The best hybrid cars: PHEVs and regular hybrids rated

Best for: all-round ability

The latest Golf is a real return to form for what was the archetypal family hatchback. It comes in two PHEV forms, the 201bhp eHybrid and the 268bhp GTE, the former of which is our pick of the range.

I'm normally on team manual gearbox, but the automatic found in the PHEV just suits the Golf better.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

It offers a simply enormous 88 miles of electric range in a package that drives well and has slick steering, assured handling and a reasonably supple ride.

And while it’s not a car that will have you grabbing the keys for an illicit B-road blast, its ability to effortlessly tackle any task is endearing, as is a chameleon-like quality to fit into any surroundings.

Downsides include the touchscreen infotainment is a little frustrating to use and hybrid variants get marginally less boot space, reduced to 273 litres.

Best for: versatility

You can spend rather a lot more money on a modern electrified Volvo than this, but the way this particular V60 combines grounded value for money with efficiency, usable electric range and everyday versatility reminds you of the very best family cars that the Swedish firm made so many decades ago, before it became preoccupied with sharp-edged modern design.

It's ultra-responsive on electric power at lower speeds and refined under combustive power thereafter.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Who in their right mind would claim that 345bhp and 0-62mph in 5.4sec isn’t enough for their comfort-first family car, after all?

Who would object to ride and handling that pretty squarely aims at the first of those concepts at the expense of the second but disgraces itself at neither?

Who wouldn’t be delighted by a smart, appealing, well-packaged interior full of neat storage solutions and a 519-litre boot that comes with its own pop-up load-bay-organiser-cum-elasticated-bag-holder?

The V60 T6 Recharge seals the deal here with a hybrid system that delivers 55 miles of lab-verified electric range and plenty of associated running-cost savings potential.

Best for: long commutes

The BMW 5 Series is a real ‘have your cake, eat it and lose weight’ kind of car, and we think the 550e model is one of the best hybrids on sale today.

The 550e is savage when it comes to roll-on acceleration.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

The engine range opens with a 2.0-litre four-pot petrol, available as a 205bhp mild-hybrid (badged 520i), followed by the 295bhp, plug-in hybrid 530e.  

At the top of the range sits the 550e xDrive, which takes a 308bhp B58 six-cylinder petrol engine partnered with a 194bhp electric motor. Total output stands at 483bhp, meaning a 0-62mph time of 4.4sec. 

Its strengths are its impressive handling and its cosseting ride, aided by adaptive dampers. Its engines are very refined too and offer substantial pace throughout the range, although the range-topping 550e is quite expensive. 

Best for: interior opulence

Packing a drive battery twice the size of many of its PHEV rivals, this Mercedes-Benz C-Class model has an official electric range of up to 69 miles. 

The chassis tune feels comfort-biased at all times, with plenty of suppleness, but it stops well short of floating or wallowing on cross-country roads.

Murray Scullion, Digital editor

The C300e's powertrain comprises a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 127bhp electric motor and makes 308bhp in all, in a car that can crack 62mph from rest in just 6.1sec.

It's available in both saloon and estate bodystyles, importantly with no significant compromise to either passenger or boot space from its extra PHEV hardware.

The C300e impressed our road testers with its refinement and isolation and with its laid-back, luxury-first, Mercedes S-Class-in-miniature vibes.

Keener drivers with less of an eye on their tax bills may probably still prefer to consider the likes of the BMW 330e, but for most fleet drivers and operators, the C300e’s excellent electric range is sure to make it a popular option.

Best for: supermini lovers

The Clio is the smallest car on this list and also the cheapest.

The Clio’s talents are best displayed at urban speeds, thanks to its excellent mid-range torque.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Badged E-Tech Full Hybrid, the hybrid version uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine and two electric motors, which combine to drive 143bhp and 151lb ft through the front wheels.

It can only be had with an automatic gearbox, but performance is strong. It will hit 0-62mph time of 9.3sec while boasting a 67.3mpg fuel consumption figure. 

The Clio's interior is stylish and comfortable, with an intuitive layout and useful buttons.

If you want to put your foot down, the Clio also holds itself well on the road. It's agile and composed in the corners, and while it's not quite as impressive as the Ford Fiesta once was, it's engaging and fun in several scenarios.

Best for: comfort

Despite the growing number of SUVs, Honda has stuck to the traditional family hatchback template for its latest Civic. 

The engine is complex. Sometimes the gearbox behaves like a CVT. Sometimes it's like a traditional automatic gearbox. But most of the time you're not aware of it.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

Incredibly, the Japanese machine is in its 11th generation, but it shows no signs of slowing down or resting on its laurels.

Like the HR-V crossover and Jazz supermini, it uses Honda's clever e:HEV drivetrain, which in most situations uses the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as a generator for a 1.05kWh battery that powers an 181bhp electric drive motor. 

The Civic is much better to drive than many of its rivals. It offers engaging handling, quick steering and impressive body control. Thanks to its composed ride, it's also one of the most comfortable hatchbacks on sale. 

Best for: efficiency

The C-HR was designed to tap into the growing demand for compact crossovers. Renewed for a second generation in 2023, it now has broadened kerbside appeal and a plug-in hybrid option. 

Toyota's fashionable crossover cuts a dash, rides and handles well and has strong hybrid and PHEV powertrains.

Mark Tisshaw, Editor

So, in addition to 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre ‘self-charging’ hybrid options, there’s a 2.0-litre PHEV with a little more power than its rangemates and just enough electric range to enter the 8% BIK tax bracket.

The C-HR has even more impactful styling in this generation, but its size and its dynamism continue as they were. It splits the difference between the B- and C-segments (Ford Puma size and Nissan Qashqai size).

Its rear cabin and boot aren’t huge, but it does carry itself well. It can be both refined and engaging to drive on a decent stretch of road.

The hybrid powertrain at the car’s heart is never the primary source of any enjoyment you’re likely to have at the wheel, but the C-HR offers enough wider appeal to stand out in any case.

Best for: BIK busting

The new car market is moving at an alarming pace. New brands are the new norm, all with their different marketing strategies and reasons to buy.

Cutting-edge tech and quality interior marry up with a frugal PHEV powertrain.

Richard Lane, Deputy road test editor

The E-Class goes against this and offers steadfast adherence to what it has always done: provide drivers with quality, comfort, space and refinement.  

The E300e is the one to go for company car drivers. It’s rated for 70 miles of EV range and is one of the very few PHEVs to offer 5% company car tax.

It’s frugal in real-world conditions too. We averaged 45.5mpg in most of our testing and frequently saw 60mpg - which makes for a near-900-mile total range.

It averaged 3.0mpkWh in EV mode too  - a figure that some pure EVs would be jealous of.