Hybrid cars offer the best of both worlds – you have an electric motor to waft through traffic, and an engine so you don't need to charge up on long journeys.
Here are our 10 favourite hybrid family cars – they'll cut your fuel bills while having enough space to carry the little ones and all the gear that comes with them.
We've included both full hybrids and plug-in hybrids as these can travel some distance without starting the engine. Models shown here are available as used cars from Motorpoint with big savings on their list price.
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a great reminder that family cars don't always need to be SUVs. This handsome model comes as a spacious saloon or a practical Touring estate and has lots of passenger space, despite being one of BMW's smaller models. Choose the plug-in-hybrid 330e version to get a powerful 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine combined with an electric motor and battery pack. Resist the temptation to use all the acceleration on tap and you can cover up to 41 miles on electric power alone or achieve more than 140mpg if you use both power sources optimally.
Shop used BMW 3 Series cars or read our BMW 3 Series review
Cupra Formentor
The Cupra Formentor is the first model designed from the ground up by SEAT's high-performance offshoot. And what a way to launch the new brand – this coupe SUV is big enough for the family despite its show-stopping looks and powerful performance. You don't need to sacrifice low running costs either, thanks to the Formentor's choice of two plug-in hybrid engines. Both include a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine for long-range cruising ability, with the entry-level version having 204hp and a 36-mile EV range, and the upgraded model getting 245hp with a 34-mile range. Average economy in ideal conditions can top 200mpg.
Browse used Cupra Formentor cars or read our Cupra Formentor review
Ford Kuga
Family buyers have flocked to the Ford Kuga thanks to its great range of strengths. It's composed and comfortable on the move, while also being easy to drive. There's room inside for five adults and lots of space to manoeuvre kids into their car seats. You get a choice of a full-hybrid engine with 190hp – this achieves 49mpg and doesn't need to be plugged in to recharge – or a more powerful plug-in hybrid engine. If you have the ability to charge your car, the Kuga PHEV can average 250mpg in ideal conditions and boasts a 29-mile EV-only range.
Check out used Ford Kuga cars for sale or read our Ford Kuga review
Kia Sportage
Earlier Kia Sportage models earned praise for their sensible qualities – their practicality, reliability and ease of use. The latest model, however, adds dramatic styling to the mix with a front-end look dominated by sharp angles and LED intersections between the headlights and the grille. All the sensible stuff remains with pin-sharp screens for the driver's dials and infotainment system, and acres of space in the cabin for passengers and their things. Like other Kia and Hyundai models, the Sportage comes with a choice of full-hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines allowing you to pick the one that best suits your driving style.
See used Kia Sportage cars or read our Kia Sportage review
Volkswagen Golf GTE
If your family is a little more grown up and you don't need room for a pushchair, you might find a smaller family car like the Volkswagen Golf fits more easily into your life. Effortless drivability and ease-of-use are the order of the day in this popular hatch, as long as you ignore the fussy touch-sensitive temperature and volume controls. There's a standard eHybrid plug-in-hybrid model, which achieves sensational mpg figures, but we can't help hold a candle for the Golf GTE. This sporty plug-in hybrid pairs the Golf GTI's hot-hatch attitude with a punchy, efficient electrified setup that can achieve three-figure mpg numbers in the right circumstances.
Search a choice of used Volkswagen Golf GTE cars or read our Volkswagen Golf review
Renault Captur
There are plenty of reasons to like the Renault Captur including its style, its grown-up driving experience and its respectable practicality. It's just that the car's standard petrol engines feel a little gutless on the motorway. Equip the Captur with either of its E-Tech engines, however – available as a 145hp full hybrid or a 160hp plug-in hybrid – and the driving experience is substantially improved. Renault's hybrid setup has loads of low-down electric shove to slip effortlessly through urban stop-start traffic, and a smooth transition into conventional petrol power to propel the car up to motorway speeds – all while sipping fuel.
View used Renault Captur cars for sale or read our Renault Captur review
Peugeot 508
There was a time when family cars didn't have to be SUVs. If you fancy something a bit different, check out the Peugeot 508. This dramatic-looking five-door is offered either as a sleek 'fastback' – like a sporty saloon – or as the 508 SW estate, which we reckon is the better pick for family buyers for its larger boot and slightly better rear-seat headroom. There's a selection of engines under the bonnet but we're looking at the 225hp plug-in hybrid. On battery power alone, you'll cover around 34 miles – make optimal use of both the battery and the engine and you'll see north of 160mpg.
Shop used Peugeot 508 cars or read our Peugeot 508 review
Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz is a small, city-friendly hatchback, so what's it doing on a list of family cars? Well – don't let its small footprint fool you – the Jazz has a Tardis-like cabin with lots of room for tall adults or bulky child seats on the second row. The tall side doors mean you won't have to stoop to secure your kids in their seats, and there's just about enough room in the boot for a small-ish pushchair. This most recent Jazz is both easy and satisfying to drive with rapid responses from its hybrid motor around town, and mature motorway manners that'll quickly see you forget this is a small, affordable car.
Take a look at used Honda Jazz cars or read our Honda Jazz review
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
Toyota is synonymous with hybrids thanks to the worldwide success of its Prius. The Corolla Touring Sports is a sweet spot in the Japanese brand's lineup for family buyers, combining a smooth, efficient full-hybrid engine with a practical body that's large enough for kids and clobber. Basic 1.8-litre models are fine for regular driving duties, but we prefer the effortless performance offered by the beefier 2.0-litre version. Opting for the Touring Sports estate version also means 2.0-litre buyers aren't as badly affected by the addition of the larger hybrid battery, which eats into cargo space in the hatchback version.
Browse used Toyota Corolla Touring Sports cars or read our Toyota Corolla review
MG ZS
This is the latest MG ZS and it's a dramatic improvement on its slightly plasticky predecessor. You'll find the same 1.5-litre full-hybrid engine as the new MG3 hatch, which means a respectable 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds, excellent responsiveness around town, and around 55mpg without any need to plug in and recharge. Perceived quality in the cabin is far better than the old ZS, with more soft-touch materials, crisp infotainment graphics, and satisfying touchpoints like the perforated leather on the steering wheel and the chunky Tonka-toy gear shifter. There's also enough space in the cabin to make family life easy, despite its compact footprint.
See used MG ZS cars for sale or read our review of the previous-generation MG ZS
Found the right hybrid family hauler for you?
Check out Motorpoint's huge range of used hybrid cars for sale. For more inspiration, check out our picks for the best hybrid SUVs you can buy nearly new.
