Hybrid cars

If you’re looking for an efficient hybrid car with low running costs the Toyota Corolla is the car to beat. You actually have a choice between two hybrid petrol engines, the car is enjoyable to drive and comes with a plush interior and a long warranty.

The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is one of the best value hybrid cars for sale right now. It comes with Hyundai's five-year warranty, so you get great peace of mind as well as low running costs.

The plug-in hybrid version of the Volvo XC90 - called the T8 - can go on electric power alone for nearly 20 miles, has an official mpg over 100 but amazingly can crack 0-60mph in under six seconds. All wrapped up in a well-equipped, sumptuous, practical and stylish SUV package.

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 hybrid icon, the latest version of the Toyota Prius goes from quirky eco car to smart family car – that just also happens to have low emissions and high mpg. It’s also spacious and comes with a decent-sized boot, proving you don’t have to compromise when buying a hybrid car.

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.

Choosing a plug-in hybrid doesn’t mean you miss out on style, practicality – or speed. The T8 plug-hybrid of the Volvo XC90 has amazing acceleration for its size, yet oozes cool Swedish style and 100+mpg to boot.

The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid is the cheapest plug-in hybrid you can buy and along with the low list price, you get incredibly low running costs too – with official economy figures over 250mpg. The car is well-equipped, too.

The BMW 530e has a smart cabin, slick infotainment system and, on short trips, the car is powered completely by electric, while over 30 miles you can get over 100mpg according to official figures

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.

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.

The Toyota Corolla Touring Sports shares the same striking looks with the Corolla hatchback, which automatically makes it one of the most stylish estate cars around. There are two hybrid versions to choose from, and unlike plug-in hybrids, you don't need to plug the Corolla in.

The Volvo V60 looks cool, is very comfortable and has a roomy boot. And with the T8 plug-in hybrid you also get an estate car that can travel short distances on electric power alone, and for longer distances when you use petrol and electric power together you can manage well over 100mpg.

Spacious, Stylish, super-comfortable and oozing Scandinavian design the Volvo V90 ticks all the feel-good boxes. But with the T8 hybrid version you get electric power for short distances and three-figure economy figures when you use petrol and electric power together.

The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo seems to be the car that can do everything. Sporty to drive? Tick. Fantastic interior? Tick. Carry four adults? Decent boot? Tick. 70mpg. Wait what? Yep. Tick.