What hybrids are the most reliable?

Hybrids have been around for decades now so carmakers have lots of experience building them. While there are no options on this list with a poor reputation for reliability, it's hard to ignore the extremely strong scores Toyota has earned over the years for the dependability of its hybrid cars. You can always spec an extended warranty whenever you buy your hybrid. This will insulate you from the costs of an unexpected mechanical or electrical failure during the coverage period.

Is it still worth buying a hybrid car?

With EVs getting better than ever, is it worth buying a hybrid? Surely, if you want a plug-in car, a full EV isn't compromised by having to carry an engine around and can have a bigger battery as a result. Plus, if you're not sure about the electric aspect, you can always just pick a regular engine-driven car, which will be cheaper to buy than an equivalent hybrid. In reality, however, hybrids provide a handy middle ground between these two points, making them an excellent choice for drivers that cover a mix of both urban and longer-distance drives. Plus, in the future, emissions regulations will gradually force the remaining non-hybrid models to adopt some form of electrification, so you'll find fewer and fewer non-hybrid cars being offered for sale as time goes on.

How do hybrid cars work?

Hybrid cars use a regular fuel-driven engine – more often than not powered by petrol – with at least one electric motor to power a car. Using both an engine and an electric motor means you can use the power source that best suited to that particular task. The battery and motor, for example, are great at moving the car through stop-start traffic and use no energy at all while the car's stationary. However, once you're up at higher speeds such as on a motorway, the engine can join in and provide the long-range, steady-state running that gives fuel-powered cars such long ranges. That might sound complicated but, from behind the wheel, hybrids usually just feel like any other car with an automatic gearbox – simply slot it into 'D' and let the on-board computers figure out where to draw power from.

What are the different types of hybrid cars?

There are many specific applications of hybrid technology in cars, but just three types that are likely to matter to regular buyers. The first is mild hybrids. These can recapture energy when slowing down and assist the engine while accelerating, but cannot drive the car on electric power alone. Then there are full or self-charging hybrids. These use a larger battery and motor than a mild hybrid, allowing them to travel short distances on electric power. In practice, the range isn't enough for a journey, but should let you crawl through traffic without starting the engine. Finally, there are plug-in hybrids. These have the largest batteries and motors without stepping into full EV territory. They perform all the usual hybrid functions, swapping between engine and battery power, but are able to run on electric power alone – usually for a few dozen miles so they can often cover your regular commute without engine power. Unlike other hybrids, plug-in hybrids can be recharged from an EV charger in addition to recapturing energy from slowing down. Our detailed guide explains the ins and outs of choosing between petrol, diesel or hybrid options.

Are hybrid cars cheap to run?

The answer here, of course, depends on what you consider to be 'cheap' but, broadly speaking, hybrids are more affordable to run than an equivalent non-hybrid car. That's because the extra electric boost spares the engine from expending extra effort – particularly in places where the engine would be at its least efficient such as crawling through traffic or during parking manoeuvres.

Hybrid Cars

Best hybrid cars on sale in 2026

• 5 min read

Mike Vousden

Content Editor

Mike is a Content Editor at Motorpoint. He's written for several motoring mags, and worked as an electric car analyst. He likes EVs, V8s and '60s American cars

Hybrid cars can slip silently through city centres on electric power, with the reassurance of a fuel-powered engine on longer drives.

Here are 10 of the best hybrid cars on sale. We'll cover both full or 'self-charging' hybrids, which can creep through traffic on electric power alone, and plug-in hybrids, which can travel several miles without starting the engine and can be topped up from an EV charger.

Kia Sportage
Toyota Yaris Cross
Volkswagen Passat
Honda Jazz
MG HS
Renault Austral
Hyundai Kona
Toyota RAV4
BMW 330e
Renault Captur E-Tech

Kia Sportage 1.6T Hybrid

50mpg combined
126g/km CO2

The current Kia Sportage is the most premium version of this popular family SUV so far. Inside, the material and build quality are top-notch, coming perilously close to that you'd find in any of the Sportage's premium German rivals. There's also bags of room, with space for passengers in every position to stretch out, and a cavernous boot that can handily swallow all the baby gear you can throw at it. Plus, the fuel-saving hybrid setup still puts out a strong 235hp, letting it cover the 0-62mph sprint in less than eight seconds.

Kia launched the facelift Sportage at the end of 2025 with updated styling and tech.

Shop used Kia Sportage cars for sale or read our Kia Sportage review

Toyota Yaris Cross

55mpg combined
101g/km CO2

The Toyota Yaris Cross delivers a lot of talents across its very compact footprint. It takes up less space than its Toyota C-HR big brother on the road but it's arguably the more practical car, with better rear headroom and a slightly larger boot. It's easy to drive and easy to use, but perhaps the most compelling aspect is its 1.5-litre full-hybrid engine, which is responsive and extremely efficient on short and medium journeys – readily returning around 60mpg in urban traffic. Like the other Toyotas, you also benefit from its excellent 10-year service-activated warranty.

See used Toyota Yaris Cross cars or read our Toyota Yaris Cross review

Volkswagen Passat eHybrid

222mpg combined
29g/km CO2
83-mile electric range

The latest Volkswagen Passat is now only available as an estate. It's also noticeably longer than the outgoing model, which means simply massive passenger and cargo-carrying space – the PHEV Passat only loses a little under-floor storage to non-hybrid versions. The driving experience is smooth and serene, especially since the punchy hybrid motor does so much of the hard work in stop-start traffic. It's easier to keep topped up than most plug-in hybrids too, since the Passat is one of a new breed of PHEVs that has a full CCS2 port, allowing it to fast-charge at public chargers. Keep it topped up and you should be able to average more than 200mpg.

Shop used Volkswagen Passat cars or read our Volkswagen Passat review

Honda Jazz 1.5 Hybrid

Honda Jazz Crosstar in light blue, driving shot

63mpg combined
102g/km CO2

Uninformed buyers might dismiss the Honda Jazz as an 'old-person's car', but they're seriously missing out. The Jazz is quite possibly the most practical compact hatchback you can buy – its small exterior dimensions hide an astonishingly large cabin with space for four adults to sit comfortably – or five at a push. You don't need to sacrifice cargo room either because the Jazz has a deep, square boot and clever flip-up rear seat bases that fold away like theatre stalls, allowing you to store tall objects easily. All that's before you get to the strong and efficient hybrid engine that perfectly suits the Jazz's calm character.

Take a look at used Honda Jazz cars or read our Honda Jazz review

MG HS

51mpg combined
126g/km CO2

The latest MG HS is a dramatic improvement over the car it replaces. Material quality jumps from 'so-so' to 'sophisticated' with lots of soft-touch, padded surfaces and faux-leather upholstery in range-topping Trophy models. The entry-level petrol engine is one of the HS's weaker areas, which is why the self-charging-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid engines are so compelling. They're efficient, responsive and impressively hushed, so you could easily fool yourself into thinking you're driving a spacious electric SUV instead of a fuel-powered one.

Search used MG HS cars or read our MG HS review

Renault Austral E-Tech

59mpg combined
107g/km CO2

Renault says the hybrid tech in the Austral draws on its Formula 1 expertise. In reality, you won't feel like Pierre Gasly behind the wheel, but the Austral's 200hp self-charging hybrid setup is one of the best we've tried. It's responsive and swift in the real world, with the kind of off-the-line we'd expect from a full EV. Well north of 50mpg should be possible in mixed driving, keeping running costs in check. It helps, too, that the Austral's interior is practical, comfortable and stylish, with modern materials and an intuitive interface. It's sharp, portrait-orientated touchscreen is also one of the easiest setups to use on the market.

Browse used Renault Austral cars or read our Renault Austral review

Hyundai Kona 1.6 Hybrid

60mpg combined
106g/km CO2

Older Hyundai Kona models weren't always easy to recommend. They competed against other small family SUVs, but their tight interiors meant they fell short of the class standard. Not so with the new Kona, which is noticeably bigger and much more premium-feeling than its predecessor. Its beady front light bar looks much more modern, with the same being true of the neat creases that break up its bodywork. The 1.6-litre petrol engine and hybrid setup promise an impressive 60mpg and featherweight CO2 emissions.

Browse used Hyundai Kona cars for sale or read our Hyundai Kona review

Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid

52mpg combined
102g/km CO2

The Toyota RAV4 is an accomplished large family SUV, but the car's clever hybrid system is one of the aces up its sleeve. Thanks to decades of Toyota hybrid know-how, the setup in the RAV4 is one of the best, with instant low-speed response from the hybrid motor, which makes pulling away and crawling through traffic totally effortless. On longer runs, the engine smoothly joins the chorus powering the front wheels, leading to some impressive real-world mpg figures from this tall and practical family hauler. Rock-solid reliability, low running costs and robust residual values make this an easy car to justify. Also check out the virtually identical PHEV-only Suzuki Across as well as the incoming 2026 Toyota RAV4.

Save money on a used Toyota RAV4 or read our Toyota RAV4 review

BMW 330e

283mpg combined
22g/km CO2
37-mile electric range

Some hybrids have space-age styling to highlight their high-tech powertrains, while others choose not to shout about their on-board electrification. The BMW 330e is firmly in the latter camp, looking almost indistinguishable from the legions of petrol and diesel-powered 3 Series models running up and down the UK's motorways. Only the extra filler flap that hides its EV charging port and a few badges give away its extra electrons. It achieves the typical show-stopping plug-in-hybrid figures – up to 283mpg or 37 miles of electric-only range – but its muscular 292hp combined output and grippy handling mean it still feels like a true BMW to drive.

View used BMW 3 Series cars or read our BMW 3 Series review

Renault Captur E-Tech 160

64mpg combined
99g/km CO2

The Renault Captur is another model to benefit from the brand's E-Tech hybrid setup – allegedly developed with its F1 team. You won't set Silverstone lap records in the Captur, but its latest 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid setup is absolutely superb. You get immediate low-speed reactions from the powerful electric motor, allowing the petrol engine to gently ramp up its effort as the speeds increase. The result is an extremely smooth, predictable driving experience with hushed acceleration and impressive real-world fuel economy.

Shop used Renault Captur cars or read our Renault Captur review

Cut your running costs with a nearly new hybrid

Check out Motorpoint's wide selection of nearly new and used hybrid cars, all with low mileage and warranty coverage. If you're ready to ditch the engine entirely, check out our picks for the best electric family cars.