Best self-charging hybrid cars in the UK
High quality self-charging hybrids from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated August 22, 2025 by
Neil Briscoe
The best self-charging hybrid cars in 2025: 10 models perfect for commuting and family life
Hybrid cars were first created 鈥 mostly by Toyota and Honda 鈥 back in the 1990s as an answer to rising fuel prices and air pollution, and the best hybrid cars still fit this brief today. By making a smaller, more economical engine and bolting it to an electric motor, you could save lots of money on your fuel costs while still having the performance that you needed.
The original Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, geeky cars though they were, have now evolved into a species of car that鈥檚 becoming dominant, and stealing sales from conventional diesel and petrol models 鈥 as well as being an excellent bridge to fully electric cars. Those original hybrids were slow and not much fun to drive, but you can鈥檛 say that about the latest crop of hybrid-engined cars 鈥 below, our expert reviews team hnas pulled together the best of the best.
It鈥檚 little wonder that buyers increasingly love hybrids, as not only can they help you save fuel, they can also bring down your CO2 emissions, which means family car buyers love them for their economy and company car buyers love their lower tax rates.
You鈥檙e not limited to just Toyota and Honda anymore, either. It took a while, but many car makers are now cottoning onto the ease of use and fuel savings of a self-charging hybrid, so you can also choose from the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, the Dacia Duster, the Renault Clio, and the MG 3.
Here鈥檚 our rundown of the best self-charging hybrid-engined models (we've ranked plug-in hybrid models separately).
2025
Car of the Year Award
Best for: having lots of seats
It surely can鈥檛 be in question that the big Land Rover was on the minds of Hyundai鈥檚 design team when the current Santa Fe was cooked-up? The blocky, chunky lines make this the squarest family car since Volvos of old, but the Santa Fe looks great thanks to sharp detailing around the lights.
That boxy body also means that there鈥檚 tonnes of space inside, and seats for seven. The extra seats aren鈥檛 just for kids, either 鈥 real actual adults can sit back there, and there鈥檚 loads of storage space for cups, bottles, iPads and more. Fold down the back seats and there鈥檚 a whopping 725-litre boot, too.
Surprisingly, given that from some angles the Santa Fe looks like a tower block that鈥檚 been tipped on its side and given wheels, the hybrid engine is a mere 1.6 litres. Thankfully, there鈥檚 a 41kW electric motor built into the six-speed automatic gearbox, which brings the power up to a decent 215bhp. Even so, the Santa Fe takes a leisurely 9.6 seconds to hit 62mph, so don鈥檛 go taking on any traffic light races.
More importantly, it鈥檚 economical, able to hit 43mpg in daily driving, which isn鈥檛 bad for something this chunky. The Santa Fe can also haul up to 1,110kg on a trailer, which is handy.
To drive, the Santa Fe feels every bit as big and chunky as it looks, but rather like the Land Rover Defender, that鈥檚 not necessarily a bad thing 鈥 it鈥檚 a car in which you sit back, relax, and let the hybrid system take the strain, and don鈥檛 bother trying to drive it too quickly. It鈥檚 comfortable over bumps, which helps with the whole relaxation thing. The Santa Fe is a hybrid that you can fill with kids and luggage, and still not feel stressed while driving it.
It surely can鈥檛 be in question that the big Land Rover was on the minds of Hyundai鈥檚 design team when the current Santa Fe was cooked-up? The blocky, chunky lines make this the squarest family car since Volvos of old, but the Santa Fe looks great thanks to sharp detailing around the lights.
That boxy body also means that there鈥檚 tonnes of space inside, and seats for seven. The extra seats aren鈥檛 just for kids, either 鈥 real actual adults can sit back there, and there鈥檚 loads of storage space for cups, bottles, iPads and more. Fold down the back seats and there鈥檚 a whopping 725-litre boot, too.
Surprisingly, given that from some angles the Santa Fe looks like a tower block that鈥檚 been tipped on its side and given wheels, the hybrid engine is a mere 1.6 litres. Thankfully, there鈥檚 a 41kW electric motor built into the six-speed automatic gearbox, which brings the power up to a decent 215bhp. Even so, the Santa Fe takes a leisurely 9.6 seconds to hit 62mph, so don鈥檛 go taking on any traffic light races.
More importantly, it鈥檚 economical, able to hit 43mpg in daily driving, which isn鈥檛 bad for something this chunky. The Santa Fe can also haul up to 1,110kg on a trailer, which is handy.
To drive, the Santa Fe feels every bit as big and chunky as it looks, but rather like the Land Rover Defender, that鈥檚 not necessarily a bad thing 鈥 it鈥檚 a car in which you sit back, relax, and let the hybrid system take the strain, and don鈥檛 bother trying to drive it too quickly. It鈥檚 comfortable over bumps, which helps with the whole relaxation thing. The Santa Fe is a hybrid that you can fill with kids and luggage, and still not feel stressed while driving it.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Best for: sticking to your budget
The latest Dacia Duster does a lot of stuff that the old Dacia Duster couldn鈥檛 do. For a start, it comes with hybrid power, using the same 1.6-litre petrol engine and insanely complicated gearbox that you鈥檒l find in the Jogger Hybrid and in Renault鈥檚 own Captur Hybrid.
Most of all, though, the Duster now looks as if it鈥檚 been actually designed as a car 鈥 the older versions sort of looked as if Dacia just put some body panels together in the vague shape of a car and thought 鈥榶ep, that鈥檒l do鈥︹ Now, though, the Duster has glowering headlights and cunning brake lights that look smart but which don鈥檛 extend into the tailgate. Why? Because that would cost more thanks to all the extra wiring.
It might look sharp, but this is still a Dacia and that still means rigorous cost control, but not in a bad way. Take a look at the cabin 鈥 everything is made of the cheapest grade of plastic you can imagine, but whereas Dacia of old would have just left it looking cheap and dreary, modern Dacia adds in some moulded textures to the plastic, and chucks in a bit of colour and contrast, so the whole thing looks much smarter and you don鈥檛 feel as if you鈥檙e driving around in a recycled mop bucket.
The 1.6-litre hybrid engine is a good 鈥榰n, as it has 140hp, which is more than enough to shift the Duster鈥檚 surprising heft around. The complicated gearbox makes some odd noises from time to time, but the upside is the potential for fuel economy of 55mpg.
As always, the Duster is hugely practical too, with a 517-litre boot and if the back seats aren鈥檛 the roomiest, then at least there鈥檚 just enough space for four adults to fit.
To drive, the Duster is still pretty basic 鈥 light steering and lots of body roll 鈥 but it鈥檚 a no-nonsense hybrid car that gets on with the job and never leaves you feeling unsatisfied.
The latest Dacia Duster does a lot of stuff that the old Dacia Duster couldn鈥檛 do. For a start, it comes with hybrid power, using the same 1.6-litre petrol engine and insanely complicated gearbox that you鈥檒l find in the Jogger Hybrid and in Renault鈥檚 own Captur Hybrid.
Most of all, though, the Duster now looks as if it鈥檚 been actually designed as a car 鈥 the older versions sort of looked as if Dacia just put some body panels together in the vague shape of a car and thought 鈥榶ep, that鈥檒l do鈥︹ Now, though, the Duster has glowering headlights and cunning brake lights that look smart but which don鈥檛 extend into the tailgate. Why? Because that would cost more thanks to all the extra wiring.
It might look sharp, but this is still a Dacia and that still means rigorous cost control, but not in a bad way. Take a look at the cabin 鈥 everything is made of the cheapest grade of plastic you can imagine, but whereas Dacia of old would have just left it looking cheap and dreary, modern Dacia adds in some moulded textures to the plastic, and chucks in a bit of colour and contrast, so the whole thing looks much smarter and you don鈥檛 feel as if you鈥檙e driving around in a recycled mop bucket.
The 1.6-litre hybrid engine is a good 鈥榰n, as it has 140hp, which is more than enough to shift the Duster鈥檚 surprising heft around. The complicated gearbox makes some odd noises from time to time, but the upside is the potential for fuel economy of 55mpg.
As always, the Duster is hugely practical too, with a 517-litre boot and if the back seats aren鈥檛 the roomiest, then at least there鈥檚 just enough space for four adults to fit.
To drive, the Duster is still pretty basic 鈥 light steering and lots of body roll 鈥 but it鈥檚 a no-nonsense hybrid car that gets on with the job and never leaves you feeling unsatisfied.
2025
Urban Living Award
Best for: fuel economy
You think that the Toyota Yaris Cross is a dinky little thing, until you remember that it鈥檚 actually the same size as a 1990s Toyota RAV4, and it has a boot bigger than a Volkswagen Golf. Yes, it鈥檚 based on the same basic bits and pieces as the tiny Yaris hatchback 鈥 hence the name 鈥 but the Yaris Cross is a car that鈥檚 just big enough for a growing family.
Given that growing families have big bills to pay, it also helps that the Yaris Cross has exceptional fuel economy. You can choose from either 116hp or 130hp versions of the same 1.5-litre petrol engine with hybrid battery assistance, but they鈥檙e both incredibly averse to forecourts (don鈥檛 be expecting to rack up the Nectar points鈥). In fact, driven with a touch of gentleness, a Yaris Cross can easily cross the 60mpg barrier, although the official 56mpg figure is a more accurate idea of what you鈥檒l get on average and it鈥檚 easy to put 500 miles on the clock without needing to refuel.
In spite of its chunky shape, there鈥檚 no four-wheel drive option for the Yaris Cross, but that鈥檚 not a problem 鈥 really this is a school-run-and-weekly-shop special, not a proper 4x4 for pounding up muddy lanes.
That said, the Yaris Cross is actually pretty good fun to drive. It doesn鈥檛 weigh much by modern standards and the steering is actually quite sharp. The ride can be a bit firm around town, especially on the optional 18-inch alloy wheels, but for the most part it鈥檚 comfy enough, and the cabin is well-made, if a little bit plastic-y.
The big touchscreen works well enough, and thankfully Toyota is one of those car makers which are sensible enough to stick with physical buttons for the heating and air conditioning. You can, if you like, spec a Yaris Cross up with a GR Sport package which makes it look sporty and chunky, almost like a high-end Nike running shoe.
You think that the Toyota Yaris Cross is a dinky little thing, until you remember that it鈥檚 actually the same size as a 1990s Toyota RAV4, and it has a boot bigger than a Volkswagen Golf. Yes, it鈥檚 based on the same basic bits and pieces as the tiny Yaris hatchback 鈥 hence the name 鈥 but the Yaris Cross is a car that鈥檚 just big enough for a growing family.
Given that growing families have big bills to pay, it also helps that the Yaris Cross has exceptional fuel economy. You can choose from either 116hp or 130hp versions of the same 1.5-litre petrol engine with hybrid battery assistance, but they鈥檙e both incredibly averse to forecourts (don鈥檛 be expecting to rack up the Nectar points鈥). In fact, driven with a touch of gentleness, a Yaris Cross can easily cross the 60mpg barrier, although the official 56mpg figure is a more accurate idea of what you鈥檒l get on average and it鈥檚 easy to put 500 miles on the clock without needing to refuel.
In spite of its chunky shape, there鈥檚 no four-wheel drive option for the Yaris Cross, but that鈥檚 not a problem 鈥 really this is a school-run-and-weekly-shop special, not a proper 4x4 for pounding up muddy lanes.
That said, the Yaris Cross is actually pretty good fun to drive. It doesn鈥檛 weigh much by modern standards and the steering is actually quite sharp. The ride can be a bit firm around town, especially on the optional 18-inch alloy wheels, but for the most part it鈥檚 comfy enough, and the cabin is well-made, if a little bit plastic-y.
The big touchscreen works well enough, and thankfully Toyota is one of those car makers which are sensible enough to stick with physical buttons for the heating and air conditioning. You can, if you like, spec a Yaris Cross up with a GR Sport package which makes it look sporty and chunky, almost like a high-end Nike running shoe.
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2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
Best for: style
The Renault Clio has been a byword for small-car style ever since the first one went on sale way back in 1990. These days, the Clio is bigger, safer, and even more stylish than that first-generation model, especially since the 2023 update that gave it a sharper-looking nose and piercing headlights. It looks especially good in traditional Renault dark blue (officially Iron Blue).
Under that sharp-edged bonnet, the Clio E-Tech (the proper name for the Clio hybrid) uses basically the same 1.6-litre engine and oddball gearbox (does it have four speeds? Does it have infinite speeds? The answer is technically yes to both鈥) that you鈥檒l find in the Dacia lineup, but that doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 cheap.
The power output is a useful 145hp, so the Clio鈥檚 not slow 鈥 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds doesn鈥檛 sound great, but it feels quicker than that 鈥 and it鈥檚 actually really good to drive. The steering is numb but fast, and the chassis feels nicely poised on twisty roads. Of more importance is the fact that the Clio feels nicely nippy around town, is easy to park, and can knock on the door of 60mpg.
It looks and feels roomy and classy up front (especially with the optional big-screen infotainment system) but the back seats are tight for adults. Kids will be fine, though, and the boot can hold a useful 301 litres.
The Renault Clio has been a byword for small-car style ever since the first one went on sale way back in 1990. These days, the Clio is bigger, safer, and even more stylish than that first-generation model, especially since the 2023 update that gave it a sharper-looking nose and piercing headlights. It looks especially good in traditional Renault dark blue (officially Iron Blue).
Under that sharp-edged bonnet, the Clio E-Tech (the proper name for the Clio hybrid) uses basically the same 1.6-litre engine and oddball gearbox (does it have four speeds? Does it have infinite speeds? The answer is technically yes to both鈥) that you鈥檒l find in the Dacia lineup, but that doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 cheap.
The power output is a useful 145hp, so the Clio鈥檚 not slow 鈥 0-62mph in 9.3 seconds doesn鈥檛 sound great, but it feels quicker than that 鈥 and it鈥檚 actually really good to drive. The steering is numb but fast, and the chassis feels nicely poised on twisty roads. Of more importance is the fact that the Clio feels nicely nippy around town, is easy to park, and can knock on the door of 60mpg.
It looks and feels roomy and classy up front (especially with the optional big-screen infotainment system) but the back seats are tight for adults. Kids will be fine, though, and the boot can hold a useful 301 litres.
Best for: spacious self-charging
Take the charming Dacia Duster, scale it up a bit for more practicality, add some more standard equipment and you鈥檒l create the Dacia Bigster - one of the best family SUVs on sale at the moment.
It certainly looks like the Duster, but bigger and with more road presence. The Dacia-typical Y-shaped headlight details give the Bigster a butch front end, while the tall roofline, extra bumper cladding and long rear overhang give proper off-roader vibes.
The interior is identical to a Duster鈥檚, which is no bad thing as it鈥檚 funky to look at, but it鈥檚 not very nice to the touch. All models get a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and digital driver鈥檚 display as standard, but you can tell where the cost saving has happened in the interior plastics, which are all scratchy and hard. There鈥檚 buckets of space front and back in the Bigster, and the boot is enormous too.
It鈥檚 not as comfortable around town as its alternatives; bumpy roads in particular jiggle you around, but the Bigster feels more at home on motorways and it鈥檚 surprisingly stable on a country lane.
Take the charming Dacia Duster, scale it up a bit for more practicality, add some more standard equipment and you鈥檒l create the Dacia Bigster - one of the best family SUVs on sale at the moment.
It certainly looks like the Duster, but bigger and with more road presence. The Dacia-typical Y-shaped headlight details give the Bigster a butch front end, while the tall roofline, extra bumper cladding and long rear overhang give proper off-roader vibes.
The interior is identical to a Duster鈥檚, which is no bad thing as it鈥檚 funky to look at, but it鈥檚 not very nice to the touch. All models get a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and digital driver鈥檚 display as standard, but you can tell where the cost saving has happened in the interior plastics, which are all scratchy and hard. There鈥檚 buckets of space front and back in the Bigster, and the boot is enormous too.
It鈥檚 not as comfortable around town as its alternatives; bumpy roads in particular jiggle you around, but the Bigster feels more at home on motorways and it鈥檚 surprisingly stable on a country lane.
What's good
What鈥檚 not so good
Best for: being affordable
What鈥檚 the cheapest hybrid car on sale in the UK? This one 鈥 the MG3 Hybrid+, to give the compact Chinese-built hatchback its proper and full title. It鈥檚 拢3,000 cheaper than a Clio hybrid and a whopping 拢4,000 cheaper than a Yaris hybrid hatchback.
The MG 3 isn鈥檛 just the cheapest hybrid, it鈥檚 also one of the fastest, with a whopping 192hp from its 1.5-litre petrol engine and 100kW electric motor. It鈥檒l beat a Toyota Yaris hatchback to 62mph by almost two seconds, but can still hit a claimed 64mpg if you drive it gently.
There are downsides 鈥 the interior is cheap and cheerful and the touchscreen is maddening to use 鈥 but the MG 3 feels sparky to drive, and it鈥檚 very spacious. There鈥檚 adult-sized room in the back seats (not something you can say of a Yaris hatch) and there鈥檚 a useful 292-litre boot.
Basic models get the big touchscreen and lots of other standard kit besides, while the higher-spec version comes with some proper luxury items. The MG 3 might not be as sophisticated as a Clio hybrid, but for the money that MG is asking, it鈥檚 hard to beat.
What鈥檚 the cheapest hybrid car on sale in the UK? This one 鈥 the MG3 Hybrid+, to give the compact Chinese-built hatchback its proper and full title. It鈥檚 拢3,000 cheaper than a Clio hybrid and a whopping 拢4,000 cheaper than a Yaris hybrid hatchback.
The MG 3 isn鈥檛 just the cheapest hybrid, it鈥檚 also one of the fastest, with a whopping 192hp from its 1.5-litre petrol engine and 100kW electric motor. It鈥檒l beat a Toyota Yaris hatchback to 62mph by almost two seconds, but can still hit a claimed 64mpg if you drive it gently.
There are downsides 鈥 the interior is cheap and cheerful and the touchscreen is maddening to use 鈥 but the MG 3 feels sparky to drive, and it鈥檚 very spacious. There鈥檚 adult-sized room in the back seats (not something you can say of a Yaris hatch) and there鈥檚 a useful 292-litre boot.
Basic models get the big touchscreen and lots of other standard kit besides, while the higher-spec version comes with some proper luxury items. The MG 3 might not be as sophisticated as a Clio hybrid, but for the money that MG is asking, it鈥檚 hard to beat.
Best for: quality
The words Honda and quality are more or less inseparable. While Honda may have at various times built cars that were exciting (NSX) or kinda dull (Z-RV), the common thread that unites them all is quality.
The Honda Civic Hybrid sort of sits in a middle ground, in that it鈥檚 not exciting at all to look at, but it is rather good and rather satisfying to drive. Power comes from a 2.0-litre engine with 183hp thanks to the helpful efforts of an electric motor. There鈥檚 an eCVT gearbox (infinite gears!) which is a bit noisy when you accelerate, but the trade off here is economy and the Civic Hybrid can brush the hem of 60mpg if you take it easy.
Actually, the thing is that you won鈥檛 want to take it easy, as while the Civic looks quite understated, it has sweet steering and a nice balance to its chassis, so corners become fun and long drives suddenly look tempting.
The Civic鈥檚 cabin is superbly well-made, and it鈥檚 far roomier in the back seats than the rival Toyota Corolla, although the touchscreen is pretty fiddly to use. We love the clever luggage cover which retracts to one side of the 420-litre boot when you need to fold the back seats down, which means no more misery when trying to find somewhere to store a bulky parcel shelf.
The words Honda and quality are more or less inseparable. While Honda may have at various times built cars that were exciting (NSX) or kinda dull (Z-RV), the common thread that unites them all is quality.
The Honda Civic Hybrid sort of sits in a middle ground, in that it鈥檚 not exciting at all to look at, but it is rather good and rather satisfying to drive. Power comes from a 2.0-litre engine with 183hp thanks to the helpful efforts of an electric motor. There鈥檚 an eCVT gearbox (infinite gears!) which is a bit noisy when you accelerate, but the trade off here is economy and the Civic Hybrid can brush the hem of 60mpg if you take it easy.
Actually, the thing is that you won鈥檛 want to take it easy, as while the Civic looks quite understated, it has sweet steering and a nice balance to its chassis, so corners become fun and long drives suddenly look tempting.
The Civic鈥檚 cabin is superbly well-made, and it鈥檚 far roomier in the back seats than the rival Toyota Corolla, although the touchscreen is pretty fiddly to use. We love the clever luggage cover which retracts to one side of the 420-litre boot when you need to fold the back seats down, which means no more misery when trying to find somewhere to store a bulky parcel shelf.
Best for: quiet excellence
The big Kia Sorento is possibly the most conventional car on this list. Although it shares lots of bits 鈥 including its hybrid 1.6-litre engine 鈥 with the Hyundai Santa Fe, it鈥檚 the Hyundai that鈥檚 swinging for the boundary rope with its styling, whereas the Kia is much more conventional.
Although it鈥檚 very much made in South Korea, thanks to the 2024 update, it鈥檚 actually rather American in its looks, appearing almost like a 7/8ths scale Chevrolet. That鈥檚 not an insult, by the way 鈥 the Sorento looks rather cool, in an undercover secret service kind of way.
The cabin draws heavily on the likes of the electric EV6 and EV9 for its style, including the big, sweeping digital dashboard. The big central screen is easier to use than most, thanks to the fact that Kia uses a clever panel underneath that allows you to easily switch between infotainment and air conditioning controls.
Space inside is excellent, with proper adult-sized room in all three rows, and a massive 809-litre boot if you fold down the third row (although there鈥檚 only a piffling 175 litres left if all the seats are in use).
With 230hp, performance is actually fine 鈥 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds 鈥 but the Sorento is a car that鈥檚 better driven in a relaxed fashion, so that you can sink into the massive front seats and appreciate the comfort and silence. It鈥檚 not as futuristic looking as the electric EV9, but arguably a bit easier to live with for now.
The big Kia Sorento is possibly the most conventional car on this list. Although it shares lots of bits 鈥 including its hybrid 1.6-litre engine 鈥 with the Hyundai Santa Fe, it鈥檚 the Hyundai that鈥檚 swinging for the boundary rope with its styling, whereas the Kia is much more conventional.
Although it鈥檚 very much made in South Korea, thanks to the 2024 update, it鈥檚 actually rather American in its looks, appearing almost like a 7/8ths scale Chevrolet. That鈥檚 not an insult, by the way 鈥 the Sorento looks rather cool, in an undercover secret service kind of way.
The cabin draws heavily on the likes of the electric EV6 and EV9 for its style, including the big, sweeping digital dashboard. The big central screen is easier to use than most, thanks to the fact that Kia uses a clever panel underneath that allows you to easily switch between infotainment and air conditioning controls.
Space inside is excellent, with proper adult-sized room in all three rows, and a massive 809-litre boot if you fold down the third row (although there鈥檚 only a piffling 175 litres left if all the seats are in use).
With 230hp, performance is actually fine 鈥 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds 鈥 but the Sorento is a car that鈥檚 better driven in a relaxed fashion, so that you can sink into the massive front seats and appreciate the comfort and silence. It鈥檚 not as futuristic looking as the electric EV9, but arguably a bit easier to live with for now.
Best for: SUV-beating space
Driving a Dacia Jogger sometimes feels like cheating. You see, it kind of looks like an SUV 鈥 which is good for being fashionable and all 鈥 but in fact it鈥檚 based on the same chassis as the smaller Sandero hatchback, so it鈥檚 technically more of a stretched-out hatchback, or an estate with a slightly taller roof. Whisper it, but the Jogger is really an MPV.
That shows in its seats, with space for seven people and, astonishingly, actual grown-ups can fit in the back row. If you want maximum boot volume, the back seats have to come out altogether, which is irritating, but then you have more than 700 litres to play with.
The 1.6-litre hybrid engine 鈥 basically the same one that鈥檚 in the Duster 鈥 is economical (58mpg) but not fast (0-62mph in 10.1 seconds). The best thing is that because the Jogger Hybrid is automatic, it does away with the awkward manual gear shifter you find in the standard 1.0-litre model.
Fun to drive? Not especially, but at least the Jogger is mostly well-behaved, and it鈥檚 just about refined enough at cruising speeds to make long journeys tolerable. The dashboard鈥檚 cheap, but then what did you expect? At least overall build quality and reliability are decent, and you鈥檒l stop caring about the dash plastics when you remind yourself just how roomy and useful the Jogger is. You can even get one that鈥檚 an ersatz camper van, with a fold-out futon-style bed in the boot.
Driving a Dacia Jogger sometimes feels like cheating. You see, it kind of looks like an SUV 鈥 which is good for being fashionable and all 鈥 but in fact it鈥檚 based on the same chassis as the smaller Sandero hatchback, so it鈥檚 technically more of a stretched-out hatchback, or an estate with a slightly taller roof. Whisper it, but the Jogger is really an MPV.
That shows in its seats, with space for seven people and, astonishingly, actual grown-ups can fit in the back row. If you want maximum boot volume, the back seats have to come out altogether, which is irritating, but then you have more than 700 litres to play with.
The 1.6-litre hybrid engine 鈥 basically the same one that鈥檚 in the Duster 鈥 is economical (58mpg) but not fast (0-62mph in 10.1 seconds). The best thing is that because the Jogger Hybrid is automatic, it does away with the awkward manual gear shifter you find in the standard 1.0-litre model.
Fun to drive? Not especially, but at least the Jogger is mostly well-behaved, and it鈥檚 just about refined enough at cruising speeds to make long journeys tolerable. The dashboard鈥檚 cheap, but then what did you expect? At least overall build quality and reliability are decent, and you鈥檒l stop caring about the dash plastics when you remind yourself just how roomy and useful the Jogger is. You can even get one that鈥檚 an ersatz camper van, with a fold-out futon-style bed in the boot.
Best for: compact luxury
The little Lexus LBX really does look like one of the bigger Lexus SUVs got caught in an unexpected boil wash. It has the same slim headlights, the same upside-down grille, the same clean, smooth styling. It鈥檚 just鈥 smaller.
In fact, under the skin, the LBX uses the same basic mechanical bits and pieces as the Toyota Yaris Cross, and that鈥檚 a good thing. It means that the 1.5-litre 134hp hybrid engine is superbly economical 鈥 60mpg is possible if you鈥檙e not pushing it too hard 鈥 and Lexus has added in lots of extra sound-deadening material so that the LBX seems properly refined and smooth.
Cabin quality is truly exceptional, as even the basic versions with tweed-like seat trim instead of leather look and feel plush inside. Space in the back seats is nothing clever, but the boot holds an impressive 400 litres, so this is clearly more of a car for downsizers than growing families.
The LBX isn鈥檛 very quick 鈥 0-62mph takes 9.2 seconds 鈥 but it is very smooth and quiet, proving that Lexus鈥 primary values can be incorporated into smaller cars. Basically if you want a posh car with a posh badge and posh quality, but also want small car economy and running costs, well, look no further.
The little Lexus LBX really does look like one of the bigger Lexus SUVs got caught in an unexpected boil wash. It has the same slim headlights, the same upside-down grille, the same clean, smooth styling. It鈥檚 just鈥 smaller.
In fact, under the skin, the LBX uses the same basic mechanical bits and pieces as the Toyota Yaris Cross, and that鈥檚 a good thing. It means that the 1.5-litre 134hp hybrid engine is superbly economical 鈥 60mpg is possible if you鈥檙e not pushing it too hard 鈥 and Lexus has added in lots of extra sound-deadening material so that the LBX seems properly refined and smooth.
Cabin quality is truly exceptional, as even the basic versions with tweed-like seat trim instead of leather look and feel plush inside. Space in the back seats is nothing clever, but the boot holds an impressive 400 litres, so this is clearly more of a car for downsizers than growing families.
The LBX isn鈥檛 very quick 鈥 0-62mph takes 9.2 seconds 鈥 but it is very smooth and quiet, proving that Lexus鈥 primary values can be incorporated into smaller cars. Basically if you want a posh car with a posh badge and posh quality, but also want small car economy and running costs, well, look no further.
Hybrid cars to avoid
Factors to consider
Size
It sounds like a bit of a cliche, but hybrids really do come in all shapes and sizes, from the diminutive Toyota Yaris to the massive Hyundai Santa Fe. So, you need to decide what it is you most need. Do you want a small car for nipping in and through town? Then the likes of the MG 3 Hybrid+ or the Renault Clio are the best hybrid choices. Need a more roomy hatchback? Get a Honda Civic. Need more space for family life and room for the dog? A Kia Sportage is a good choice. Need lots of space? Then go for the Hyundai Santa Fe or cheat by getting the ultra-cheap Dacia Jogger.
Cost
As with size, hybrids now occupy a huge swathe of price points, all the way from the very affordable MG 3 Hybrid+ to the very un-affordable Porsche 911 GTS 鈥 yes, it鈥檚 a hybrid now too. You鈥檒l need to sit down and carefully work out what your car-buying budget is, and what you can afford in the way of monthly repayments (making sure to leave some headroom in case your personal circumstances change, of course). The good news is that while hybrids were once an expensive option, they鈥檝e come down considerably in price now and are often cheaper than an equivalent electric model, and comparable with conventional petrol and diesel models, with the promise of affordable running costs sweetening the financial deal.
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