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Compare the best small hybrid SUVs

High-quality compact hybrid SUVs from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.6/5 from 47,830 reviews
blue hyundai tucson driving

Best small hybrid SUVs of 2023

Hybrid power makes great sense for those looking to switch away from diesel, but who aren’t quite ready to go fully electric just yet. You get some short-bursts of electric running but without the plugging in, and you’ll keep your fuel consumption under control while trimming CO2 emissions. Which are the best small hybrid SUVs around? Read on…

Kia Sportage

1. Kia Sportage

8/10
Kia Sportage review
Kia’s good-looking Sportage combines plenty of cabin space with a dashboard design lifted from the high-end EV6 electric car. The Sportage drives neatly (although it’s not really thrilling in any sense) and is well made, and it comes with that long Kia warranty. Kia quotes an official 49mpg for fuel economy, but you might do better than that if you’re gentle.
Nissan Qashqai

2. Nissan Qashqai e-Power

8/10
Nissan Qashqai review
Nissan’s new Qashqai hybrid uses an unusual setup — the 1.5-litre petrol engine is only there to top up the compact 2.1kWh battery, which in turn drives the 187hp electric motor. So it’s not so much a hybrid, more an electric car that carries around its own power station. It’s odd, but Nissan reckons that it’s a better solution than a plug-in hybrid and it’ll do 53mpg on the official economy combined cycle.
Nissan Juke

3. Nissan Juke

7/10
Nissan Juke review
Like Honda, Nissan has fitted the Juke Hybrid with an oddball gearbox (four gears for the engine, two for the electric motor) but the overall effect isn’t bad. 56mpg is the official figure, and you should be able to get close to that in the real world. Spritely to drive, but space in the back and boot is lacking.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

4. Toyota RAV4

7/10
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review
Toyota has more experience than anyone with making hybrids, and that shows in the RAV4. It’s no sports car to drive (although it’s not as boring as you might think) but its hybrid system is efficient, and capable of up to 50mpg fuel economy on the combined cycle.
Hyundai Tucson

5. Hyundai Tucson

7/10
Hyundai Tucson review
The Tucson is basically the same, under the skin, as the Kia Sportage, so all of the same good stuff applies here — a quality, comfort, space, and an efficient hybrid system capable of hitting 50mpg on the official fuel economy test. The Kia’s cabin looks a little bit nicer, though.
Lexus UX

6. Lexus UX

7/10
Lexus UX review
The UX is basically either a RAV4 in a smaller, sportier suit or a C-HR that’s been to a posh school. Either way, it’s hard not to like the smart-looking (and beautifully-made) cabin, and the UX is pretty sweet to drive, too. The UX250h hybrid version returns 53mpg on the combined fuel economy test.
Honda HR-V Hybrid

7. Honda HR-V

7/10
Honda HR-V Hybrid review
Honda’s HR-V gets a complex engine setup that does away with a conventional gearbox and instead uses a pair of electric motors, powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine. It’s a bit old-school hybrid to drive (droning engine, slow acceleration) but it’s economical — an official 53mpg — and the high-quality cabin is lovely.
Honda CR-V

8. Honda CR-V

6/10
Honda CR-V review
Ageing now, and due for replacement next year, the CR-V still has much to offer. It’s hugely spacious inside, and has that typical bomb-proof sense of Honda quality. It’s not as sharp to drive as you might hope, but the combined fuel economy of 42mpg isn’t bad for something this big.
Toyota C-HR (2016-2023)

9. Toyota C-HR

6/10
Toyota C-HR (2016-2023) review
Toyota’s C-HR is almost over-styled, inside and out — as if Toyota just wanted to prove once and for all that it could make a truly stylish car. The effect is quite nice though, and the quality levels are nicer. Even nicer again? 57mpg on the combined cycle test and a sense of sparky enjoyment to the steering. Small back seats, though. Small boot, too.
Kia Niro

10. Kia Niro

5/10
Kia Niro review
Battery range up to 36 miles
You can buy the Niro as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric model and it’s the EV that draws more of the headlines. The hybrid is still a good choice, though, as it’s simpler to use and can easily break the 60mpg barrier in daily driving. The new model gets chunkier, more SUV-ish styling and classier, roomier cabin.

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Advice about small hybrid SUVs

Small hybrid SUVs FAQs

The Kia Sportage really is a tough package to beat. We like the slightly sci-fi styling of the outside, while the inside copies much from the ultra-cool EV6 electric car, and overall quality is excellent. It’s not a ball of fun to drive, but as an efficient, comfortable, roomy and frugal commuting tool you’ll not do much better.

Read more: What is a self-charging hybrid?

The Toyota RAV4 PHEV makes maximum use of Toyota’s long hybrid experience, and it can offer both a very good (44-mile) electric-only range on a full charge as well as a rather good real-world economy. You should easily see better than 50mpg on a long run with the big battery flat, which is much better than you’ll get from any rival.

Read more: What is a plug-in hybrid?

The answer depends on whether it’s a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid. Plug-ins can reach as much as 45 miles on a full charge of their main batteries, depending on the model. A non plug-in hybrid (or just, y’know, hybrid) uses a far smaller battery, and so can only manage very short bursts of about a mile or so on electric power alone. However, the benefit is that the small battery recharges quickly, so you get lots and lots of those short bursts — the best models will run on electric power for as much as 80% of urban journeys.

The Toyota RAV4 PHEV is the champ again here, with a claimed 282mpg. Of course, that figure depends to a huge extent on how often you plug in, charge up, and make the most of the RAV’s 44-mile electric driving range. If you want a less complex hybrid, then the Toyota C-HR is the winner, with a claimed 67mpg.

Read more: How to improve mpg

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