Small cars are easy to drive in the city, and hybrid power makes crawling through traffic effortless.
That's why small hybrids are perfect for drivers who tackle mixed driving and don't want to go fully electric. These cars have easy-to-park dimensions, no clutch pedal to worry about, and featherweight fuel costs.
Here are our 10 favourite small hybrid cars – we've picked a mix of self-charging hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Most are available as great-value nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint.
Honda Jazz
- Incredible practicality for the size
- Cute, stylish design
- Smooth hybrid setup
The Honda Jazz easily earned places on both our list of best small cars and best hybrids so, naturally, it has to feature here. As a small car, it's pure genius, packing way more passenger space and cargo area into its tiny form than you'd believe – thank Honda's clever packaging and the car's tall body for that. The self-charging-hybrid setup is brilliant too, with rapid off-the-line acceleration from the electric motor and a seamless transition as the 1.5-litre petrol engine joins in to assist. Keep an eye out for Jazz Crosstar models, which gain SUV-style cladding, handy roof rails and a taller ride height.
Search used Honda Jazz cars or read our Honda Jazz review
Renault Captur
- Works as a small family car
- Modern, comfy cabin
- Easy-to-use infotainment system
There are plenty of reasons to like the Renault Captur, but its sluggish entry-level TCe petrol engines aren't one of them. Thankfully, the Captur is also available with the brand's 1.6-litre E-Tech self-charging and plug-in hybrid engines, which help it feel much more lively and dramatically improve fuel economy. Our favourite is the 145hp self-charging model as it's the most flexible for the most buyers. Renault's clearly spent the time to make sure that the Captur's blend of hybrid and petrol power is perfectly balanced, with no jerkiness when the car swaps between them. This engine is also available in the compact Clio hatchback.
Take a look at used Renault Captur cars or read our Renault Captur review
Toyota Yaris Cross
- Easy to drive and use
- Good cargo space for its size
- Super-long warranty
The regular Toyota Yaris would have made a great choice on this list, but we think its SUV sibling, the Yaris Cross, is even better. Where the Yaris feels cramped by its small body, the Yaris Cross musters up just enough space for a small family, despite barely taking up that much more space on the road. The engine choice remains the same regardless of which car you pick – a 1.5-litre self-charging hybrid with 116hp. It's not exactly a tower of power but you get swift city acceleration thanks to the electric motor, with the petrol engine backing it up as you ask for more power. More than 60mpg should be achievable, even in stop-start traffic.
Browse used Toyota Yaris Cross cars or read our Toyota Yaris Cross review
MG3
- Surprisingly quick
- Powerful electric assistance
- Lots of standard kit
MG's recent cars have really impressed us, with the MG3 hatchback being one of the most compelling. Like older versions, it's thousands of pounds cheaper than direct rivals like the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris but, this time, the interior quality, on-board technology and driving experience are all up there with the best-in-class. There's an impressive amount of rear-seat space given its small stature, and just enough soft-touch materials to avoid feeling like a budget alternative. The 1.5-litre hybrid setup makes 192hp in total – comfortably more than its Japanese rivals – but it's the MG3's 134hp electric motor that really helps makes everyday driving easy.
Search used MG3 cars or read our MG3 review
Cupra Leon
- Attractive sporty styling
- Well-tuned handling
- Zippy PHEV performance
The Cupra Leon uses the same platform as the VW Golf and Audi A3. We're particularly taken with the Spanish brand's interpretation of the form, however, because the Leon has swoopy, dramatic styling that stands out from the rest. There are standard petrol options ranging from a pedestrian 150hp up to a 300hp fire-breather, but it's the plug-in hybrids we're looking at here. The range opens with a 204hp unit with swift, hushed performance or you can upgrade to a 245hp version with near-hot-hatch acceleration. This latter unit got a power boost to 272hp when the Leon was facelifted, plus a bigger battery unlocking more than 70 miles of electric driving.
Shop used Cupra Leon cars for sale or read our Cupra Leon review
Honda Civic
- Swift performance
- High-quality, spacious cabin
- Hushed refinement
The latest Honda Civic is more than 4.5 metres long, which makes it one of the largest small hybrids here. However, that bulk doesn't go to waste because the Civic has plenty of passenger space and a very big boot. This could easily serve as your main family car. No one expects a hybrid Honda to be fast but, with a sub-eight-second 0-62mph time, this 2.0-litre setup gets up to speed swiftly with barely a grumble from under the bonnet. Efficiency is excellent too, with more than 50mpg easily achievable in most driving conditions. Prices are a little steep but the Civic's capability and quality are worth paying for.
Check out used Honda Civic cars or read our Honda Civic review
Lexus LBX
- Luxurious features in a compact body
- Feels posher than the Yaris Cross it's based on
- Long warranty
The Lexus LBX borrows mostly the same self-charging hybrid system as the Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross, but ramps up the luxury and features. As a result, this is a very comfy place to tackle city driving, with a cosseting, comfortable cabin, and the quick-witted reactions of Toyota's hybrid tech which makes it easy to jump through gaps in traffic. Here, the output is boosted to 136hp over the Yaris Cross, which makes the LBX a little more relaxing on the motorway – a trait that's enhanced by the Lexus' better overall refinement, tuning out some of the gruff engine noise that you'll find in its Toyota cousins.
View used Lexus cars for sale or read our Lexus LBX review
Volkswagen Golf
- Classy, understated image
- Excellent electric range for a PHEV
- Optional sporty GTE model
For years, the Volkswagen Golf was the yardstick for other small family cars to match. It's still a meaningful contender in the class today, thanks to a simple, spacious cabin with the same sturdy build quality we've come to expect. Bringing the Golf into the 21st century are a pair of plug-in-hybrid engines – the 204hp eHybrid and 272hp GTE. The former comes with a somewhat ludicrous claimed economy above 900mpg – you'll need to regularly recharge and drive like a saint to match it, but it's safe to say running costs will be extremely low. Meanwhile, the GTE is quicker and more exciting to drive, while still claiming more than 700mpg on average.
See used Volkswagen Golf cars or read our Volkswagen Golf review
Toyota Corolla
- More refined than Yaris/Yaris Cross
- Competitive used prices
- Long warranty
If the compact Yaris or Yaris Cross SUV aren't your cup of tea, consider the more traditional Toyota Corolla hatchback. This has many of the same benefits, including the robust build quality and straightforward user experience, but presented in a more traditional 'two-box' small family car. As a slightly bigger car, the Corolla comes with a bit more muscle – relatively speaking – with a choice of either a 140hp 1.8-litre or a 196hp 2.0-litre model. Both make heavy use of their electric motors so acceleration is smooth and swift, and both should see more than 50mpg in mixed driving. There's also the Corolla Touring Sports estate if you need a bit more room.
Check out used Toyota Corolla cars or read our Toyota Corolla review
Mercedes CLA
- Dramatic four-door-coupe looks
- Powerful PHEV setup
- Premium brand appeal
Mercedes was one of the first brands to embrace the four-door-coupe body style with the CLS. For the CLA, Mercedes has downsized the body so it fits over A-Class mechanicals, helping make this dramatic-looking car a little more affordable than its upscale siblings. There are no compromises to the user experience, however, with a plush, comfortable cabin that comes packed with features. The plug-in-hybrid CLA 250e has a total of 218hp, giving it a respectable 7.7-second 0-62mph time. More important is claimed average fuel economy above 250mpg if you keep the battery topped up, and a pure-electric range in excess of 40 miles.
Find used Mercedes CLA cars or read our Mercedes CLA review
Say hi to a nearly new hybrid
Browse a huge choice of nearly new and used hybrid cars at Motorpoint. For more compact cars, check out the best cars for city driving.
