Real MPG: most economical hybrid cars

Real MPG Average 60.1mpg | Town 103.3mpg | Motorway 45.5mpg | Rural 70.5mpg

The ultra-efficient Toyota Yaris Cross is the most economical car in our Real MPG tests. This small SUV performs particularly well around town, where it scored a huge 103.3mpg, making it a fantastic choice for city-dwellers. The electric motor provides plenty of shove off the line, and an automatic gearbox makes it smoother to drive than some of its rivals, such as the Nissan Juke Hybrid and the Renault Captur E-Tech.

It’s not just running costs that make the Yaris Cross a great option, though. It also offers a comfortable interior, with an uncluttered dashboard and control buttons that aren't difficult to find, as well as a lofty driving position that provides a good view of what’s in front of you. While other rivals are more spacious or offer a smoother drive, nothing beats the Yaris Cross when it comes to sheer efficiency.

Read our full Toyota Yaris Cross review

Real MPG Average 59.9mpg | Town 80.0mpg | Motorway 46.7mpg | Rural 74.1mpg

Quick off the line with perky performance, the Yaris is a top contender if you want to keep running costs low, and with Toyota's great reliability record, you won't have to worry about splurging on endless repairs. Like its taller sibling, the Yaris Cross, it performed best in the town portion of our test, returning a respectable 80mpg. 

The Yaris is pretty grippy and controlled round tight corners, but not as fun to drive as rivals such as the Honda Jazz and Renault Clio. There are more spacious small cars out there, but the Yaris comes well-equipped with lots of standard kit. However, the quality of the interior is nothing to write home about, with some scratchy plastics that aren't as well hidden as in the Jazz or the Clio.

Read our full Toyota Yaris review

Real MPG Average 56.0mpg | Town 68.8mpg | Motorway 43.4mpg | Rural 73.0mpg

They say good things come in small packages, and the Honda Jazz is no exception. With many tricks up its sleeve, it’s one of the most versatile cars you’ll find: spacious and adaptable, with flexible rear seats for more storage — plus it's cheap to run. Around town, the Jazz achieved 68.8mpg in our tests, and it manages to perform better than most other hybrids on the motorway, at 43.4mpg.

While it's not the most composed along twisty roads, it's nifty around urban areas, where its light steering makes navigating tight turns a breeze. On top of that, it's one of the more comfortable cars in its category, and is particularly smooth on motorways. However, it does cost more than other small cars, and isn't quite as fun to drive as some other rivals such as the Seat Ibiza.

Read our full Honda Jazz review

Real MPG Average 51.6mpg | Town 55.4mpg | Motorway 42.8mpg | Rural 64.2mpg

This version of the Renault Clio has since been replaced by the more powerful E-Tech 145, but there are plenty of examples on the used market, and having returned upwards of 55mpg around town in our tests, it makes a sensible choice for solid efficiency.

The Clio is a practical all-rounder, with a larger boot than others in its category, and plenty of room in the rear seats for three passengers to stretch out comfortably. It also feels plush inside, with plenty of soft-touch materials. However, Renault doesn't have the best track record for electrical issues with its hybrid models, so there are definitely more reliable options out there, such as the Toyota models on this list.

Read our full used Renault Clio review

Real MPG Average 50.5mpg | Town 60.3mpg | Motorway 41.6mpg | Rural 60.1mpg

The Toyota Prius one of the most famous hybrids out there, and it's exceedingly popular not only as a family car, but also with fleets and taxi firms. With a real-world average of 50.5mpg it's very cost-effective to run.

The comfortable Prius provides plenty of space and, with four trims to choose from, it doesn’t scrimp on equipment, either. Its performance times aren't particularly exciting, though this is on par with most of its conventional rivals. New models are only available as plug-in hybrids, but this used hybrid version is good to drive and offers slightly better real-world economy than its main rival, the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid.

Read our full used Toyota Prius review

Real MPG Average 50.3mpg | Town 86.6mpg | Motorway 38.4mpg | Rural 58.4mpg

The Suzuki Swace is essentially the cheaper twin of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. When stripped back, they’re very much the same, with an identical 1.8 litre hybrid system — but the Swace does it all for a lower price. While there’s no option to upgrade the engine as with the Corolla, the Swace is still incredibly efficient, returning 86.6mpg in the town portion of our tests, and 58.4mpg on faster country roads. On top of that, it provides a supple drive, and the adjustable driving position makes it easy to get comfortable.

A brand new Suzuki Swace will set you back around £29,000. There are cheaper rivals, like the Skoda Octavia Estate, but the Swace has much better resale values.

Read our full Suzuki Swace review

Real MPG Average 50.1mpg | Town 49.0mpg | Motorway 44.0mpg | Rural 60.2mpg

While we may consider its electric sibling (the Kia Niro EV) the more exciting option, this hybrid Niro is nothing to be sniffed at. With a real world average of 50.1mpg, it's pretty cost-effective, and you should be able to get a used one for a good price, too, since the model range has been updated. Early versions with average mileage start at around £11,000, which is around the same as a hybrid Toyota C-HR.

The Niro hybrid may not be the most stylish, but it’s practical and well-equipped, with plenty of space in both the front and rear. Despite being a pretty firm ride around town, it smooths out nicely on the motorway, making long-distance journeys more pleasant.

Read our full used Kia Niro review

Real MPG Average 49.4mpg | Town 68.1mpg | Motorway 39.8mpg | Rural 57.0mpg

We can’t ignore the Corolla Touring Sports after having highlighted the efficiency of the Suzuki Swace – they’re practically identical, after all. The Corolla has all the practicality and comfort of an estate car, with all the benefits of greener hybrid power. Unlike the Swace, buyers have the option to upgrade from the 1.8-litre engine to a more powerful 2.0-litre engine, which can sprint from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds.

When you combine all of this with Toyota’s stellar reliability record and the possibility to extend the warranty to ten years, the Corolla becomes a solid low-cost option. However, the infotainment system could be better, and it doesn't have as much boot space as some of its rivals, such as the Skoda Octavia Estate.

Read our full Toyota Corolla Touring Sports review

Real MPG Average 49.2mpg | Town 80.0mpg | Motorway 37.7mpg | Rural 57.5mpg

This previous-generation Yaris is a great option if you’re not looking to spend much on a small car. It’s particularly impressive around town, returning an admirable 80mpg in our tests. With a roomy interior that trumps its successor and plenty of standard kit, it makes for a solid all-rounder.

The Yaris doesn't offer the most exciting drive, especially when you compare it to the rival Ford Fiesta, and its hybrid engine produces a fair amount of noise, but this small car represents good value for money thanks to its reliability and spacious interior. With prices starting from just under £7500, you can’t really go wrong.

Read our full used Toyota Yaris review

Real MPG Average 49.0mpg | Town 91.9mpg | Motorway 37.9mpg | Rural 54.0mpg

While it’s not our favourite car to drive and the infotainment system pales in comparison to rivals such as the Kia Sportage, the Toyota RAV4 is the family SUV to choose if you're looking for great fuel economy. Its electric motor performs particularly well around town, returning an exceptionally impressive Real MPG score of 91.1mpg in our tests. On top of that, it's spacious and comes with lots of standard kit, as well as a largely adjustable driving position.

You'll find a more comfortable drive in rivals such as the Honda CR-V and the Peugeot 5008, and its weighty hybrid engine means it's not as fun to drive as the Ford Kuga. However, the RAV4 redeems itself with its great real-world economy, and combined with Toyota’s reliability record, running costs are lower than most other cars in its class. For those who can charge at home, a plug-in hybrid version is also available.

Read our full Toyota RAV4 review