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10 best self-charging hybrids in 2024

Hybrid cars have been popular for over 20 years with those keen to minimise the impact of their motoring on the planet. In this piece, we’ll look at the best self-charging hybrids currently on sale and answer some of the most popular questions about self-charging hybrid technology.

Honda Civic
2024
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended

1. Honda Civic

9/10
Honda Civic review
The Honda Civic was a 2023 Carwow Buy It Award winner, so we’re big fans of the family hatchback. The cabin is a little bland, but that’s pretty much the only area in which the Civic cedes ground to its alternatives. It’s spacious inside and the 404-litre boot is more than the Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus can offer, while it feels comfortable and manoeuvrable to drive. Throw into the mix a solid build quality and low running costs (60mpg), and it’s easy to see why the Civic is highly regarded.
Renault Clio

2. Renault Clio

9/10
Renault Clio review
Another longstanding – and much-loved – name in the hatchback market, the latest Renault Clio now comes with a hybrid system that adds an extra level of economy to Clio ownership. The E-Tech hybrid engine has a claimed official economy figure of 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 96g/km, so running costs are better than non-hybrid Clios. A spacious boot, high-quality cabin and plenty of standard equipment round off the package.
Kia Niro

3. Kia Niro

7/10
Kia Niro review
Battery range up to 40 miles
If a sensible, practical and efficient small hybrid SUV is what you’re looking to buy, the Kia Niro should tick many of your boxes. It’s sharply styled, so it will cut a dash on the road, and has an attractive cabin, with plenty of tech coming as standard. It’s also a comfortable place in which to take a trip, with good refinement, and has competitive running costs.
Toyota Corolla

4. Toyota Corolla

8/10
Toyota Corolla review
In the highly contested family hatchback market, the Toyota Corolla stands out because of its stylish, well-designed exterior and one of the plushest interiors in its class. It also drives well, steering precisely and staying comfortable over dodgy road surfaces. The self-charging hybrid engines run silently on electricity in town, but also handle motorways with ease, too.
Nissan Qashqai e-POWER

5. Nissan Qashqai e-Power

8/10
Nissan Qashqai e-POWER review
There’s more than one type of hybrid system on the market, with the Nissan Qashqai e-Power offering a different take on the technology. The self-charging system in the Qashqai uses a petrol engine that charges the electric battery instead of driving the wheels, so it’s like an electric car in some ways. Elsewhere, there are all the features that have made the Qashqai one of the most popular family SUVs, such as a spacious, comfortable interior and stylish looks.
Lexus NX Hybrid

6. Lexus NX

8/10
Lexus NX Hybrid review
Love it or hate it, the design of the Lexus NX certainly isn’t boring. The distinctive grille and sharp bodywork creases certainly make the car stand out and the interior is similarly striking, with the materials feeling tactile and premium. In fact, you’re left in no doubt that this is a car to match, quality-wise, anything being produced by BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz. At the same time, the well-established Lexus hybrid system means that the NX can still return fuel consumption figure of 50mpg.
Toyota Yaris Hybrid

7. Toyota Yaris Hybrid

7/10
Toyota Yaris Hybrid review
The Toyota Yaris has been flying the flag for small self-charging hybrid hatchbacks for some time, so the current generation is the sum total of all that experience – and it shows. That’s because it's easy to drive and very economical to run, while the sporty design is a huge improvement on previous versions and it comes packed with lots of modern tech.
Ford Kuga

8. Ford Kuga

7/10
Ford Kuga review
Battery range up to 35 miles
There are lots of family SUVs on the market for buyers to choose from, with many having similar qualities. The Ford Kuga stands out a little because it’s one of the few that are engaging to drive, with the car handling in a way that is reminiscent of its excellent Focus stablemate. It’s also well designed, inside and out, with a spacious cabin and a good level of standard equipment.
Hyundai Tucson

9. Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

7/10
Hyundai Tucson review
Hyundai offers the Tucson in a variety of hybrid flavours – including plug-in – with the self-charging hybrid offering a good balance of power and economical running costs. There’s plenty more to recommend the Tucson, too, with eye-catching exterior styling, a five-year warranty and an extensive range of standard features.
Ford S-Max

10. Ford S-Max

7/10
Ford S-Max review
If you’re in the market for a people carrier, and want a hybrid to help keep down the costs of your family transport, you might be surprised to discover that there’s a Ford S-Max that now fulfils your criteria. The S-Max might be a little long in the tooth now, but with a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid engine and a fun-to-drive nature, it still has real appeal.

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Advice about self-charging hybrid cars

Self-charging hybrid FAQs

Self-charging hybrids have a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, with the motor driven by a small onboard battery. The engine recharges the battery and recovers energy that would otherwise be lost from the engine or while braking. All the different types of hybrid and electric engines do this, but the battery in a plug-in hybrid or fully electric model also needs to be topped up from mains electricity, in order to fully recharge larger battery packs. Self-charging hybrids, however, don’t need to be plugged in to the mains – but this means that they have a much shorter electric-only range than a plug-in hybrid - generally very short distances of up to a mile at best.

A self-charging hybrid car has a petrol engine and an electric motor, and drives like a conventional automatic car. The hybrid technology selects the best power source at all times, switching between petrol or electric modes, based on the driving situation. A self-charging hybrid system also charges the electric battery while you’re driving, when you stop or slow down, the regenerative braking system recovering even more energy.

Plenty of people object to the term self-charging hybrid, and many others complain that these cars don’t take a big enough step towards the goal of full electrification. Compared with plug-in hybrids they have no big on-paper electric-only driving range figures to point to.

However, they can still deliver dramatically impressive fuel economy without the need to be plugged into an electric car charger, which makes them a very fuss-free way to reduce your running costs. Especially as they cost less than plug-in hybrid tech at the equivalent level.

All hybrid systems will save you money on fuel costs, but how much you save is dependant on where and how you drive. In test conditions though, petrol hybrids and diesels are the best types of car for saving fuel – which means if you want a petrol car, a self-charging hybrid will generally be the most economical option.

Whether a self-charging or a plug-in hybrid is the better choice for you depends on your personal driving needs and preferences. For example, if most of your journeys are short and are mostly within urban areas, a self-charging hybrid may be good for your needs. However, if you drive longer distances or on motorways regularly, a plug-in hybrid may be more suitable for you.

Access to a home charger or a public charging network could mean that a plug-in hybrid may be more convenient and cost-effective for you. If it’s not convenient to charge a car, or don’t want the hassle of plugging a car in, a self-charging hybrid will be more practical for you.

Finally, if you’re concerned about your carbon emissions and saving money on fuel and tax, a plug-in hybrid is the better option. 

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