The best hybrid cars deftly combine green emission ratings with low running costs, as well as the ability to fill up in mere moments from a pump.
Appealing to private buyers and company car owners alike, the commercial success of hybrids has been quite a thing to witness over the past couple of decades.
Hybrids are popular for several reasons. They can save you money at the petrol pump, and even significantly drive down how much benefit-in-kind (BIK) company car tax you pay.
That's because hybrids boast lower emissions ratings, while others provide a useful electric-only range that helps make most of your daily motoring emissions-free.
But which are the best you can buy? We've complied a list of our most highly rated hybrids and plug-in hybrids on sale in the UK today, and the venerable Toyota Corolla tops our list.
Best for: Daily economy
Toyota is now well advanced with normalising hybrid power, and no car on sale does it better than the Toyota Corolla.
Ushered in to replace the highly forgettable Auris in 2019, the Corolla was a game-changer for Toyota in what remains one of the most important market segments of them all.
It continues to combine a healthy dose of visual style with strong perceived cabin quality and has been dynamically developed and tuned – quite successfully – for distinguishing ride and handling sophistication.
In its range-topping 2.0-litre hybrid form, it even performs with a bit of sporting edge. Alternatively, the more humble 1.8-litre hybrid (which even comes in Corolla Commercial van-like model grade, for those who need it) will routinely return a day-to-day 70mpg if you drive with one eye on efficiency.
That the Corolla is also one of Toyota's self-proclaimed 'self-charging' hybrids that will appeal to people who prefer their motoring lives to be kept simple and who want a frugal car that they needn’t plug in.
But the all-round ownership credentials of a car that they can feel equally as good about owning and driving as they do about their outgoings at the pump should help keep them satisfied.
Read our Toyota Corolla review
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Appeal to private buyers to save money says auto car, really. Golf Match petrol 28k, phev Match 36k.
Just how long would a 15mpg advantage, minus electricity, minus interest on the extra 8k take to recoup.
Hybrids made sense 15 years ago, before affordable longrange EVs arrived. Now hybrids are unecessary because buyers are better off going fully electric. EVs are cheaper to run, cheaper to service, far less polluting and massively more fun to drive. Hybrid was simply a bridging technology that is no longer needed.
Unfortunately, this is primarily a PHEV review and, therefore, of little interest to private buyers, unless they do 10,000 local miles a year and keep their cars for 10 years, otherwise the additional cost of a PHEV will never be recovered. I've not seen a PHEV that has boot space for a even a space-saver spare wheel. Few hybrids have the space either. Given today's appalling roads, the need for a spare wheel has never been greater. I'd not buy a car without a space-saver spare wheel. So, choices are very limited, hence Niro 3 HEV on order, a sensible car with spare wheel and circa 60 mpg, for under £30k.
@car lover
There's nothing sensible about buying a new car that burns petrol in 2024. It's simply a bad decision.