best-hybrid-cars-2023-–-plug-in-and-regular-hybrids-rated

Previously the reserve of budget-conscious minicab drivers and city dwellers, hybrid cars&nbsp;are now a mainstream alternative to conventional petrols and diesels thanks to the promise of lower fuel bills.

The thing is, though, knowing which to consider and which to avoid can make the difference between a fuel-sipping investment and a costly mistake. So, after extensive testing of every hybrid car on sale by our experienced team of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-cars/n17596">road testers</a>,&nbsp;we&nbsp;reveal&nbsp;the top 10 hybrid cars you can buy – and name&nbsp;the ones&nbsp;to avoid.

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Best hybrid cars 2023 – plug-in and regular hybrids rated

Estate

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

SPORTAGE

In conventional petrol-powered form the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage</a>&nbsp;is the best&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a>&nbsp;you can buy. This hybrid variant brings both extra performance and improved fuel economy, making it an excellent electrified alternative to the standard car.

The Sportage is very spacious, meaning it’s prepared for the various demands of family life, and the interior feels well-screwed together. It’s not quite as comfortable as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>, and is pricier than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/tucson/4x4/review/n103">Hyundai Tucson</a>, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/kia">Kia</a>&nbsp;still makes the best all-round package.

A plug-in hybrid Sportage is also available, but the increase in performance is minimal, and the added cost means it’s only worth considering as a company car.

At the time of writing, prices for the hybrid versions of the Sportage&nbsp;start from £33,750.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/review/n17352">Kia Sportage review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

10: Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Lower spec models are great value</li>
	<li>Smart interior</li>
	<li>Generous rear leg room and boot space</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Hybrid petrol engine sounds strained</li>
	<li>Rear head room compromised with panoramic roof</li>
	<li>No clever rear seat functions</li>
</ul>

Land Rover is synonymous with SUVs, and especially with the Defender – the rugged runabout that has seen service in war zones across the world, but also as part of the Queen’s personal garage.

If off-road prowess is one of Land Rover’s core values, though, the other is luxury. Indeed, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar are among the best luxury SUVs you can buy.

The Discovery, meanwhile, is a practical rival for the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, while the stylish Evoque (which is available as a three-door convertible as well as a traditional SUV) goes head to head with Audi’s Q3 and BMW’s X1.

In the coming years, we’ll see a new road-biased ‘Road Rover’ as well as an all-new Defender.

LAND ROVER

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/review/n109">Range Rover Evoque</a>&nbsp;is a stylish and well-equipped SUV, and the P300e plug-in hybrid is our pick of the range. It offers the best performance – it’ll do 0-60mph in 6.1sec – and is very smooth and fairly hushed. It has an official electric-only range of 38 miles, meaning most typical journeys can be made on electric power alone (as long as you charge it regularly).

The interior has a premium look and feel to it, and the driving position is excellent, too. There’s plenty of space for six-footers in front and rear, although you can fit less in its boot than in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/review/n25006">BMW X1</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a>.

At the time of writing, prices for the P300e&nbsp;start from £47,654.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/review/n109">Range Rover Evoque review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

9: Range Rover Evoque P300e

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Great driving position</li>
	<li>Well-equipped</li>
	<li>Slow depreciation</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Limited boot space</li>
	<li>So-so fuel economy and emissions</li>
	<li>Land Rover’s reliability record</li>
</ul>

Hatchback

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

COROLLA

While the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/hatchback/review/n18901">Toyota Corolla</a>&nbsp;isn’t quite as brilliant as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a>, it’s still a remarkable hybrid&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family car</a>. Its 1.8-litre hybrid system returns excellent fuel economy (it managed 50.5mpg in our real-world test), and has more than enough performance for everyday driving.

The Corolla is also well equipped, and feels solidly built, however its interior looks a little conventional next to some rivals’ more outgoing designs. Space for rear passengers is disappointing, so anyone who regularly carries six-footers in the back might be better off looking elsewhere.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/hatchback/review/n18901">Toyota Corolla&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

8: Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Low CO2 emissions and great fuel economy</li>
	<li>Comfortable ride</li>
	<li>Loads of standard kit</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Cramped in the back</li>
	<li>So-so infotainment system</li>
	<li>12.3in digital instrument cluster could be easier to use</li>
</ul>

RANGE ROVER SPORT

If you’re looking for a combination of plug-in hybrid efficiency and supreme luxury, you’ll be pleased to know that, as well as being one of our favourite hybrids, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/review/n74">Range Rover Sport</a>&nbsp;P460e is our reigning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-2023-luxury-car-of-the-year/n25367">Luxury Car of the Year</a>.

Its interior is covered in the same sorts of premium materials you’d find in the bigger (and much more expensive)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a>, and the Sport cossets its occupants with&nbsp;standard air suspension which isolates them from bumps in the road.

The plug-in hybrid system makes the Range Rover Sport a sensible company car option, too: the P460e’s 31.8kWh battery (which is bigger than the batteries in some small&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a>) provides an official electric-only range of 75&nbsp;miles.

At the time of writing, prices for the P460e&nbsp;start from £89,081.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/review/n74">Range Rover Sport review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

7: Range Rover Sport P460e

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Offers lots of Range Rover qualities for a lower price</li>
	<li>Incredible ability off-road</li>
	<li>Fantastic range on the PHEV model</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Cheaper than a Range Rover, but still very expensive</li>
	<li>Rivals are sharper to drive</li>
	<li>Land Rover’s reliability record is a concern</li>
</ul>

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

If you’re in the market for a relatively compact plug-in hybrid with a premium badge on its nose, we’d recommend taking a look at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3</a>&nbsp;40 TFSIe. Its strong performance and engaging handling make the plug-in A3 one of the best PHEVs to drive, while its official electric-only range of 40 miles keeps company car tax bills low.

Yes, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes A-Class</a>&nbsp;A250e has a slightly cheaper purchase price and a marginally better electric-only range, but it’s not as refined, it doesn’t handle as well and at times its ride is more fractious.

At the time of writing, prices for the 40 TFSIe start from £33,974.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3 review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

6: Audi A3 40 TFSIe

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Sharp handling</li>
	<li>Excellent driving position</li>
	<li>Strong and frugal engines, including the excellent plug-in hybrid</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Interior quality is good but could be better</li>
	<li>Fiddly infotainment system</li>
	<li>Audi's unimpressive reliability record</li>
</ul>

Saloon

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

C CLASS

The plug-in hybrid system fitted to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/review/n70">Mercedes C-Class</a>&nbsp;C300e is the best you’ll find in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/executive-cars/n2004">executive car</a>. The C300e can officially travel 30 miles further on electric power alone than the equivalent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a>&nbsp;(the 330e), and the punchy electric motor means the C-Class can get up to motorway speeds comfortably without the engine needing to cut in.

As in the GLC 300e, standard-fit rear air suspension disguises the added bulk of the PHEV’s batteries, although the C300e still isn't quite as capable around corners as the BMW 330e.

Unfortunately, interior quality in the C-Class is poor. The dashboard is littered with cheap plastics which wouldn’t feel out of place in a small car, a far cry from the top-notch materials found in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/saloon/review/n105">Audi A4</a>.

At the time of writing, prices for the C300e start from £52,025.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/review/n70">Mercedes C-Class review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

5: Mercedes C-Class C300e

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Plug-in hybrid has an impressive ride</li>
	<li>Fuel economy and emissions compare well with rivals</li>
	<li>C300e has a very low company car tax rate</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Disappointing interior quality</li>
	<li>Not as much fun to drive as a BMW 3 Series</li>
	<li>Some road noise</li>
</ul>

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

JAZZ

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a>&nbsp;is the small car to beat for passenger and luggage space, while its unique and incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to its practicality. Visibility is excellent, too: the tall windscreen, narrow front pillars and deep side and rear windows help make the Jazz easy to manoeuvre and park.

It is rather expensive, but it makes up for this with generous standard equipment and strong resale values, as well as low running costs thanks to its fuel-sipping hybrid system. It’s neither as fun to drive nor as comfy as some other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a>, but it still comes out on top overall.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

4: Honda Jazz 1.5 Hybrid

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very spacious with great seating flexibility</li>
	<li>Lots of standard equipment</li>
	<li>Slow depreciation</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Pricey by small car standards</li>
	<li>Not the quietest cruiser</li>
	<li>Disappointing infotainment system</li>
</ul>

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

The latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/nx/estate/review/n132">Lexus NX</a>&nbsp;is one of the most compelling reasons to go green that we've seen. The 45-mile electric-only range of the plug-in hybrid variant puts it in a lower company car tax bracket than an equivalent Audi Q5 or BMW X3.

It’s good to drive, too; the hybrid system in the PHEV produces 305bhp, allowing the NX 450h+ to outsprint the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/4x4/review/n17345">Mercedes GLC</a>&nbsp;300e from 0-62mph by half a second. And, while the NX is far from being a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-suvs/n20200">sports SUV</a>, it corners with&nbsp;precision.&nbsp;

Inside, the NX is hard to fault. The interior strikes a great balance between build quality and plushness, and feels well able to withstand the rigours of daily family use.

At the time of writing, prices for the NX 450h+ start from £52,652.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/nx/estate/review/n132">Lexus NX review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

3: Lexus NX 450h+

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Strong performance</li>
	<li>Promise of stellar reliability</li>
	<li>PHEV has an impressive electric range</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Petrol engine isn’t the smoothest</li>
	<li>Choppy high-speed ride on F Sport versions</li>
	<li>Takumi versions are pricey</li>
</ul>

If you’re a company car driver, on the hunt for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/large-suvs/n17006">large SUV</a>&nbsp;with a premium badge, the Mercedes GLC 300e will surely appeal. Its official electric-only range of 80 miles means monthly payments are lower than for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/nx/estate/review/n132">Lexus NX</a>&nbsp;450h+ (which can officially only travel 45 miles on electric power alone).

Plug-in versions of the GLC come with rear air suspension as standard, which helps hide the weight of the batteries, resulting in a composed ride. All versions of the GLC get a spacious and stylish interior, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a>&nbsp;feel more solidly built.

At the time of writing, prices for the GLC 300e start from £63,210.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/4x4/review/n17345">Mercedes GLC&nbsp;review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

2: Mercedes GLC 300e

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Plug-in hybrid has impressive electric range</li>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Slightly firmer ride than rivals</li>
	<li>Stylish interior doesn't feel the most sturdy</li>
	<li>Petrol engines need working hard</li>
</ul>

CIVIC

Our reigning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-2023-family-car-of-the-year/n25357">Family Car of the Year</a>&nbsp;is also the best hybrid car on the market. The Honda Civic is a highly efficient hatchback, easily capable of returning 49mpg in ordinary driving. Sure, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/hatchback/review/n18901">Toyota Corolla</a>&nbsp;is even more frugal, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/honda">Honda</a>&nbsp;more than compensates in other areas.

Performance is impressive by class standards; the Civic can dash from 0-60mph in 6.8sec, meaning it’s faster than not just the Corolla, but also rivals such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a>&nbsp;Ecoboost Hybrid 155 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a>&nbsp;TSI 130, too. Good grip and precise steering help make the Civic fun to drive, although it can’t quite match the&nbsp;Focus for sheer driver enjoyment.

Read our in-depth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

1: Honda Civic e:HEV

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Impressive fuel economy</li>
	<li>Big boot</li>
	<li>Lots of luxury and safety kit</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Quite pricey</li>
	<li>Rear head room isn't great</li>
	<li>Road noise intrudes</li>
</ul>

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the PSA Group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

In 2018, DS stated that it planned to launch a new model every year, with all of these influenced by the French fashion industry and&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

First to arrive (that same year) was the&nbsp;DS 7 Crossback – a large SUV that competes with the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Then in 2019 this was followed by the smaller DS3 Crossback SUV, which is not only available&nbsp;with petrol and diesel engines, but also in fully electric E-Tense form.

More recently, DS&nbsp;unveiled its answer to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class luxury saloons. And while this DS 9 won't now go on sale until 2021, when it does arrive it will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric power.

DS 7

There are some versions of the DS 7 SUV that are worth considering, but the E-Tense is let down by sloppy handling and a crashy ride, while the integration of its motors and engine is anything but seamless.

Read our in-depth <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ds/ds-7/hatchback/review/n188">DS 7 review</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;

<hr />
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<h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">Best plug-in hybrids</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

And the hybrid car to avoid: DS 7

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Low running costs compared with solely petrol or diesel equivalents</li> <li>Very low official CO2 emissions to benefit company car drivers</li> <li>The same usability as a regular car</li> <li>Smooth transition between electric and engine power</li> <li>Small practicality compromise over conventional models</li></ul>

Not so long ago, hybrids were the preserve of Hollywood stars, environmentally conscious 'early adopters' and the odd&nbsp;minicab driver looking to save a bit of money on fuel.

Since the collapse in demand for diesel, however, they have become&nbsp;much more popular, and it's easy to see why, with&nbsp;low tax bills and&nbsp;impressive MPG figures&nbsp;just a couple of the perks they offer.

There are two types of hybrid: 'self-charging'&nbsp;models, which mix petrol&nbsp;and electric power in an effort to maximise&nbsp;efficiency, and&nbsp;plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles purely on electricity before their engines need to cut in. This category is for the former type of cars.

Hybrid

Everyone from Toyota to Porsche sells hybrids these days, but which models are best and which should you avoid? Here's our list of the top 10 hybrid cars

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