Best cheap used hybrid cars

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10 best cheap used hybrid cars

As hybrids have become more popular on the used market, so more examples are available to buy second-hand. In fact, there’s now so much choice it can be hard to know where to start. Well, Carwow is here to help. Our expert reviews team have listed 10 of the best cheap used hybrid cars.

Renault Clio
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended

1. Renault Clio E-Tech

9/10
Renault Clio review

What's good

  • High quality interior
  • Massive boot
  • Stylish design

What’s not so good

  • Tight rear seats
  • High boot lip
  • Not as comfy as alternatives
Although the Clio is a newcomer to hybrid power compared with the likes of the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris, you can already pick up used Clio E-Techs at huge savings compared with the new price. These cars are stylish, great to drive, and very cheap to fuel. Safety standards are very high, with a five-star rating from the experts at Euro NCAP.

What's good

  • High quality interior
  • Massive boot
  • Stylish design

What’s not so good

  • Tight rear seats
  • High boot lip
  • Not as comfy as alternatives
BMW 3 Series

2. BMW 330e

9/10
BMW 3 Series review
Battery range up to 34 miles

What's good

  • Still the best-in-class to drive
  • Excellent new screens in the cabin
  • Touring estate is very practical

What’s not so good

  • No more physical buttons for air-con
  • Plug-in hybrid models lose lots of boot space
  • Expensive options
Think hybrid, and you think economy. But there are plenty of cars that use hybrid power for performance as well as stretching each gallon as far as possible. The BMW 330e is a prime example. Although a little heavier and less agile than most 3 Series models, the plug-in hybrid 3 Series is very quick and rewarding to drive. There are cars with over 200,000 miles on the clock with price tags of around £6,000. A budget of £10k should buy a car with less than 100,000 miles covered.

What's good

  • Still the best-in-class to drive
  • Excellent new screens in the cabin
  • Touring estate is very practical

What’s not so good

  • No more physical buttons for air-con
  • Plug-in hybrid models lose lots of boot space
  • Expensive options
Toyota Yaris Hybrid

3. Toyota Yaris Hybrid

8/10
Toyota Yaris Hybrid review

What's good

  • Efficient hybrid engine
  • Good fun to drive
  • Plenty of standard equipment

What’s not so good

  • Dour interior
  • Ride is firm on larger wheels
  • Rear-seat and boot space aren't great
If you like the look of the Honda Jazz sat at number two on our list, consider the Toyota Yaris Hybrid as well. It shares many of the same qualities, including reliability and good fuel economy. Used examples of the current model couldn’t really be described as cheap, but the generation sold from 2013-2020 is a much more affordable buy – you can pick up cars in very good condition for less than £10,000.

What's good

  • Efficient hybrid engine
  • Good fun to drive
  • Plenty of standard equipment

What’s not so good

  • Dour interior
  • Ride is firm on larger wheels
  • Rear-seat and boot space aren't great
Toyota Corolla

4. Toyota Corolla

8/10
Toyota Corolla review

What's good

  • Cheap to run
  • Good quality inside
  • Enjoyable to drive

What’s not so good

  • Drony automatic gearbox
  • Rear space for adults
  • More expensive than alternatives
Unlike the quirky-looking Prius, the Toyota Corolla hybrid looks like a conventional hatchback. It drives like one, too, being comfortable over bumps and offering solid performance whether you choose the 1.8- or 2.0-litre model. There are cheaper hybrids on this list, which is why the Corolla doesn’t earn a higher spot. If you have the budget, though, this is a reliable and fuel-efficient family car.

What's good

  • Cheap to run
  • Good quality inside
  • Enjoyable to drive

What’s not so good

  • Drony automatic gearbox
  • Rear space for adults
  • More expensive than alternatives
Toyota Prius (2015-2022)
Nobody grows up with a poster of the Toyota Prius on their bedroom wall – it’s not exciting to drive or to look at. But that’s hardly the point when looking for a budget used hybrid. The Prius is a byword for reliability, with some examples going well beyond 200,000 miles without serious fault. The third generation, sold from 2009-2015, is now very cheap to buy. Mega-mileage cars from private sellers start from around £3,000. Just £11,000 or so will buy a later, low-mileage, high-spec example.
Honda Jazz

6. Honda Jazz

7/10
Honda Jazz review

What's good

  • Efficient hybrid drive
  • Comfortable on the road
  • Lots of cabin space

What’s not so good

  • Not the most exciting interior design
  • Expensive compared to alternatives
  • Not as fun to drive as other options
The Honda Jazz is a very practical small hatchback, with much more interior space than most alternatives. The hybrid version is very cheap to run, especially if you mostly drive around town. While urban routes suit the Jazz best, it’s more than capable of longer drives too. The Jazz hybrid deserves its reputation for reliability, so don’t be put off by high-mileage so long as the car has been well looked after. The third generation, made from 2013-2020, is now very good value as a used buy.

What's good

  • Efficient hybrid drive
  • Comfortable on the road
  • Lots of cabin space

What’s not so good

  • Not the most exciting interior design
  • Expensive compared to alternatives
  • Not as fun to drive as other options
Lexus RX (2015-2022)
These days, hybrid SUVs are common. For years, though, the Lexus RX was very unusual in using petrol-electric power. Very early models are just a few thousand pounds. If the budget will stretch, the generation sold from 2012-15 costs upwards from £11,000 or so. Don’t be afraid of high mileage examples – these cars can handle it. They’re quick, well-equipped and relatively affordable to run.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

8. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

7/10
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review
Battery range up to 34 miles
Mitsubishi pioneered the plug-in hybrid when the Outlander PHEV arrived in late 2013. With a much larger battery than your typical full hybrid, the Outlander PHEV could go just over 30 miles on electricity alone, according to the official figures. Okay, so an EV range of just over 20 miles is probably more realistic, but that still covers a lot of local driving. If you have somewhere to plug in overnight, the Outlander PHEV can be very cheap to run. A decade or so from going on sale, early models are now changing hands for as little as £6,000.
Kia Niro

9. Kia Niro Hybrid

7/10
Kia Niro review
Battery range up to 40 miles

What's good

  • Good refinement
  • Low running costs
  • Great interior quality and space

What’s not so good

  • Not the most fun car to drive
  • Prices have risen compared to previous Niro
  • Hybrid and PHEV have smaller boot than the electric Niro
Kia hedged its bets with the Niro, offering buyers fully electric, plug-in hybrid, and full hybrid models. The full hybrid offers low fuel bills and is very cheap to buy, especially if you are happy to choose a high-mileage car. Your money buys a practical, well made, and reliable crossover. It may not be the most stylish car or exciting to drive, but you could do a lot worse if you are looking for a cheap, family-friendly hybrid.

What's good

  • Good refinement
  • Low running costs
  • Great interior quality and space

What’s not so good

  • Not the most fun car to drive
  • Prices have risen compared to previous Niro
  • Hybrid and PHEV have smaller boot than the electric Niro
Renault Captur

10. Renault Captur E-Tech

8/10
Renault Captur review
Battery range up to 28 miles

What's good

  • Great Google-based infotainment
  • Hybrid model is economical
  • Big boot for a small SUV

What’s not so good

  • Suspension is firm over bumps
  • Some safety kit reserved for top-spec models
  • Hybrid system hesitant at times
Like the Clio that sits in fifth place on this list, the Renault Captur E-Tech offers low running costs. According to the official figures it can achieve 56.6mpg. It’s practical as well as cheap to fuel, with a large boot for a crossover of this size and plenty of space for people too. Shop carefully, and you can pick up an early car at a massive saving over the new price.

What's good

  • Great Google-based infotainment
  • Hybrid model is economical
  • Big boot for a small SUV

What’s not so good

  • Suspension is firm over bumps
  • Some safety kit reserved for top-spec models
  • Hybrid system hesitant at times

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Cheap used hybrid cars FAQs

For the cheapest of the cheap, you’ll have to go back to the early days of a hybrid pioneer – the Toyota Prius. Cars from the 2000s with huge mileage can be bought for £2,000 or even less.

Check if the battery is still under warranty. For example, a Honda's hybrid components are covered for five years and 90,000 miles, while a Renault's hybrid battery has an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

Yes, hybrid prices have fallen as the number of used hybrids for sale grows. However, the price of a typical used hybrid hasn’t dropped as steeply as the cost of a second-hand electric car.