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Best used hybrid cars

Thinking of buying a hybrid car? There are plenty of reasonably priced ones to buy used now. Here are our top 10 picks...

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by
Mark Pearson
Published12 December 2024

Best used hybrids

With the Government proposing to ban the sale of new pure petrol or diesel-engined cars, those anxious to dip their toes in the future can either opt for a full-fat electric vehicle now or experiment first with a little petrol-electric hybrid action. That is to say, a car powered by a petrol engine combined with an electric motor. 

There are two hybrid types: 'self-charging' models, which mix petrol and electric power to maximise efficiency, and plug-in hybrids that can travel many miles purely on electricity before their engines need to cut in. 

There are plenty of either to buy used now, so many in fact that picking your way through the maze isn’t as easy as it once was. So here we bring you our guide to the 10 best used hybrid cars.

Our pick: 320i M Sport 4dr Step Auto

0-62mph: 7.4 sec
MPG/range: 42.8mpg
CO2 emissions: 148g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 480 litres
Insurance group: 28E

Strengths

  • Great fun to drive
  • Sharp steering and superb body control
  • Intuitive infotainment system
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Interior not as well finished as Audi A4
  • Lumbar support was an expensive extra
  • Rather firm ride, especially on M Sport models

The 330e takes all that's good about the BMW 3 Series saloon - and that's a lot - and adds a plug-in hybrid capability that gives it up to 37 miles of electric-only motoring. It goes without saying that it handles beautifully, rides well and is comfortable inside. It's also endowed with a great interior and a class-leading iDrive infotainment system. On top of that, it's really good value too. In short, it's a terrific buy. 

"All the class and glamour and refinement of a regular petrol-engined 3 Series and the ability to run on electric power alone? Sign me up!" - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 BMW 330e M Sport, 43,000 miles, £16,995

Read our used BMW 3 Series review

Search for a used BMW 330e for sale

Strengths

  • Spacious and practical interior
  • Excellent fuel economy
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Noise under heavy acceleration
  • Infotainment system can be clunky in use
  • Not as good to drive as one or two rivals

The Honda Jazz is the small car to beat for passenger and luggage space, while its unique and incredibly flexible rear seating only adds to its practicality. Visibility is excellent, too, which helps make it easy to manoeuvre and park, while generous standard equipment, strong resale values and low running costs make it even more desirable. It's good to drive and very reliable too. 

"An immensely strong and clever car with easy refinement and almost unequalled practicality. I have one of the old ones, and that one just keeps on running." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Honda Jazz 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid SE, 28,000 miles, £14,500 

Read our used Honda Jazz review

Search for a used Honda Jazz for sale

Our pick: 2.0 B5P [250] Core 5dr AWD Geartronic

0-62mph: 7.7 sec
MPG/range: 33.6mpg
CO2 emissions: 190g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 302 litres
Insurance group: 36E

Strengths

  • Classy interior
  • Seven-seat versatility
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Ride slightly unsettled
  • Road and suspension noise
  • Audi Q7 is more refined

The Volvo XC90 T8 offers all the quality and practicality of the regular Volvo XC90. It's good to drive and well equipped, too, with a wonderfully stylish and comfortable interior. What’s more, unlike some hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs, the T8 doesn’t lose its third row of seats, meaning it's still a full seven-seater. It can drive on its electric motor alone, and do so for around 25 miles - useful if you travel in town. 

"Go big and go hybrid with this incredibly classy and Skandi-cool XC90. I love its interior.' - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2017 Volvo XC90 T8 Momentum, 60,000 miles, £23,795 

Read our used Volvo XC90 review

Search for a used Volvo XC90 for sale

Strengths

  • Stylish looks
  • Good to drive
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Diesels offer better real-world economy
  • Smaller boot than the regular Golf

Like the BMW 330e, the Volkswagen Golf GTE is a plug-in hybrid with a sporty edge.  It’ll also officially cover up to 31 miles on electric power alone, and if that fits with your commute well enough that you rarely use petrol power, it can be very affordable to run. It’s well screwed together inside, and you get lots of equipment, including climate control and front and rear parking sensors. In our 2024 Reliability Survey, this generation of the Golf scored a respectable 91.8% in the family car class.

"Everything that's good about a Golf and a plug-in hybrid too. I love the way they drive and the way they look, so classy." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTE 1.4 TSI Advance, 48,000 miles, £14,000

Read our used Volkswagen Golf GTE review

Search for a used Volkswagen Golf GTE for sale

Our pick: 2.0 eHEV Sport 5dr CVT

0-62mph: 7.9 sec
MPG/range: 56.5mpg
CO2 emissions: 113g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 415 litres
Insurance group: 28E

Strengths

  • Strong performance and handling
  • Lots of luxury and safety kit
  • Big boot

Weaknesses

  • There are one or two rivals that undercut it on price still
  • Intrusive road noise
  • Rear head room isn't great

The Honda Civic is a wonderfully efficient hatchback, easily capable of returning 49mpg in ordinary driving. Sure, the Toyota Corolla is even more frugal, but the Honda more than compensates in other areas. Performance is strong; the Civic can dash from 0-60mph in 6.8sec. Good grip and precise steering help make the Civic fun to drive. It's classy inside, practical and proving reliable too. Used prices are beginning to look especially tempting. 

"This is one of the most impressive cars here and, to be honest, it'd be my favourite if it wasn't for a little bit too much road noise. Still great, though." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Honda Civic 2.0 h i-MMD Elegance, 30,000 miles, £23,995

Read our used Honda Civic review

Search for a used Honda Civic for sale

Our pick: 1.8 Hybrid Icon 5dr CVT

0-62mph: 9.1 sec
MPG/range: 64.2mpg
CO2 emissions: 100g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 361 litres
Insurance group: 17E

Strengths

  • Great economy in the hybrid cars
  • Good to drive
  • Top-notch reliability record

Weaknesses

  • Rear-seat space a little tight
  • Infotainment not the best
  • The 1.8 not as refined as 2.0-litre version

This latest Toyota Corolla was a major step forward for the Japanese firm. It's a great family hatchback and a great hybrid car, and one of the few on our top 10 list here that's actually a self-charging rather than a plug-in hybrid. The 1.8 version we've found here even racked up a True MPG figure in our tests of 60.6mpg, and on top of that it offers a good driving position, plenty of kit and a comfortable ride, while Toyota's reliability record is second to none. You can also choose between a regular family hatchback or an impressive estate version known as the Touring Sports. 

"Runs the Civic incredibly close. You'd be more than happy with one of these on your driveway." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Corolla Touring Sports 1.8 Hybrid Icon tech, 46,000 miles, £12,995

Read our used Toyota Corolla review

Search for a used Toyota Corolla for sale

Our pick: 530e M Sport 4dr Auto

0-62mph: 6.3 sec
MPG/range: 470.8mpg
CO2 emissions: 13g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 520 litres
Insurance group: 39E

Strengths

  • Delightful to drive
  • Well equipped
  • Very economical

Weaknesses

  • A little pricey
  • Average rear seat space
  • Slight question mark over reliability

We love the BMW 5 Series – especially the plug-in hybrid version. Like the rest of the range, the 530e is great to drive and wonderfully refined. It’s also able to see off the 0-62mph dash in less than six seconds and polish off motorway cruises in spectacular style. The 530e can officially cover up to 36 miles on electric power, leading to potentially low running costs for such a large, luxurious car. Inside, the 530e is spacious, comfortable and classy, with the most user-friendly infotainment system on offer. 

"So much class on show here, and such a lot of car for the money. My favourite hybrid here.' - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 BMW 530e M Sport, 45,000 miles, £19,990

Read our used BMW 5 Series review

Search for a used BMW 530e for sale

Our pick: xDrive50e M Sport 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 4.8 sec
MPG/range: 313.9mpg
CO2 emissions: 20g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 500 litres
Insurance group: 49E

Strengths

  • Good to drive
  • Classy, well-designed interior
  • Class-leading electric-only range of the PHEV version

Weaknesses

  • Some models are expensive to run
  • Boot relatively small
  • Rivals have a more spacious third-row

BMW's plug-in hybrid version of its mighty BMW X5 is every bit as comfortable and luxurious as the petrol and diesel versions, and you barely notice the extra weight of its batteries, even in corners. You can't have seven seats, but that's the only significant downside. Indeed, it has a much longer electric range than the rival Volvo XC90 Recharge T8, and a far more user-friendly infotainment system. It's not as old as the XC90, so not as cheap, hence it doesn't finish further up our list. 

"I like the chunkiness and sheer class the X5 exudes. Not cheap, but one of the best, and a great electric-only range." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 BMW X5 xDrive45e M Sport, 60,000 miles, £30,995

Read our used BMW X5 review

Search for a used BMW X5 for sale

Our pick: 1.5 TSI eHybrid Life 5dr DSG

0-62mph: 8.1 sec
MPG/range: 706.2mpg
CO2 emissions: 9g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 510 litres
Insurance group: 30E

Strengths

  • Good range of engines
  • Spacious interior and boot
  • Classy interior

Weaknesses

  • Slightly unsettled ride
  • Base S trim misses out on some kit
  • Reliability can be an issue

Available in both saloon and estate forms, the Volkswagen Passat GTE is a smooth, quiet plug-in hybrid executive car with a smart, capacious interior. It can cover up to 31 miles on a full charge (39 miles in later versions), leading to potentially impressive fuel economy. It’s great to drive and impressively practical too, especially so in estate car form. Only its poor showing in our most recent reliability survey relegates it down our list. 

"Previously one of our top cars in this class but its poor reliability record lets it down this year. Still an impressive car, though." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI GTE Advance, 75,000 miles, £14,950

Read our used VW Passat GTE review

Search for a used VW Passat GTE for sale

Strengths

  • Good-quality interior
  • Low running costs
  • Hybrid is good to drive

Weaknesses

  • Poor rear head room
  • Unsettled ride around town
  • Poor reliability – electric model only

The Hyundai Ioniq was the first car to be offered on sale with three forms of electrification: as a hybrid model that combines a petrol engine with an electric motor, a plug-in hybrid version with a bigger battery that you can charge externally or an electric vehicle (EV). The plug-in version gives a good potential electric-only range of up to 30 miles in earlier models and 39 miles in post-2019 cars - which really helps the overall fuel consumption, especially if your journeys are mostly short. It's good to drive, well equipped and roomy inside, too. 

"A great entry-level hybrid car, in either version, and now really cheap to buy used." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2019 Hyundai Ioniq PHEV Premium SE, 68,000 miles, £8000

Read our used Hyundai Ioniq review

Search for a used Hyundai Ioniq for sale


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