Fastest hybrid cars of 2025
Hybrid cars are all about fuel economy and low emissions, right? Well, not always. It turns out, having two separate power sources means you can make your cars quite immensely powerful - and so there exists a spot at the top of the market where you’ll find some incredibly powerful and super-fast hybrid cars.
Most of these cars are even plug-in hybrids, so they have the ability to be really dual-natured - you can waft about silently on electricity when the mood takes you, but you’re only ever a switch of a driving mode away from being able to out-drag just about anyone else at the traffic lights.
Yet thanks to the low emissions that a hybrid system brings, you can often save a packet on company car tax, too. For example, the Benefit-in-Kind rate on a BMW M5 means it costs a company car driver about as much per month as a diesel Skoda Octavia.
Fast hybrid cars aren’t always perfect - there’s more to making a good car than just how quickly it goes, after all. The extra weight and complexity of a hybrid system means that while straight-line speed is remarkable, how it performs in the corners and how it feels to drive can be spoiled. Take the Porsche Panamera, for example - it’s a great car, and it’s ballistically fast, but the nicest version to drive is the non-hybrid GTS, despite it taking almost a second longer to get to 62mph.
Hybrid systems can also make cars immensely expensive - the Range Rover Sport here costs more than £114,000, versus around £100,000 for our preferred diesel.
If you’re in the market for a hybrid car, though, and you care about speed more than you do economy, you’ll find something on the list below. We’ve sorted the cars by their 0-62mph time, and our expert road testers have reviewed each of them so you know if you’re getting something good, or just something fast.
1. Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Coupe reviewThere are a few hybrid cars faster than this, but they’re either so exotic that you can’t really buy them, or so expensive that you wouldn’t want to. Not that the Mercedes-AMG GT isn’t exotic - or isn’t expensive, for that matter, as this range-topping E Performance model comes in at more than £186,000.
This version of the AMG is one of the fastest AMG models ever built, and it’s capable of the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in a fantastically speedy 2.8 seconds. Top speed is a similarly monstrous 199mph.
The power from its 4.0-litre V8 engine is put to the road through a nine-speed gearbox and all-wheel drive - the hybrid system at the back consists of an electric motor, a small battery pack and a two-speed gearbox. The battery being just 6.1kWh in capacity - less than half of most ‘normal’ plug-in cars - means that your all-electric range is limited to just 8 miles.
The other issue is weight. The hybrid system adds a couple of hundred kilos to what’s already a very heavy car, and so while it’s still very capable in the corners it does feel a bit like it’s bending physics to achieve it. Lighter cars are more enjoyable and you feel a bit more connected to the experience.
But if what you’re after is a car that looks incredibly cool, crosses continents with ease and will embarrass almost anyone else at the traffic lights, then this Mercedes-AMG is a great place to start.
2. Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
Porsche Panamera reviewThe Panamera is unlike Porsche’s traditional sports cars - it has the engine at the front, for a start, and four doors, and lots of space in the back. It’s also an incredibly comfortable way to cover the miles, but for this range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid model it’s mostly about speed.
Thanks to a 4.0-litre V8 engine paired to a hybrid system, you get a massive 782hp - good for 0-62mph in just 2.9 seconds. At the same time, you get a very usable electric range of more than 50 miles, so this genuinely does work as an every PHEV.
It’s also a practical car - there’s space in the back seats to stretch out (even though there are only two of them) and the boot has 421 litres of space, so plenty for a weekend away. It’s even unusually generously equipped for a Porsche - you get Matrix LED headlights, a Bose sound system, 21-inch wheels, rear axle steering and the incredibly clever Porsche Active Ride which aids both comfort and cornering.
You do pay for all this supremacy - a starting price of over £175,000, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to customisation and personalisation. If you want eight-tenths of the experience for a slightly more reasonable sum, there are three other E-Hybrid models - the 4, 4S and Turbo - all of which offer a useful cost-saving and by regular standards are still extremely quick.
3. Lamborghini Urus SE
Lamborghini Urus reviewFew cars stand out as much as a Lamborghini, and few Lamborghinis stand out as much as a Urus. Despite an initial response from naysayers, Lamborghini’s SUV has proven to be a runaway success for the brand, and now it’s solely available as a plug-in hybrid.
But don’t go thinking that just because this is the most sensible of Lambos - and one that’s capable of dispatching family SUV duties with ease - that it’s somehow been diluted in appeal. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine still pumps out a massive 612hp all by itself, which the hybrid system buffs up to a stonking 800hp.
That means 0-62mph in a feisty 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 194mph, which is crazy when you think this is a five-door SUV with a big boot and space for child seats in the back. You’ll be the envy of the school run, and it’ll look pretty good parked in a glitzy bit of town. On the flip side, though, it’s not the sort of thing you’d want to turn up to a funeral or a solemn occasion in, is it?
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The BMW M5 is one of the most storied super-saloons of all time, but the latest model didn’t get off to a great start with purists - due to its spectacular weight, its somewhat challenging styling and its use of a new plug-in hybrid system.
But they were proved wrong as soon as people started driving the car and realised that, despite everything, this is a spectacular machine. The M5 uses a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine and a plug-in hybrid system to produce a massive 727hp - good for 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds.
And if the M5 saloon doesn’t grab you, you can also specify it as a Touring estate model - the first in 15 years. This gives all the pace and power of the regular car, but with more space for junk in the trunk. It’s the perfect fast family cruiser.
The XM is the only BMW M-specific model - that is to say, it’s not based on a ‘normal’ BMW, but it’s a standalone car. It uses the same engine and hybrid system as the M5, though standard models ‘only’ get 476hp - you need the beefier ‘Label’ model if you want the full 748hp. Do this and you’ll get to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds.
You won’t see too many XMs on the road, which might be a good thing - it’s fair to say that while many current BMWs have divisive styling, the XM’s tips over into downright ugly. The interior is lovely though - beautifully built with loads of tech, but surprisingly easy to use.
Suspension that’s somewhat punishing over bumps, a gearbox that never really settles and the fact you’ll be gawked at by passersby means that while this is a very quick SUV, it’s not really one we’d recommend.
6. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid
Porsche Cayenne reviewFrom an SUV we don’t recommend to one that’s just as quick and gets a wholehearted ‘buy it’. The Cayenne is similar to the Panamera and uses a lot of the same components, including the same hybrid system in the Turbo S E-Hybrid model - but due to the larger car’s weight and bulk, it manages the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in 3.8 seconds rather than the Panamera’s 2.9.
That’s still ballistically fast, and the Cayenne’s even more practical than the Panamera - it gets ample space in the rear seat for tall adults or the bulkiest of car seats, and the boot is big and usable. The Cayenne feels like a luxury car that just so happens to be incredible in the corners too - it’s the best of all worlds. As with the Panamera, though, you can save a lot of money by opting for one of the lesser versions - this range-topper is nice to have but a bit unnecessary.
There are a choice of hybrid engines in the Range Rover, including some mild hybrid diesel options - but the two plug-in hybrids offer the lowest potential running costs along with remarkable performance. The P550e - the number refers to its horsepower - can cover 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds, which considering the car weighs almost three tonnes and is about as luxurious as Buckingham Palace is quite a feat.
The engine half of the PHEV equation here is a creamy-smooth 3.0-litre six-cylinder, which sounds great when you’re driving hard and is barely audible when you’re not. The suspension is fantastic, soaking up lumps and bumps, yet this is also a superb car to drive off-road, where its numerous electronics and mechanical systems can keep you moving over terrain that’d trouble a mountain goat.
8. Omoda 9
OMODA Omoda 9 reviewMost of the cars on this list are hyper-expensive luxury models from premium brands. The Omoda 9 is not. It costs from around £45,000, which while it’s quite a lot for a Chinese SUV doesn’t seem like much when you start looking at the stats.
For a start, you can go from 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds - that’s as quick as the £114,000 Range Rover Sport P550e, above. The Omoda’s enormous battery gives you 93 miles of electric range, too, which is the longest of any PHEV on sale, and the interior packs in a vast amount of equipment.
It’s a shame that despite being fast, it’s a bit rubbish to drive - the suspension is so soft that you run the risk of making your passengers car sick, and the steering wheel doesn’t really feel like it’s connected to anything. Difficult to beat on value, though.
9. Bentley Bentayga Hybrid
Bentley Bentayga review‘Value’ isn’t really something that goes through the head of a Bentley Bentayga owner. The 3.0-litre V6 hybrid engine is a bit slow considering the standards of this list - 0-62mph takes a comparatively yawning 5.3 seconds - but considering the size and weight of the Bentayga, that’s pretty rapid.
If you’re looking for sheer luxury then you can’t go far wrong with a Bentayga. Even in its most bog-standard form it’s an incredibly opulent place to sit - but the sky’s the limit when it comes to additions and customisation. To be honest, though, despite the hybrids low running costs and impressive pace, the regular non-hybrid V8 engine feels like a better fit in the Bentayga - and the old W12 felt better still.
The GTE is meant to evoke some of the spirit of the GTI hot hatchback, but with the efficiency of a plug-in hybrid. The result is certainly speedy - 0-62mph takes 6.6 seconds, which isn’t that much slower than the regular GTI - though it doesn’t quite have the thrills of its petrol-powered counterpart.
It does, however, come with much lower running costs, especially if you’re using it as a company car. And you can’t really moan about the rest of the package, either - it’s just like a Golf, so you get a big boot, plenty of rear seat space and a quality interior. Sure, you also get a fiddly touchscreen and some software glitchiness - but nothing’s perfect, is it?
Factors to consider when buying a fast hybrid car
Do you need a hybrid?
With a few exceptions, keen drivers will find that they get a more enjoyable experience from a non-hybrid alternative - these cars tend to be more driver-focused, lighter and more agile, and just generally a lot more fun.
That should be balanced with the advantages of a hybrid model, particularly the lower tax costs if you’re buying one of these vehicles as a company car. Consider carefully what your best option is, and how much you’re concerned about running costs versus driver enjoyment.
Will it really save you money?
Every car on this list is a plug-in hybrid - and these cars can often promise fantastically low running costs, with fuel economy figures in the hundreds. That, however, is based on you plugging your car in regularly. For something like the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid or Omoda 9, that’s a no-brainer - their electric range is very usable, but you might question whether it’s worth it in something like the AMG GT E Performance.
Remember though that plugging in regularly doesn’t just mean lower running costs, it also gives you access to the car’s full performance for more of the time. If you don’t have the capacity to charge your car at home, you should consider an alternative to one of these plug-in hybrid performance cars.
Do you need all of that speed?
You might get bragging rights in the pub by having the quickest car - but in the real world (outside of the Carwow drag strip) 0-62mph times and top speeds are pretty much meaningless.
You should check out our lists of the best hybrid and best plug-in hybrid cars to find the best models, regardless of their power. Or, check out the Carwow drag race leaderboard if you’re interested in seeing more of the fastest and most powerful cars go head to head.
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