Hybrid cars

Hail to the king, baby! The Toyota Corolla is the hybrid overlord, mixing cheapness and consistently high quality with a dash of fun and vigour. It's a balance that's incredibly difficult to get right and none do it better than this economical yet stylish hatchback.

Fancy driving around a racetrack like a speed demon, but not melting the ice caps as you do so? Then the Honda NSX is for you! Its performance means it isn't the most economical entry on this list, but it still outdoes its supercar alternatives in that field while blasting from 0-60mph in around 3 seconds.

Of the hybrid world, the Toyota Prius is basically the mascot; the frontman; its most recognisable icon. Cities from London to L.A. have loads of these economical family cars cruising about and, with its comfort and big boot, it's easy to see why.

A classy addition to the ever-increasing small SUV line-up, the Lexus UX boasts striking looks and a cosy, high-quality interior. Its ride height and generous visibility make it a great urban vehicle, complemented further by the economical hybrid system.

The Honda CR-V is a spacious and comfortable hybrid SUV. Its seven seats make it ideal for families, as does its near-flawless reliability. The car is also pretty safe across the board, with every trim getting auto emergency braking, hill-start assistance and lane-keeping assistance.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one of the best plug-in hybrids on sale because it combines cheap running costs with a practical SUV body. It can run for miles on electric power alone, plus it has space for four tall adults and their luggage for two weeks away.

The Toyota Prius Plug-in can travel 30 miles on electric power alone slashing your costs if you have a short commute. The Prius’ angular exterior is matched by a high-tech interior that has space for four adults and their luggage.

The BMW i3 qualifies for this list of the best plug-in hybrid because of its spectacularly low running costs. It’s small but has just enough room for four adults and some bags of shopping, and its small size makes it ideal for cutting through busy cities.

The Volvo XC90 Twin Engine has a luxurious interior with space for seven adults and room left over for a little bit of luggage. It can travel 30 miles on electric power but is also surprisingly quick when you need a burst of acceleration.

The BMW 530e is one of the best plug-in hybrids on sale although you’d never know it. It looks exactly the same as any other 5 Series but is cheaper to run if you have a short commute. Its posh interior has a great infotainment system and space for four tall adults.

With the potential to get up to 62.7mpg, the Toyota Corolla is an economical hybrid that also boasts a comfortable interior and smooth, enjoyable drive. All the materials are high-quality and the boot is big and practical enough for real-world items like shopping bags or small suitcases.

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid is relatively cheap to buy, frugal to run and can run for a few miles in silent electric mode. Its small size makes it easy to drive, but the Yaris can just about carry four adults and a couple of suitcases.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE is one of the best small hybrids if you’re looking for a quick car that’s also cheap to run. It is almost as fun to drive as the Golf GTI hot hatch but your fuel bills won’t be anywhere near as high. Like any Golf, its interior is well built and practical.

The Audi A3 e-tron is one of the best small hybrids if you want a car that feels expensive. Its interior’s very well built, plus has space for four adults and their luggage. It’s quick, but also very cheap to run, particularly if you have a short commute and somewhere to charge it.

The Kia Niro is a compact SUV that no one would guess is a hybrid. It has a spacious interior for its size and is easy to drive, particularly because you get a great view out. It also comes with a long seven-year warranty.

The Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi 48v has what’s called a Mild Hybrid Starter Generator or MHSG that works together with a 48V electrical system and small battery to help out the diesel engine. So when accelerating the MHSG will provide some extra shove to take the strain off the diesel engine, while when braking it’ll switch to store energy back to the battery ready for the next burst.

All Audi A7 diesel engines now include mild hybrid technology. It has a clever set-up that helps the A7 shut off its engine between 34 and 99mph to coast and save fuel and then intelligently fire the engine again when needed.

Hyundai owns Kia, so it’s no surprise that its Tucson SUV shares many components with the Sportage. As such, the Tucson’s also gets a mild hybrid version with the same 2.0-litre diesel engine aided by a Mild Hybrid Starter Generator, 48v electrical system and small battery.

Audi’s Q7 is available with a range of powerful six-cylinder diesel engines, or you combine the most economical of those with an electric motor and batteries in this e-tron model. It’s a plug-in hybrid, so you can charge it up via a charging point or three-pin socket and it’ll cruise on electricity alone for up to 34 miles.