Hybrid cars can genuinely offer high levels of fuel economy if driven carefully. You can now choose from an increasing range of petrol-electric hybrids and diesel-electric hybrid vehicles on sale in the UK in 2014, so if you are interested in buying one, here’s our top 10 list of the best hybrid cars to help you decide. The car reviews all contain full car specifications with data on emissions and driveability ratings.
Also see our Top 10 Electric Cars feature for plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Okay, so it may be a controversial first place, but the fact is that the BMW ActiveHybrid3 comes close to the M3 in terms of the driving experience and performance, but with around half the emissions and twice the economy – that’s why it’s our favourite – if expensive – hybrid.
Read more – full BMW ActiveHybrid3 review
Back in the real world, the Toyota Prius hybrid takes some beating as an economical family hatchback. It offers space and low emissions, together with an easy driving experience thanks to the CVT transmission, even if that isn’t to everyone’s tastes.
Read more – full Toyota Prius review
The Lexus GS 450h is a very refined way to travel, combining performance and economy – although not both at the same time.
Read more – full Lexus GS 450h review
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid is a diesel-electric hybrid rather than a petrol-electric hybrid, so it has an impressively high official combined economy figure of 65.7mpg.
Read more – full Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid review
The Toyota Auris Touring Sports is unique because it’s currently the only hybrid estate, which means that it offers lots of space and good potential economy. An Auris hatchback
is also available.
Read more – full Toyota Auris Touring Sports review
The Toyota Yaris Hybrid brings full hybrid technology to the supermini class, together with an impressive 70.6mpg.
Read more – full Toyota Yaris Hybrid
review
The Jazz is Honda’s offering in the supermini class, with an official combined economy figure of 62.8mpg from Honda’s IMA ‘mild’ hybrid system.
Read more – full Honda Jazz Hybrid review
The Lexus IS 300h offers a smaller, more affordable hybrid option than the GS 450h. Official economy is 65.7mpg.
Read more – full Lexus IS 300h review
Peugeot and Citroen both offer diesel-electric hybrids – the most stylish of them is the Citroen DS5 Hybrid4, which has an official combined economy figure of 80.7mpg, although this is difficult to achieve in real-life.
Read more – full Citroen DS5 Hybrid4 review
The Audi A8 Hybrid combines a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine with compact hybrid technology to deliver 44.8mpg.
Read more – full Audi A8 Hybrid review
For these plug-in hybrid or range-extender cars, see our Top 10 Electric Cars feature: