Last updated August 11, 2025 by
Mario Christou
10 best hybrid cars: our favourite dual-fuel cars to cover every need
A hybrid car is the Goldilocks of the car industry, because it combines the everyday ease and peace of mind that a petrol engine provides, combined with the extra efficiency of an electric motor. Hybrid cars such as the Toyota Corolla, Peugeot 208 and Jaecoo 7 are becoming more popular all the time as buyers take their first step towards a fully electric car.
The biggest attraction of a hybrid car is that you get increased fuel economy - or even usable electric-only range - that a motor and batteries provide, while also having the convenience of a petrol or diesel engine for long drives and easy fill-ups.
Not all hybrids are created equal though, and that’s where the differences between self-charging and plug-in hybrids come in. A self-charging hybrid has an engine that's combined with the car’s regenerative braking to charge up a small battery, which in turn powers an electric motor to turn the wheels. Phew.
Plug-in hybrid cars (PHEVs) feature a larger battery than you get in a self-charging hybrid, and it provides enough power for a car to drive for a usable distance without the engine having to turn on. Some PHEVs offer the ability to charge a car’s battery on the move - handy on a motorway drive - but they’re most efficient when charged at home.
Self-charging hybrids are cheaper to buy than PHEVs are because they’re simpler and to produce and feature much smaller batteries, though you don’t get the benefit of being able to go very far without the use of the engine. You can think of them as hyper-efficient petrol cars instead, while you can consider a PHEV as an electric car with a short range that has a back-up engine on board.
All hybrids make an excellent choice of company car, as their low emissions and electric-only range means they have favourable Benefit-in-Kind payments compared to the best petrol or diesel cars. Our expert review team has comprehensively tested every hybrid car on sale in the UK, and put together this list of our favourite hybrid cars, for a variety of needs.
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2025
Car of the Year Award
1. Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Santa Fe review
Best for: unmatched practicality
The Hyundai Santa Fe is so good that it won the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards outright, beating some incredibly capable alternatives to the prize. It’s an awesome-looking SUV with loads of space inside, while being good to drive and cheap to run.
Its space-age styling is properly head turning, and seeing one drive towards you down the road will have you thinking you’re on the run from some stormtroopers when dropping the kids off to school. H-pattern headlights, big, boxy corners and chunky wheel arches give the Santa Fe some serious road presence.
The interior is great, with a big, solid-feeling dashboard topped by a curved pair of screens for the driver’s instruments and infotainment system. It doesn’t look quite as stylish or sleek as some of its SUV alternatives, but you’ll forgive it for its lack of curves thanks to its easy to use climate control panel and shortcut buttons on the dash.
It’s a bona fide seven-seater too, with a third row that’s easily accessible, and all three rows of seats have enough space for fully-grown adults to get comfortable in. There’s even a whopping 17 cupholders dotted throughout the cabin, perfect for long road trips, and a huge 628-litre boot.
You can choose from either a self-charging or plug-in hybrid engine for your Santa Fe, and while neither engine makes for rapid progress, they’re plenty powerful enough for a big family hauler - and they both offer good fuel economy for such a big, heavy brick, too; 40mpg isn’t unrealistic.
You’ll want the PHEV as a company car as it’s in a lower band for benefit-in-kind payments, but we’d opt for the self-charging hybrid as a private buyer. It’s a bit cheaper to buy with enough power to keep up in traffic.
On the road the Santa Fe makes for an easy drive, with its soft suspension ironing out bad roads around town. Motorways are comfortable too, with surprisingly little wind and road noise for a big, bluff car on wide tyres. Don’t expect sports car excitement levels on a twisty road and you’ll have a good time in the Santa Fe, wafting from bend to bend with your six comfortable passengers.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is so good that it won the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards outright, beating some incredibly capable alternatives to the prize. It’s an awesome-looking SUV with loads of space inside, while being good to drive and cheap to run.
Its space-age styling is properly head turning, and seeing one drive towards you down the road will have you thinking you’re on the run from some stormtroopers when dropping the kids off to school. H-pattern headlights, big, boxy corners and chunky wheel arches give the Santa Fe some serious road presence.
The interior is great, with a big, solid-feeling dashboard topped by a curved pair of screens for the driver’s instruments and infotainment system. It doesn’t look quite as stylish or sleek as some of its SUV alternatives, but you’ll forgive it for its lack of curves thanks to its easy to use climate control panel and shortcut buttons on the dash.
It’s a bona fide seven-seater too, with a third row that’s easily accessible, and all three rows of seats have enough space for fully-grown adults to get comfortable in. There’s even a whopping 17 cupholders dotted throughout the cabin, perfect for long road trips, and a huge 628-litre boot.
You can choose from either a self-charging or plug-in hybrid engine for your Santa Fe, and while neither engine makes for rapid progress, they’re plenty powerful enough for a big family hauler - and they both offer good fuel economy for such a big, heavy brick, too; 40mpg isn’t unrealistic.
You’ll want the PHEV as a company car as it’s in a lower band for benefit-in-kind payments, but we’d opt for the self-charging hybrid as a private buyer. It’s a bit cheaper to buy with enough power to keep up in traffic.
On the road the Santa Fe makes for an easy drive, with its soft suspension ironing out bad roads around town. Motorways are comfortable too, with surprisingly little wind and road noise for a big, bluff car on wide tyres. Don’t expect sports car excitement levels on a twisty road and you’ll have a good time in the Santa Fe, wafting from bend to bend with your six comfortable passengers.
Best for: practicality but sporty
Another award winner, the BMW X5 clinched the Adventurers Choice category of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards - and it could have taken top honours had it been a bit cheaper. It’s a handsome SUV that’s great fun to drive on a good road, while being uber-posh inside and practical, too.
It might be the best looking BMW on sale at the minute, because the X5’s slim headlights, bold grille, crisp lines and sculpted taillights all work brilliantly together. It’s not as sleek as a Porsche Cayenne or as grand as a Range Rover, but the X5 sits perfectly in between those two with its looks.
The interior is even better, as the X5’s cabin is one of the very best in the business. You’re surrounded by soft touch leather (full-fat or vegan), wood and even glass in the X5, courtesy of its crystal gear knob and infotainment knob. BMW’s curved infotainment and driver display duo has great graphics, too.
The X5 isn’t as spacious inside as the Hyundai Santa Fe is, but you still get loads of space front and back - it’s just a shame you can’t have it as a seven-seater in hybrid guise, and boot space drops down to 500 litres from 650 litres in the regular car.
You can only get one hybrid engine option in the X5 50e model, but it’s a mighty powerful engine option with 489hp - yet it’ll go as far as 64 miles on a single charge. If you’ve got a home charger or a plug at work, you might not see a petrol station for months at a time.
BMW always engineers its cars to feel as sporty as possible, and the X5 hybrid is no different. Yes, it’s incredibly comfortable around town and it makes for a serene motorway cruiser, but the X5 is most impressive on a twisty road.
Even with the extra weight of the electric motor and battery pack, the X5 is a proper laugh on a country lane, feeling more like a hot hatchback on stilts than a big SUV.
Another award winner, the BMW X5 clinched the Adventurers Choice category of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards - and it could have taken top honours had it been a bit cheaper. It’s a handsome SUV that’s great fun to drive on a good road, while being uber-posh inside and practical, too.
It might be the best looking BMW on sale at the minute, because the X5’s slim headlights, bold grille, crisp lines and sculpted taillights all work brilliantly together. It’s not as sleek as a Porsche Cayenne or as grand as a Range Rover, but the X5 sits perfectly in between those two with its looks.
The interior is even better, as the X5’s cabin is one of the very best in the business. You’re surrounded by soft touch leather (full-fat or vegan), wood and even glass in the X5, courtesy of its crystal gear knob and infotainment knob. BMW’s curved infotainment and driver display duo has great graphics, too.
The X5 isn’t as spacious inside as the Hyundai Santa Fe is, but you still get loads of space front and back - it’s just a shame you can’t have it as a seven-seater in hybrid guise, and boot space drops down to 500 litres from 650 litres in the regular car.
You can only get one hybrid engine option in the X5 50e model, but it’s a mighty powerful engine option with 489hp - yet it’ll go as far as 64 miles on a single charge. If you’ve got a home charger or a plug at work, you might not see a petrol station for months at a time.
BMW always engineers its cars to feel as sporty as possible, and the X5 hybrid is no different. Yes, it’s incredibly comfortable around town and it makes for a serene motorway cruiser, but the X5 is most impressive on a twisty road.
Even with the extra weight of the electric motor and battery pack, the X5 is a proper laugh on a country lane, feeling more like a hot hatchback on stilts than a big SUV.
2025
Urban Living Award
3. Toyota Yaris Cross
Toyota Yaris Cross review
Best for: urban life
The Toyota Yaris Cross is about as unintimidating as an SUV can get, but what it lacks in road presence it makes up for in fuel economy - and then some. It’s yet another Carwow Award winner, having driven away with the Urban Living prize in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards.
While it may not be quite as menacing in your rear view mirror as the enormous Hyundai Santa Fe or BMW X5, the Yaris Cross is still a funky looking little thing. It’s got plenty of swoopy curves and some dinky body cladding, but it’s certainly distinctive looking - and rather charming, too.
The interior isn’t quite as fun, because although it feels solid and high-quality, with pleasant soft-touch materials within reach in most places, it’s rather dour to look at. There’s little in the way of design flair, and the acres of dark-grey plastic is yawn-inducing.
It’s fairly spacious up front, for such a small car, but rear seat passengers will feel cramped for both kneeroom and headroom. The boot is well sized though, and it has a clever floor that can be raised and lowered for more space or easy loading.
The Yaris Cross’ party piece is its pair of hybrid engines. They’re both self-charging units, though it’s worth opting for the more powerful one because they offer the same staggering real-world fuel economy of around 60-65mpg, and it’s easier to get up to speed and make quick lane changes in.
Around town the Yaris is a piece of cake to drive, as its automatic gearbox and electric boost make it easy to get away from the lights briskly, while its high seating position helps when sat in traffic and navigating narrow streets. It does jiggle you around a little over bumps, though.
Motorways are a breeze, though don’t go expecting any quick overtakes in the Yaris Cross. It’s well insulated against wind and road noise, but the engine does thrum loudly if you’ve got your foot flat to the floor. Country lanes are borderline-fun, but bumpy corners can unsettle the little Toyota.
The Toyota Yaris Cross is about as unintimidating as an SUV can get, but what it lacks in road presence it makes up for in fuel economy - and then some. It’s yet another Carwow Award winner, having driven away with the Urban Living prize in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards.
While it may not be quite as menacing in your rear view mirror as the enormous Hyundai Santa Fe or BMW X5, the Yaris Cross is still a funky looking little thing. It’s got plenty of swoopy curves and some dinky body cladding, but it’s certainly distinctive looking - and rather charming, too.
The interior isn’t quite as fun, because although it feels solid and high-quality, with pleasant soft-touch materials within reach in most places, it’s rather dour to look at. There’s little in the way of design flair, and the acres of dark-grey plastic is yawn-inducing.
It’s fairly spacious up front, for such a small car, but rear seat passengers will feel cramped for both kneeroom and headroom. The boot is well sized though, and it has a clever floor that can be raised and lowered for more space or easy loading.
The Yaris Cross’ party piece is its pair of hybrid engines. They’re both self-charging units, though it’s worth opting for the more powerful one because they offer the same staggering real-world fuel economy of around 60-65mpg, and it’s easier to get up to speed and make quick lane changes in.
Around town the Yaris is a piece of cake to drive, as its automatic gearbox and electric boost make it easy to get away from the lights briskly, while its high seating position helps when sat in traffic and navigating narrow streets. It does jiggle you around a little over bumps, though.
Motorways are a breeze, though don’t go expecting any quick overtakes in the Yaris Cross. It’s well insulated against wind and road noise, but the engine does thrum loudly if you’ve got your foot flat to the floor. Country lanes are borderline-fun, but bumpy corners can unsettle the little Toyota.
2025
Smart Spender Award
4. Dacia Duster hybrid
Dacia Duster review
Best for: practicality on a budget
The Dacia Duster is somewhat of a cut-price hero when it comes to small SUVs these days. It’s just as capable off-road as its super-simple predecessors were, but for the latest version, Dacia has injected it with a healthy dose of personality and style.
It looks more expensive than it costs, with a broad headlight and grille combo giving it a butch appearance, enhanced by chunky body cladding, big tyres and beefy roof rails. It’s matured into a properly handsome car.
The interior isn’t quite as pleasant, because while it’s decent enough to look at, the material quality leaves a lot to be desired. Dacia had to save money somewhere, but the dashboard, door cars and centre console are all woefully scratchy.
At least the infotainment system and driver’s display in the hybrid are slick to look at and use, and the Duster is oh-so spacious inside with plenty of space for five passengers and a well-sized boot.
Dacia’s hybrid system is very good, too, being smooth, powerful enough with 140hp and easily achieving 50mpg in the real world, too. It’s the best engine option in the Duster, being able to coast silently along in electric mode while also providing peppy performance around town.
Getting up to speed on the motorway can take a while, but once you’re there the Duster feels stable and planted, while country lanes are unadventurous - as the big Dacia has little in the way of body lean and plenty of grip.
The Dacia Duster is somewhat of a cut-price hero when it comes to small SUVs these days. It’s just as capable off-road as its super-simple predecessors were, but for the latest version, Dacia has injected it with a healthy dose of personality and style.
It looks more expensive than it costs, with a broad headlight and grille combo giving it a butch appearance, enhanced by chunky body cladding, big tyres and beefy roof rails. It’s matured into a properly handsome car.
The interior isn’t quite as pleasant, because while it’s decent enough to look at, the material quality leaves a lot to be desired. Dacia had to save money somewhere, but the dashboard, door cars and centre console are all woefully scratchy.
At least the infotainment system and driver’s display in the hybrid are slick to look at and use, and the Duster is oh-so spacious inside with plenty of space for five passengers and a well-sized boot.
Dacia’s hybrid system is very good, too, being smooth, powerful enough with 140hp and easily achieving 50mpg in the real world, too. It’s the best engine option in the Duster, being able to coast silently along in electric mode while also providing peppy performance around town.
Getting up to speed on the motorway can take a while, but once you’re there the Duster feels stable and planted, while country lanes are unadventurous - as the big Dacia has little in the way of body lean and plenty of grip.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
5. Renault Clio
Renault Clio review
Best for: stylish commuting
The Renault Clio is one of the best small cars on sale at the moment, whether in hybrid or petrol guise, but the hybrid model is the one to go for. It looks fantastic, has a big boot and it’s very economical.
Renault has bestowed the Clio with a very swanky front end, with pointy, slender headlights and arrow-shaped daytime running lights flanking a broad, intricate grille. The sides feature big curves down their flanks and the rear end is part with a pair of cool taillights.
The interior is also very posh-looking, with loads of soft-touch plastics around you and fancy climate controls on the dashboard. Don’t reach too far down, as the scratchier plastics can ruin the high-class vibe in the cabin, but overall it’s a lovely interior.
There’s loads of space up front, but rear passengers lack headroom if they’re approaching six feet tall. The trade-off is a big boot, and while it’s down on its petrol-engine counterpart, the Clio hybrid still has plenty of room for luggage at 301 litres.
The Clio hybrid has 145hp from its 1.6-litre engine and electric motor, offering up to 67.3mpg - and you won’t be far off that in the real world. It’s a piece of cake to drive around town, with nippy performance and darty handling to go with its easy-to-use automatic gearbox.
Motorways aren’t quite as comforting, as the Clio bounces around a little at high speeds when you reach rutted, broken stretches at high speed. There’s a fair amount of wind and road noise present, too. Country lanes are good fun though, as the stiff suspension means there’s very little body lean.
The Renault Clio is one of the best small cars on sale at the moment, whether in hybrid or petrol guise, but the hybrid model is the one to go for. It looks fantastic, has a big boot and it’s very economical.
Renault has bestowed the Clio with a very swanky front end, with pointy, slender headlights and arrow-shaped daytime running lights flanking a broad, intricate grille. The sides feature big curves down their flanks and the rear end is part with a pair of cool taillights.
The interior is also very posh-looking, with loads of soft-touch plastics around you and fancy climate controls on the dashboard. Don’t reach too far down, as the scratchier plastics can ruin the high-class vibe in the cabin, but overall it’s a lovely interior.
There’s loads of space up front, but rear passengers lack headroom if they’re approaching six feet tall. The trade-off is a big boot, and while it’s down on its petrol-engine counterpart, the Clio hybrid still has plenty of room for luggage at 301 litres.
The Clio hybrid has 145hp from its 1.6-litre engine and electric motor, offering up to 67.3mpg - and you won’t be far off that in the real world. It’s a piece of cake to drive around town, with nippy performance and darty handling to go with its easy-to-use automatic gearbox.
Motorways aren’t quite as comforting, as the Clio bounces around a little at high speeds when you reach rutted, broken stretches at high speed. There’s a fair amount of wind and road noise present, too. Country lanes are good fun though, as the stiff suspension means there’s very little body lean.
6. Honda Civic
Honda Civic review
Best for: quiet, comfortable daily driving
The Honda Civic name is venerable, stretching back over 50 years and being synonymous with one of the best hatchbacks you can buy. The latest version is no different, and it’s comfortable, practical and fun to drive.
It stands out in the sea of hatchbacks on sale at the moment, with a dashing, sporty roofline and strong, wide features front and rear. The slim headlights are a highlight, as is the sporty rear bumper.
The interior is also a delightful place to sit, with a minimalist - but not boring - dashboard featuring a very suave strip of honeycomb aluminium mesh right the way across, and loads of soft-touch materials. In fact, the whole cabin feels very solidly put together, and very relaxing to spend time in.
You get buckets of room up front, and while rear passengers have lots of leg room, that handsome sloping roof does eat into headspace to a degree. The 410-litre boot is a useful shape, too.
Around town the Civic’s electric motor does all the heavy lifting driving the front wheels, and the engine is solely responsible for topping up the battery. That makes it very relaxing, and quiet with the engine just ticking away.
Motorways are where the engine takes over, driving the wheels and maximising fuel economy, while staying comfortable and quiet and delivering almost 60mpg in our testing. It’s a riot to drive on a good country lane too, making the Civic an excellent all-rounder.
The Honda Civic name is venerable, stretching back over 50 years and being synonymous with one of the best hatchbacks you can buy. The latest version is no different, and it’s comfortable, practical and fun to drive.
It stands out in the sea of hatchbacks on sale at the moment, with a dashing, sporty roofline and strong, wide features front and rear. The slim headlights are a highlight, as is the sporty rear bumper.
The interior is also a delightful place to sit, with a minimalist - but not boring - dashboard featuring a very suave strip of honeycomb aluminium mesh right the way across, and loads of soft-touch materials. In fact, the whole cabin feels very solidly put together, and very relaxing to spend time in.
You get buckets of room up front, and while rear passengers have lots of leg room, that handsome sloping roof does eat into headspace to a degree. The 410-litre boot is a useful shape, too.
Around town the Civic’s electric motor does all the heavy lifting driving the front wheels, and the engine is solely responsible for topping up the battery. That makes it very relaxing, and quiet with the engine just ticking away.
Motorways are where the engine takes over, driving the wheels and maximising fuel economy, while staying comfortable and quiet and delivering almost 60mpg in our testing. It’s a riot to drive on a good country lane too, making the Civic an excellent all-rounder.
7. BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 Series review
Battery range up to 34 miles
Best for: a posh family saloon
The BMW 3 Series is another nameplate that’s been around for decades, and there’s little arguing that the 3 Series is the best German family saloon on sale - and it has been for as long as we can remember.
It looks razor sharp, with a broad grille and pointy headlights, smooth flanks with a sharp shoulder line and swoopy L-shaped taillights at the back. It’s a properly sporty looking saloon, without looking too shouty.
The interior is also the nicest of any 3 Series thus far, with BMW’s signature curved dual-screen combo on top of a very slick dashboard. The climate controls being relegated to the infotainment screen is a bit annoying though, and there are a few too many menus to navigate too.
Nonetheless, you sit low in the cabin, and the 3 Series feels sporty before you even set off. Rear passengers could do with some more knee room though, and the plug-in hybrid model’s boot is rather small at just 375 litres - over 100 litres less than a petrol model.
It’s a shame that the 330e PHEV isn’t all that economical on a long drive, as we achieved around 45mpg in our tests, though around town the 62 miles of electric range is impressive and comes in handy on the day-to-day.
BMW has done what it does best with the 3 Series, and it’s a hoot to throw into corners on a twisty country lane. it’s comfortable on broken roads and absorbs speed bumps and potholes with ease around town - though M Sport models are a bit harsh - while settling into a relaxing motorway cruise, too.
The BMW 3 Series is another nameplate that’s been around for decades, and there’s little arguing that the 3 Series is the best German family saloon on sale - and it has been for as long as we can remember.
It looks razor sharp, with a broad grille and pointy headlights, smooth flanks with a sharp shoulder line and swoopy L-shaped taillights at the back. It’s a properly sporty looking saloon, without looking too shouty.
The interior is also the nicest of any 3 Series thus far, with BMW’s signature curved dual-screen combo on top of a very slick dashboard. The climate controls being relegated to the infotainment screen is a bit annoying though, and there are a few too many menus to navigate too.
Nonetheless, you sit low in the cabin, and the 3 Series feels sporty before you even set off. Rear passengers could do with some more knee room though, and the plug-in hybrid model’s boot is rather small at just 375 litres - over 100 litres less than a petrol model.
It’s a shame that the 330e PHEV isn’t all that economical on a long drive, as we achieved around 45mpg in our tests, though around town the 62 miles of electric range is impressive and comes in handy on the day-to-day.
BMW has done what it does best with the 3 Series, and it’s a hoot to throw into corners on a twisty country lane. it’s comfortable on broken roads and absorbs speed bumps and potholes with ease around town - though M Sport models are a bit harsh - while settling into a relaxing motorway cruise, too.
2025
Family Values Award
Highly Commended
8. Peugeot 5008
Peugeot 5008 review
Best for: long-distance wafting
Where the old 5008 was an ugly duckling MPV, the new model is a properly striking, extremely comfortable and hugely practical family SUV. In fact, it might just be the best car on this list to go cross-country in.
And unlike a lot of generically-styled family SUVs, the enormous 5008 is a real head turner down the local high street. It’s a Picasso painting mix of sharp angles, funky shapes and intricate details - from its tiny headlights to the wide grille and enormous, yet shapely rear end.
The theme carries on inside, as the 5008’s cabin is chock-full of fabric-trimmed surfaces which flow and curve at all sorts of angles - and the enormous widescreen display on top houses both the infotainment system and driver instruments in one slick screen.
Equally impressive is the 5008’s practicality, because it has loads of room across all three rows - easily enough for seven adults to travel in comfort. With the last seats folded down there’s a cavernous 916-litres of storage space, too.
The self-charging hybrid system in the 5008 is more reliant on the petrol engine than most, so you don’t get too much silent wafting, but it gets up to speed easily and averages almost 50mpg. The PHEV 5008 can travel up to 40 miles on a charge, which isn’t as much as its alternatives, but regardless of which model you go for you’re guaranteed a quiet, supremely comfortable driving experience.
Motorways feel as though they’re paved in silk, and while the 5008 feels a bit wobbly in fast corners, take it easy and you’ll glide through bends in style.
Where the old 5008 was an ugly duckling MPV, the new model is a properly striking, extremely comfortable and hugely practical family SUV. In fact, it might just be the best car on this list to go cross-country in.
And unlike a lot of generically-styled family SUVs, the enormous 5008 is a real head turner down the local high street. It’s a Picasso painting mix of sharp angles, funky shapes and intricate details - from its tiny headlights to the wide grille and enormous, yet shapely rear end.
The theme carries on inside, as the 5008’s cabin is chock-full of fabric-trimmed surfaces which flow and curve at all sorts of angles - and the enormous widescreen display on top houses both the infotainment system and driver instruments in one slick screen.
Equally impressive is the 5008’s practicality, because it has loads of room across all three rows - easily enough for seven adults to travel in comfort. With the last seats folded down there’s a cavernous 916-litres of storage space, too.
The self-charging hybrid system in the 5008 is more reliant on the petrol engine than most, so you don’t get too much silent wafting, but it gets up to speed easily and averages almost 50mpg. The PHEV 5008 can travel up to 40 miles on a charge, which isn’t as much as its alternatives, but regardless of which model you go for you’re guaranteed a quiet, supremely comfortable driving experience.
Motorways feel as though they’re paved in silk, and while the 5008 feels a bit wobbly in fast corners, take it easy and you’ll glide through bends in style.
9. Range Rover
Range Rover review
Best for: sheer opulence
The Range Rover is one of the best luxury cars on sale no matter which engine it’s got under the bonnet, but the hybrid model combines serene luxury with decent fuel economy, too.
You won’t mistake a Range Rover for anything else on the road, not with its huge, sleek silhouette and intricate headlights and grille. This is the slickest-looking Range Rover yet, and its rear end is truly fascinating thanks to its blade-out tail lights integrated into the car’s design.
The interior is classic Range Rover too, but thoroughly modern at the same time. Lashings of leather, chunky wood and metal surround you in the enormous cabin, while the floating touchscreen infotainment display dominates the plush, trimmed dashboard.
It’s not the slickest system going though, and if you look hard enough you’ll find the odd questionable plastic. Space isn’t a question in the Range Rover, with acres of room across the whole interior and an enormous boot to go with it.
You get two plug-in hybrid options, though there’s very little difference between the two in the real world. Either model can achieve almost 70 miles of range to a charge, which is plenty for most commutes, and they’re equally low on Benefit in Kind tax.
The Range Rover is hugely comfortable on any road, whether in town or on the motorway, ironing out rough surfaces with ease. It’s far from sporty on a country lane, but it’s refined and exciting - perfect for a stately cruise.
The Range Rover is one of the best luxury cars on sale no matter which engine it’s got under the bonnet, but the hybrid model combines serene luxury with decent fuel economy, too.
You won’t mistake a Range Rover for anything else on the road, not with its huge, sleek silhouette and intricate headlights and grille. This is the slickest-looking Range Rover yet, and its rear end is truly fascinating thanks to its blade-out tail lights integrated into the car’s design.
The interior is classic Range Rover too, but thoroughly modern at the same time. Lashings of leather, chunky wood and metal surround you in the enormous cabin, while the floating touchscreen infotainment display dominates the plush, trimmed dashboard.
It’s not the slickest system going though, and if you look hard enough you’ll find the odd questionable plastic. Space isn’t a question in the Range Rover, with acres of room across the whole interior and an enormous boot to go with it.
You get two plug-in hybrid options, though there’s very little difference between the two in the real world. Either model can achieve almost 70 miles of range to a charge, which is plenty for most commutes, and they’re equally low on Benefit in Kind tax.
The Range Rover is hugely comfortable on any road, whether in town or on the motorway, ironing out rough surfaces with ease. It’s far from sporty on a country lane, but it’s refined and exciting - perfect for a stately cruise.
10. MG3
MG MG3 review
Best for: efficiency on a budget
It may be far removed from the rest of the cars on this list, but the MG3 is one of the best budget-friendly hatchbacks on sale. It’s got funky looks, good standard kit and it’s proper fun to drive.
It’s not a head turner, but its pointy front end and creases down its sides mean the MG3 stands out against other small hatchbacks, while its minimalist interior is unfussy, and it’s easy to wrap your head around the controls.
Material quality is lacking compared to some alternatives, but the MG3 is seriously cheap to buy, so some cost-saving is forgiven. Interior space is nothing to shout about either, about on par with a lot of hatchbacks of this size. The 293-litre boot is about average too, enough for a few small suitcases.
It’s the self-charging hybrid engine that impresses the most about the MG3, because with 191hp this is practically a hot hatchback when compared to other small hybrids. It’s a piece of cake to zip around town in the small MG, and getting up to motorway speeds is a doddle - while returning around 60mpg in the process.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that a cheap hatchback would lose all of its composure on a country lane, but the MG 3 is a laugh to carve through fast corners in, feeling stable and gippy with little body lean.
It may be far removed from the rest of the cars on this list, but the MG3 is one of the best budget-friendly hatchbacks on sale. It’s got funky looks, good standard kit and it’s proper fun to drive.
It’s not a head turner, but its pointy front end and creases down its sides mean the MG3 stands out against other small hatchbacks, while its minimalist interior is unfussy, and it’s easy to wrap your head around the controls.
Material quality is lacking compared to some alternatives, but the MG3 is seriously cheap to buy, so some cost-saving is forgiven. Interior space is nothing to shout about either, about on par with a lot of hatchbacks of this size. The 293-litre boot is about average too, enough for a few small suitcases.
It’s the self-charging hybrid engine that impresses the most about the MG3, because with 191hp this is practically a hot hatchback when compared to other small hybrids. It’s a piece of cake to zip around town in the small MG, and getting up to motorway speeds is a doddle - while returning around 60mpg in the process.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that a cheap hatchback would lose all of its composure on a country lane, but the MG 3 is a laugh to carve through fast corners in, feeling stable and gippy with little body lean.
Factors to consider:
There are quite a few differences between the types of hybrid cars on sale, beyond whether it’s a plug-in hybrid or a self-charging model. If you’ve got easy access to charging at home or at work, and you regularly do long-distance motorway journeys then a PHEV will likely offer you the best return on your investment.
If you can only charge at public stations then driving a PHEV makes no sense, because you’ll end up paying the same for electricity as you would for fuel - if not more - while losing time in the process. You should opt for a self-charging hybrid in that case, for the electric boost in MPG without the additional cost of charging.
If you spend most of your time on the motorway, the truth is you’ll be far better off with a diesel engine car, because it’ll be far cheaper to buy than a hybrid and offer comparable - or better - fuel economy. Mercedes offers a diesel hybrid option in some models, but they’re hugely expensive to buy.
Hybrid cars to avoid
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How to choose the best hybrid car for you
Size
Hybrid cars come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny hatchbacks right up to the biggest SUVs. So consider your requirements as you would with any type of car - how many seats you need, whether you need to carry adults or just children, and how much boot space you need. If you have a tight driveway or garage, parking should be a consideration too.
Cost
Hybrid cars are usually more expensive than pure petrol or diesel variants - look at the Renault Clio or Dacia Duster, where the hybrids are the range-topping models. You might break even with improved fuel economy, but if the price difference is too great then you’re much less likely to.
Advice about hybrid cars
Hybrid cars by make
- Audi hybrid cars
- BMW hybrid cars
- Citroen hybrid cars
- Cupra hybrid cars
- Dacia hybrid cars
- Ford hybrid cars
- Honda hybrid cars
- Hyundai hybrid cars
- Jaguar hybrid cars
- Jeep hybrid cars
- Kia hybrid cars
- Land Rover hybrid cars
- Lexus hybrid cars
- Mazda hybrid cars
- Mercedes-Benz hybrid cars
- Mg hybrid cars
- Nissan hybrid cars
- Peugeot hybrid cars
- Porsche hybrid cars
- Renault hybrid cars
- Skoda hybrid cars
- Suzuki hybrid cars
- Toyota hybrid cars
- Vauxhall hybrid cars
- Volkswagen hybrid cars
- Volvo hybrid cars