Hybrid cars let you slip stealthily through city centres on electric power, without losing the ability to travel long distances using the engine. The very best hybrids on sale also have a laundry list of other talents that make them easy to live with and a pleasure to use.
We've chosen 10 of our favourite hybrid cars on sale – all available to buy nearly new with thousands of pounds off the brand-new list price. This list covers both full or 'self-charging' hybrids, which can creep through traffic on electric power alone, and plug-in hybrids, which can usually travel a few miles without starting the engine and can be topped up from an EV charger.
Kia Sportage 1.6T Hybrid
- 50mpg combined
- 129g/km CO2
The latest Kia Sportage takes the Korean brand's popular family SUV and ramps up the premium factor. Inside, the material and build quality are top-notch, coming perilously close to that you'd find in any of the Sportage's premium German rivals. There's also bags of room, with space for passengers in every position to stretch out, and a cavernous boot that can handily swallow all the baby gear you can throw at it. Plus, the fuel-saving hybrid setup still puts out a strong 229hp, letting it cover the 0-62mph sprint in less than eight seconds.
Shop used Kia Sportage cars for sale or read our Kia Sportage review
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 2.0 Hybrid
- 52mpg combined
- 127g/km CO2
As the world's best-selling car, the Toyota Corolla hardly needs more accolades thrown its way. To ignore its abundant qualities, however, would be a mistake because this hybrid family car gets an awful lot right. For starters, it's beautifully built with a robust sense of quality when you step inside. It backs this up with Toyota's latest hybrid know-how under the bonnet – the 2.0-litre engine and electric motor provide effortless performance without the droning older hybrids made under acceleration. Our favourite version is the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports estate, because this gets a larger cargo area behind the seats.
Check out a wide selection of used Toyota Corolla cars or read our Toyota Corolla review
Kia Niro Hybrid
- 64mpg combined
- 100g/km CO2
Older Kia Niro models were sensible and practical but failed to get the pulse racing – admittedly, something a lot of family SUVs struggle with. However, the new Niro challenges that stereotype with blocky, modern styling and a front end that looks like it came from the set of Robocop. The up-to-date look continues inside with a contemporary sweeping 'pod' on top of the dashboard containing the infotainment system and digital driver's dials. Both full-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid options are available.
Search our selection of used Kia Niro cars
Hyundai Tucson 1.6T Hybrid
- 50mpg combined
- 130g/km CO2
The Hyundai Tucson has many of the same qualities as the Sportage above – unsurprising, considering they share parts and engines. Like its Kia cousin, the Tucson has dramatic styling, with bold, segmented headlights that look like an insect's eye. Again, the statement made by the exterior styling is backed up by the cabin, which looks smart, has just the right amount of physical knobs and buttons, and lots of sensible practicality to make life with the big Hyundai easy. There's a choice of full-hybrid and plug-in options – both are great but the PHEV only makes sense if you can charge it at home or at work.
Browse used Hyundai Tucson cars for sale or read our Hyundai Tucson review
Honda Jazz 1.5 Hybrid
- 63mpg combined
- 102g/km CO2
Uninformed buyers might dismiss the Honda Jazz as an 'old-person's car', but they're seriously missing out. The Jazz is quite possibly the most practical compact hatchback you can buy – its small exterior dimensions hide an astonishingly large cabin with space for four adults to sit comfortably – or five at a push. You don't need to sacrifice cargo room either because the Jazz has a deep, square boot and clever flip-up rear seat bases that fold away like theatre stalls, allowing you to store tall objects easily. All that's before you get to the strong and efficient hybrid engine that perfectly suits the Jazz's calm character.
Take a look at used Honda Jazz cars or read our Honda Jazz review
Peugeot 3008 1.6 300 PHEV
- 217mpg combined
- 29g/km CO2
- 37-mile electric range
If you want to enjoy a little style while slimming down your running costs, take a look at the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4. This starts off with the handsome 3008 SUV, so you get the same plush cabin with eye-catching designs and aggressive, angular bodywork. You also keep the family-friendly practicality with lots of space to persuade kids into their car seats. The 3008 continues to impress on the road with a grand total of 300hp for mighty acceleration without sacrificing plug-in-hybrid efficiency. There's also a slightly more affordable 225hp version but, as both are similarly priced on the nearly new market, we'd be tempted by the 300hp option with its hot-hatch-like acceleration.
See a selection of used Peugeot 3008 cars or read our Peugeot 3008 review
Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid
- 52mpg combined
- 102g/km CO2
The Toyota RAV4 is an accomplished large family SUV, but the car's clever hybrid system is one of the aces up its sleeve. Thanks to decades of Toyota hybrid know-how, the setup in the RAV4 is one of the best, with instant low-speed response from the hybrid motor, which makes pulling away and crawling through traffic totally effortless. On longer runs, the engine smoothly joins the chorus powering the front wheels, leading to some impressive real-world mpg figures from this tall and practical family hauler. Rock-solid reliability, low running costs and robust residual values make this an easy car to justify.
Save money on a used Toyota RAV4 or read our Toyota RAV4 review
BMW X1 xDrive25e
- 404mpg combined
- 16g/km CO2
- 52-mile electric range
As one of the newest cars on this list, the BMW X1 has one of the most high-tech plug-in-hybrid setups you can buy. As a result, if you charge often and avoid using the petrol engine unless absolutely necessary, you can hit astonishingly high economy and emissions figures. In the real world, these numbers will be hard to hit, but the X1's electric-only range of more than 50 miles should be enough to cover the majority of journeys. Those miles will be easygoing, too, thanks to the X1's spacious and premium cabin that's packed to the air vents with technology.
View used BMW X1 cars for sale
Mercedes CLA 250e PHEV
- 257mpg combined
- 23g/km CO2
- 40-mile electric range
The Mercedes CLA 250e pairs the headline-grabbing efficiency of a plug-in-hybrid setup with a posh, upmarket cruiser. The CLA body style borrows much from the smaller A-Class hatchback, including the interior design and engine range, but outfits it in a swoopy, dramatic four-door coupe body. There are a few minor sacrifices you have to accept including a slightly smaller boot to fit the hybrid battery and mediocre rear headroom thanks to the stunning roof design, but these are a price worth paying for a plug-in hybrid that looks this good.
Shop used Mercedes CLA cars for sale or read our Mercedes CLA review
Renault Captur 1.6 145 Hybrid
- 59mpg combined
- 108g/km CO2
The most recent Renault Captur is much smarter than the car it replaces. For starters, you actually get a choice of hybrid engines – a 145hp full hybrid and a 160hp plug-in that can be topped up from an EV charger. Both are great options with the latter offering around 30 miles of electric-only range, but we think the regular hybrid makes a little more sense for most buyers – it doesn't need plugging in and is more affordable to buy than the PHEV version, without really losing any performance.
Check out our selection of used Renault Captur cars or read our Renault Captur review
Cut your running costs with a nearly new hybrid
Check out Motorpoint's wide selection of nearly new hybrid cars, all with low mileage and warranty coverage. If you're ready to ditch the engine entirely, check out our picks for the best electric family cars.
