Best hybrid cars 2024

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Best hybrid cars 2024

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Millions of hybrid cars are sold globally each year, and there's something to suit every budget and need. We've picked the 10 best hybrid cars you can buy from a range of sectors.

If you want to buy or lease a hybrid car you've never been more spoilt for choice.  Car brands from Vauxhall all the way to Bentley now offer some sort of hybrid car for sale, with efforts to reduce emissions and boost fuel economy now front-and-centre of many makers' priorities. 

Importantly, hybrid cars are also a useful stepping stone for those who aren't fully ready to commit to an electric car, or who are unable to charge at home. You'll find examples in almost every car type, from affordable hybrid small cars to seven-seat SUVs and luxury cars that can run on electric power. 

The best hybrid cars marry a punchy petrol and diesel engine to an electric motor and battery pack. Many drivers will find that this offers the best of both worlds: the ability to cruise around town in near silence and with zero pollution or fuel burned, but the peace of mind of knowing you can fire up the engine for those longer runs. 

There are two very different types of hybrid, however, so it's worth checking out our guide to hybrid cars to get a better idea of what suits your needs and journeys.

Pick from one of the best plug-in hybrid cars (known as PHEVs for short) and they can be charged up at home in a few hours and provide an electric range of more than 30 miles in many cases. While that might not seem like a lot, if you're just doing short drives like the school run or popping into town, then you might not need the petrol engine to start up at all. Simply plug the hybrid car in at the end of the day to to charge (just as you would with an electric car), and have the engine there for your bigger journeys.  

PHEVs offer huge company car tax benefits, too. But the downside is that they are usually more expensive to buy or lease, and back seat or boot space can be reduced to squeeze in a heavy battery pack. Furthermore, once that electric range is depleted most are no more efficient than the equivalent petrol or diesel version. 

Some brands offer simpler, cheaper self-charging (full) hybrids, which charge a smaller battery from the engine itself or by regenerating energy from braking or coasting. While these can only go a small distance on electric power alone, by blending both petrol and electric power together they can offer impressive efficiency. They don't offer the same short distance fuel savings or tax benefits as PHEVs, however. 

You might want to take a look at our guides to the best small hybrid cars and the best hybrid SUVs if you've got a clearer idea of what you want. If you're ready to buy we've got over 10,000 Used Hybrid Cars for Sale, while if you want more choice, we have over 70,000 Used Cars for Sale. If you're looking to save money, check out our guide to the Best Car Deals.

Best hybrid cars 2024

  1. BMW 3 Series
  2. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  3. Kia Sorento
  4. Volvo XC40
  5. Honda Civic
  6. Skoda Octavia estate
  7. Toyota C-HR
  8. Hyundai Tucson
  9. Range Rover Evoque
  10. Lexus NX

1. BMW 330e

PHEV

BMW 3 Series Review 2023: front dynamic
9/10

The BMW 3 Series is a staple of the new and used car markets, and loved by business and private buyers alike. It's recently been updated to keep it fresh-faced next to models like the Mercedes C-Class, also in this list. 

The 3 Series - along with BMW itself - used to be synonymous with creamy straight-six engines. It still does some of those in the performance models, but nowadays things are different. You're more likely to see a BMW 330e parked on your street than any six-cylinders, that's for sure. 

The big reason the 330e is now so popular is because its plug-in hybrid system allows for super low company car tax. It's the default choice for businesses, then, but part of that is that it's just such a good all-rounder. 

Using a 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor and battery pack, it puts out a healthy 288PS and is also capable of up to 38 miles on a charge. Up to 217mpg is possible if you plug it in, too. It's also fun to drive, with superb handling yet also decent refinement, while the interior is a class act with top-notch quality and easy-to-use tech. 

2. Mercedes-Benz C 300 e

PHEV

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review 2023: exterior front three quarter photo of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class on the road
9/10

Compact executive cars with hybrid engines are big business. This shouldn't be surprising, because so many are company cars and hybrids offer huge Benefit-in-Kind tax savings. The Mercedes C-Class is the posh small saloon of choice for this very reason.

You see, the C300e plug-in hybrid offers up to 62 miles of smooth, silent battery power before the petrol engine kicks into life. That's nearly double that of the BMW 330e, and means the Merc is by far the cheapest for business users. 

But there's plenty of appeal to everyone, as the long EV range means impressive economy as long as you  charge it up regularly, and punchy performance thanks to 312hp with the petrol engine and electric motor working in unison. A comfortable ride combines with excellent refinement to make every journey relaxing, too. 

What more, you get a plush cabin loaded with fancy technology, more space than most rivals and a reel feeling that you're driving around in a mini S-Class

3. Kia Sorento

PHEV and self-charging hybrid

Kia Sorento Review 2023: exterior side photo of the Kia Sorento
9/10

If you're in the market for a hybrid car that can comfortably carry up to seven people, look no further than the new Kia Sorento. The upmarket SUV (yes, Kia knows how to do upmarket these days) is available as a self-charging hybrid or plug-in hybrid (as well as a diesel), with both combining a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a battery pack and electric motor.

It's not a cheap option, with petrol or diesel versions of the SEAT Tarraco and Skoda Kodiaq undercutting it on price. It's fully loaded, though, with an 8-inch media system, heated seats and LED headlights standard across the range. We'd suggest looking for a '2' model or above for leather seats and generally plusher cabin.

Unless you're a company car driver, we'd probably recommend the slightly more affordable self-charging hybrid model over the PHEV. There aren't many used examples on the market yet but we've seen nearly-new models on sale from around £36,000.

4. Volvo XC40

PHEV and self-charging hybrid

Volvo XC40 Review 2024: Static
9/10

With its bold exterior design and Scandi-cool interior, the Volvo XC40 is one of our favourite small premium SUVs on sale today. It's available with a wide range of engines – including a self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid and even all-electric power.

It's the plug-in hybrid Volvo XC40 Recharge we're focussing on here. There are actually two XC40 PHEV models available: the T4 and T5. Both use a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with an electric motor to provide 211PS in the T4 and 262PS in the T5. Both can travel up to 28 miles on a charge.

Unless you really need hot hatch performance from your plug-in hybrid SUV, we'd save the cash and go for an XC40 Recharge T4. The sporty R-Design trim is perhaps its most appealing, with standard kit including 19-inch alloy wheels, a power tailgate and part-leather seats.

5. Honda Civic

Self-charging hybrid

Honda Civic Review 2023: front driving
8/10

Honda doesn't have the same reputation for hybrids as Toyota, but the Japanese rival has been beavering away on them for some years now. We were quietly impressed with the hybrid-only Honda CR-V and the Honda Jazz when they were launched, but the new Honda Civic has blown both out of the water. 

Like its siblings the latest Civic is only available as a hybrid car, using a self-charging hybrid system. But this one is even better than before thanks to all sorts of engineering wizardry from Honda. With 184PS it'll get from 0-62mph in a pretty potent 7.8 seconds, and with a new type of electric CVT gearbox it feels a lot more like a traditional automatic - yet it's still super smooth in town. 

The new Civic is also a really nice thing to drive because of its sorted ride and handling. Yet the practical stuff hasn't been forgotten about: it's roomy and comfortable, build quality is excellent and the Civic has the best in-car technology we've yet seen from Honda. 

It might be a little more expensive than rivals like the Toyota Corolla, and not very exciting to look at, but the Honda Civic is now one of best self-charging hybrid cars around. 

6. Skoda Octavia Estate

PHEV and mild-hybrid

Skoda Octavia Estate side
8/10

It's hard not to be impressed with the Skoda Octavia Estate. Comfortable and with a good-sized cabin, the Octavia's boot should easily be large enough for most families needs. The latest model is also nicely equipped and, considering what you get, it represents great value for money. 

The Skoda Octavia Estate is available in a variety of petrol and diesel flavours, but there's also the choice of mild hybrid and PHEV power. The mild-hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver a claimed 51.9mpg, though our pick is the 1.4-litre TSI iV PHEV that combines a 1.4 petrol engine with an electric motor and battery pack. This sees the Octavia iV able to cover 43 miles under electric power alone, while the combined power output of 204PS means it's pretty quick, hitting 62mph in 7.8 seconds. 

If that's not quick enough for you, there's also a hot vRS model which, like the standard estate, also comes as a plug-in hybrid with 245PS and an electric-only range of 38 miles. 

7. Toyota C-HR

PHEV and self-charging hybrid

Toyota C-HR Review 2024: static
8/10

The new Toyota C-HR has been given a visual makeover which looks great, and the only powertrain options are hybrid ones. There are three to pick from, with 1.8 and 2-litre hybrid engines connected to a e-CVT gearbox, while a plug-in hybrid model will arrive soon and offer an impressive 40 miles of range on a charge.

So that’s the hybrid requirement checked off, what about the rest of the car? Well, this is a small crossover SUV, so while its diminutive size is handy on city streets and around car parks, it means space inside is a little more at a premium. Up front there’s just enough space for adults, but the rear seats are best reserved for children or bags. Don't expect too much boot space either.

Throughout the C-HR you’ll find a quality finish, with recycled materials and nice attention to detail - move up the trim range and things only improve with more eye-catching finishes and a bucket load of additional tech.

Handling is good too, with very little roll and it’s nimble through the corners. It’s not going to wow you with performance, but the Toyota C-HR gets the job done around town or on the motorway without much fuss.

8. Hyundai Tucson

PHEV, self-charging and mild hybrid

Hyundai Tucson Review 2024: exterior dynamic front
8/10

The Hyundai Tucson is quieter in the cabin than a Nissan Qashqai, more fun to drive than a Skoda Karoq, and boasts the biggest boot in its class - plus there are a trio of hybrid options to pick from so it should be cheap to run.

If you need a spacious family SUV and want something that's going to turn heads, the Tucson is a great choice. It's got a smart interior that's well kitted out, while the infotainment is quite possibly the best in the business.

The mild-hybrid is the thirstiest of the options, so you’ll be better off opting for self-charging or plug-in hybrid power, although the latter will reduce the cavernous 620 litre boot a touch.

There’s plenty of space for passengers too, with tall folks in the back benefiting from decent leg and headroom. You’ll also find a pleasing array of storage cubbies and a large glove box in the cabin.

Prices start just under £30,000 for a new Tucson, but you can save yourself several thousand pounds if you look for a recent second hand model.

9. Range Rover Evoque

PHEV

Range Rover Evoque Review 2024: side exterior
8/10

While it's easy to dismiss Range Rovers as gas guzzlers, the more compact Evoque really isn't any worse for the environment than a standard family hatchback – especially if you buy the P300e plug-in hybrid model. This uses the brand's new 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine to power the front wheels, while an electric motor takes care of the rear axle.

As such, the Evoque PHEV boasts 34 miles of engine-off range, and can even travel up to 84mph before the petrol motor needs to kick in. Acceleration is impressively rapid, covering 0-62mph in just 6.1 seconds. Refinement is good, while this being a Land Rover it'll still go further than rivals off-road - having electric power on the rear axle actually improves its ability in the rough stuff. 

Land Rover says that charging the Evoque P300e using a domestic three-pin socket takes around seven hours, meaning it can be fully topped up overnight. We'd recommend using a professionally installed home charge point, though, which can charge the Evoque in as little as two hours. 

10. Lexus NX

PHEV and self-charging hybrid

Lexus NX Review 2023: NX350h side profile
8/10

The new Lexus NX might look quite a bit like the old Lexus NX, but it's a much better car underneath. Plus, whereas the old model was only a self-charging hybrid, you now get the choice of a plug-in hybrid too, so there's something for every situation. 

Behind the NX's angular body is an interior of peerless quality, while the normally fiddly Lexus infotainment has been greatly improved. It's more spacious, too. But it's the driving experience that's the biggest revelation. 

The old NX wasn't remotely fun to drive and had a pretty poor ride quality, meaning it was totally outclassed by the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. The new car is much better at balancing a comfortable ride with tidy handling, while delivering better performance, too. 

Both the hybrid choices are good, but if you're doing bigger miles then it's the NX350h self-charging hybrid that makes the most sense with an overall 47.9mpg economy figure. The NX450h+ is quite a bit more expensive, but significantly faster, and capable of impressive economy thanks to an electric range of up to 47 miles. 

Best Hybrid Car FAQs

Lawrence Allan

Written by

Lawrence Allan

The best hybrid car on sale today depends on your requirements. If you're looking for an urban runaround, both the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris are excellent hybrid cars that represent good value for money and will be very cheap to run. For buyers needing more space, look at the bigger Toyota Corolla or SUVs like the Ford Kuga. Otherwise, the BMW 5 Series has to be one of the best hybrid cars available today. 

A hybrid car is one powered by both a conventional petrol engine and an electric motor. A self-charging hybrid car features batteries which can be charged from the engine, as well as via energy captured when the car's slowing down. Plug-in hybrid cars, meanwhile, feature bigger batteries which need to be charged by plugging the car in, but also means that they can travel upwards of 40 miles on electricity alone and are great for short commutes. 

In simple terms, a hybrid car uses an electric motor and battery pack to reduce your reliance on the petrol or diesel engine. In a self-charging hybrid car an electric motor and small battery pack constantly assists the petrol engine, or allows some electric-only running for short distances. It charges itself as the engine puts out power, as well as via regenerative braking or coasting. Some self-charging hybrids use the engine as a generator to put electric power to the wheels instead, which makes it more efficient than using the engine alone.

A plug-in hybrid - or PHEV for short - needs charging up by plugging in. That's the downside, the upside is you can get more than 30 miles of driving without troubling the petrol engine once. They do cost more to buy, however, plus they're a lot heavier than standard versions. Read our guide to hybrid vs PHEV here.

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