space to just 305 litres, which was not much more than most superminis.
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Mercedes GLC 300 de (2023-present)
Like we’ve said, the choice of diesel hybrids has been somewhat limited in recent years, and due to the catastrophic decline in the popularity of diesel, most manufacturers gave up on developing them some time ago, meaning that buyers wanting such a car had to look mainly to the used car market. That list of ‘most manufacturers’, however, does not include Mercedes. The Stuttgart outfit clearly believes there’s life in the concept yet, and you can buy brand new diesel hybrid versions of both the latest C-Class and the E-Class models. However, we’ve gone for the diesel PHEV version of the latest GLC SUV here, because according to the numbers, it has the most efficient powertrain. Its 31.2kWh lithium-ion battery gives it an all-electric driving range of up to 84 miles, and a WLTP fuel economy figure of 706.3mpg, although do bear in mind that this figure will be every bit as implausible as it sounds. It’s a fabulous car in other ways, too, with a smooth and relaxed driving experience, plenty of space and practicality, a sophisticated-feeling cabin and Mercedes brilliant infotainment tech.
Mercedes GLC Review
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Do Diesel Hybrid Cars Exist?
Although they're rare, diesel hybrids do exist. They use a diesel engine and electric motor to drive the car, which is known as a ‘parallel hybrid’ because the two different power sources can work together or separately. Most diesel hybrids rely more on the internal combustion engine and have the battery-powered electric motor to help boost performance when required and drive for shorter distances on electric-only power. This helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions when driving in towns and cities, while making the most of the diesel engine’s fuel efficiency on the motorway.
Petrol or diesel, it’s important to remember that there are various different types of hybrid. Mild hybrids are the least sophisticated, because these use a small electric motor - which usually amounts to little more than a posh starter motor - to provide a small amount of extra electric shove when pulling away to take a fraction of the burden off the combustion engine. These can’t run on electric power alone (hardly a Tesla rival, then), and the efficiency gains are very marginal, so we haven’t included mild hybrids in this list. A lot of new car models fitted with a diesel engine come with mild hybrid technology included, so they’re kind of nothing special.
Then there are the self-charging hybrids. Like with hybrid vehicles that use petrol engines, such as the iconic Toyota Prius and Honda Insight models, diesel-electric cars that are self-charging hybrids have a battery that can only be charged up by regenerative braking. As the car slows, energy that would otherwise be lost in heat and noise is recycled into the battery by the hybrid system, and used for propulsion later on.
The most sophisticated hybrids of the bunch are plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which still have regenerative braking, but you can also top-up the battery by connecting the car to a charging point. This offers faster recharging and a much longer electric range, so you can drive for longer on electric power and your overall economy has the potential to be far greater.
Pros of Diesel Hybrid Cars
Diesel cars are well known for their excellent fuel economy on long-distance drives on the motorway. A diesel plug-in hybrid provides this and has the added advantage of being able to run around town on electric power. City driving is also good for regenerative braking to charge up the battery. There is no range anxiety with a diesel hybrid car as you always have the internal combustion engine to fall back on when the battery runs low on electricity. With the self-charging hybrid models, you don’t even need to think about plugging them in to charge up. On more open roads, you get better performance as the diesel engine and electric motor combine to give strong acceleration. Low CO2 emissions make them attractive to company car drivers.
Cons of Diesel Hybrid Cars
Unlike a car with only a diesel engine fitted, a diesel hybrid car has to move the added weight of the battery pack when it’s not sending power to the wheels. This reduces fuel economy and performance (just the same as with a petrol hybrid).
Hybrid cars also offer little or no economy gains on the motorway where non-hybrid diesels are at their most fuel efficient. If you tow a trailer or caravan, it’s also important to check weight limits as many hybrid cars either have a reduced towing capacity or cannot tow at all.
Finding a diesel hybrid to buy in the first place might also prove difficult, because as we’ve said, there aren’t that many models to choose from that have such technology.