Can’t decide between a petrol or diesel car or an electric car? Then perhaps a hybrid could be right for you. Hybrid cars combine a petrol or (rarely) a diesel combustion engine with an electric motor to give better fuel economy and CO2 emissions. They come with an automatic gearbox as standard and generally cost less than an equivalent electric car, so the best hybrid cars offer an easy drive, good fuel efficiency and affordable ownership costs.
To clarify, we’re focusing here on full-hybrid cars – also known as regular hybrids or self-charging hybrids. This type of hybrid combines its two power sources to drive the wheels, although some allow you to drive (slowly) for a mile or so using electric power alone. Their battery pack is recharged under braking, so there’s no need – and no way – to plug them in to a home or public charger.
Check out our separate guide for more info on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars, which have different characteristics. Here, we’re focusing exclusively on our top 10 full hybrids – each one gives you a smooth drive, sensible running costs and, of course, no cause for ‘range anxiety’.
Best Hybrid Cars 2025
Best Hybrid SUVs
Hyundai Tucson (2021-)
The Hyundai Tucson is available as a mild hybrid, a self-charging hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. While the plug-in model is theoretically capable of 200+ mpg and gives low benefit-in-kind costs as a company car, the real sweet spot in the range is the self-charging hybrid model. With 227bhp, it’s got the sort of effortless shove that used to be the preserve of turbodiesel models, and it’s capable of achieving almost 50mpg.
Inside, there are swish-looking display screens (one for the driver and a large central touchscreen for the infotainment system), plus plenty of kit. You get a leather-trimmed steering wheel, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, satnav, dual-zone climate control and cruise control – even on the entry-level model.
Hyundai Tucson Review
Kia Sorento (2020-)
The Kia Sorento is a big, classy seven-seat SUV that gives you much better fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than you might expect for this type of car thanks to its hybrid powertrain.
It's a fantastic family car, with seating for seven, and all seven seats get their own USB plug sockets. All three rows have individual temperature controls, too, so every passenger remains comfortable. There's a decent boot, even when all seven seats are in use, and if you fold down the third row it gives you a huge, flat load area. With all this plus a stylish interior and longer-than-average warranty, and it isn't hard to see why we think the Sorento is one of the best best seven-seater hybrid cars around.
An honourable mention to the Hyundai Santa Fe here, too – it’s available with the same hybrid powertrain as the Sorento, is similarly spacious inside, and has an appealing retro-modern exterior design.
Kia Sorento Review
Lexus LBX (2024-)
Lexus has been making hybrid-powered SUVs for a long time, with the first – the RX400h – arriving way back in 2005. And since 2024 it's offered the LBX, which packages all of that expertise into a car that’s about the same size as a Nissan Juke.
Thanks to its smooth hybrid system, the LBX has the drive and performance to go with its upmarket image. And although Lexus doesn’t quote a specific pure-electric range, the LBX can use battery power alone more often than you might expect, giving quiet, zero-emissions travel for short distances at low speed or when cruising.
Lexus LBX Review
Kia Sportage (2022-)
You probably know that many Kia and Hyundai models share a lot of parts and the Sportage – a rival for cars such as the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq – is another example. Under its bold-looking exterior it uses a lot of the same mechanical and electrical bits as the Hyundai Tucson. That includes its excellent hybrid system, which combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for excellent mpg and a 0-60mph time of about eight seconds.
The Sportage is as stylish inside as it is on the outside, with a high-tech look that includes a widescreen dash display. It also has a real feeling of quality and it’s one of the most practical mid-size SUVs, with lots of legroom and headroom inside. You get more boot space than you do with most similar cars, too, and the rear seat backs have a versatile 40/20/40 split and can be reclined for extra comfort.
Kia Sportage Review
Best Hybrid Family Cars
Toyota Corolla (2019-)
Toyota was a pioneer of hybrid models, with the Prius dominating global hybrid sales since its launch in the late 1990s. Today, most Toyota models are available only as hybrids and the Corolla is a case in point. It’s available with two hybrid options – one with a 1.8-litre engine, the other with a 2.0-litre unit – and in hatchback and estate forms (a saloon was sold new between 2019 and 2022).
According to official figures you should get up to about 60mpg, depending on model, and the good news is that the Corolla’s real-world fuel economy seems to live up to this. It’s also more fun to drive than you might expect, and comes with lots of equipment. And then there’s Toyota’s remarkable warranty, with cover for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles as long as you have the car serviced at a Toyota dealership each year.
Toyota Corolla Review
Honda Civic (2022-)
Honda was hot on Toyota’s heels as a pioneer of the hybrid movement with the first-generation Honda Insight, and these days many of its cars are hybrids, and that includes the excellent eleventh-generation Civic.
Aside from the racy Type R hot hatch version, all Civics are hybrids – using the same 'HEV' hybrid system that combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors to develop a combined power output of 180bhp and deliver official fuel economy of 60.1mpg. It delivers that power smoothly and eagerly, aided by the car’s clever gearbox, and the car is generally a very relaxed and sophisticated-feeling thing to drive. Add in its high-quality interior, roomy cabin, large boot, generous equipment and excellent reliability record, and the Civic is one of the finest family cars on sale today, hybrid or otherwise.
Honda Civic Review
Best Small Hybrid Cars
Renault Clio E-Tech (2019-)
Renault has moved into the world of electric cars and hybrid technology quicker than many rivals and now offers a huge range of electrified models. While the Clio E-Tech is the cheapest of these as a new car it’s also one of the best, offering hybrid power in a car that’s compact and cost-effective yet also well-equipped and downright stylish.
The Clio E-Tech’s combination of a 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor works well, with enough power for responsive acceleration and a generally smooth drive. The interior looks good and there’s a touchscreen infotainment system that's refreshingly easy to use. While the hybrid version of the Clio has less boot space than petrol versions (because of its additional battery pack) it still has a larger load area than a Ford Fiesta.
Renault Clio Review
MG3 Hybrid (2024-)
MG has become famous for its budget-priced electric cars over the past few years but the latest MG3 is something a bit different because... it’s a budget-priced hybrid. In fact, as of mid-2025, it’s the cheapest new full-hybrid car you can buy in the UK. And by quite a long way, undercutting the next cheapest – the Renault Clio – by about £3,000.
It even costs less than many similar cars with a petrol engine, yet the MG3 comes well-equipped, with entry-level SE models having Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, climate control and a rear-view camera as standard. Higher-spec Trophy models add £2,000 to the price, but have features such as LED headlights, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and artificial leather upholstery. All versions are fun to drive and surprisingly quick. Back-seat space and boot capacity are below average, but the interior is solid and stylish.
MG3 Review
Honda Jazz (2020-)
The Honda Jazz is one of the most practical small cars around. Its MPV-like one-box styling might not make it the swishest-looking supermini, but it does make it immensely spacious, and its clever seat folding mechanism only adds to its practicality.
For the current mk4 version of the Honda Jazz, hybrid power is the only engine option. It’s not quite as fuel-efficient as a Toyota Yaris hybrid or as refined as a Renault Clio, but it’ll still achieve 55-60mpg in everyday driving conditions. Renowned for its reliability, the Jazz is a solid, likeable small car that makes a very sensible buy.
Honda Jazz Review
Toyota Yaris Cross (2021-)
The Yaris Cross offers all the benefits of the regular Yaris supermini (a reputation for reliability, plenty of standard equipment and an impressively fuel-efficient hybrid system) but in an SUV-shaped package that gives you a higher driving position and useful extra boot space. You also get the added option of four-wheel drive. It doesn’t turn the Yaris Cross into an off-road beast that will keep up with a Range Rover in the rough, but it could come in handy if you live in a more remote location, or you simply like having the extra reassurance it can provide.
It’s a shame that the interior of the Yaris Cross looks rather plain, and that there’s not more rear-seat space. Everything feels solid and is easy to use, however, while the boot offers more load space than a Volkswagen Golf. And, this being a Toyota, there’s the potential for warranty cover for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles from new.
Toyota Yaris Cross Review