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Real MPG: most economical hybrid cars
Petrol prices remain extortionately high, but our independent fuel economy tests reveal the most efficient hybrid cars out there
Eleanor Cooper
Updated: 1 October 2024
If you’re thinking about going green with your next car but don’t want the hassle of charging, then a hybrid might be the car for you.
Hybrid cars combine an electric motor with a traditional combustion engine and, while they can’t go as far on only-electric power as plug-in hybrid or electric cars, they can help cut fuel costs, especially if you drive mainly on urban roads. However, some models perform much better than others, even though they mostly use similar technology.
To make things even more complicated, the official WLTP figures aren’t always a true reflection of how far your car will get you in the real world. That’s why we’ve conducted our own Real MPG tests to see what your car can actually achieve.
Here, we’ve listed the cheapest hybrids to run based on our Real MPG data, as well as the models that will cost you more to run.
How we test for a car's Real MPG
Our Real MPG tests are based on a real-world route that simulates town, country and motorway driving. Our tests are also repeatable, meaning we can directly compare one car with another.
After weighing each car and checking its tyre pressures, we fit an exhaust connection to accurately measure emissions. We then set the climate control in each test car to 21 degC, or the midway point if it has manual air conditioning, with the fan speed on its lowest setting. We also turn off the car's headlights, as well as any other electrical equipment – such as the heated seats or stereo – so it doesn't interfere with our tests.
With the test under way, we sample the emissions from the car's tailpipe every second, and the average of those results is used to calculate the overall Real MPG score.
Find out more about how we test for Real MPG >>
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Toyota Yaris Cross
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Very fuel efficient
- Smooth driving manners
- Uncluttered dashboard is easy to use
Weaknesses
- Could be more spacious in the back seats
- Not as fun to drive as the Ford Puma
- Not all safety kit is available on all trims
Real MPG Average 60.1mpg | Town 103.3mpg | Motorway 45.5mpg | Rural 70.5mpg
The ultra-efficient Toyota Yaris Cross is the most economical car in our Real MPG tests. This small SUV performs particularly well around town, where it scored a huge 103.3mpg, making it a fantastic choice for city-dwellers. The electric motor provides plenty of shove off the line, and an automatic gearbox makes it smoother to drive than some of its rivals, such as the Nissan Juke Hybrid and the Renault Captur E-Tech.
It’s not just running costs that make the Yaris Cross a great option, though. It also offers a comfortable interior, with an uncluttered dashboard and control buttons that aren't difficult to find, as well as a lofty driving position that provides a good view of what’s in front of you. While other rivals are more spacious or offer a smoother drive, nothing beats the Yaris Cross when it comes to sheer efficiency.
Read our full Toyota Yaris Cross review
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What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Toyota Yaris Cross
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 36 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £247.78 Initial payment £2,973.36
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,218 total upfront (£2,973 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 36 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Toyota Yaris
Best buy: 1.5 VVT-h Design E-CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 9.7 sec
MPG/range: 0 mpg
C02 emissions: 96 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 286 litres
Insurance group: 14E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Excellent real-world fuel economy
- Toyota's reliability record
- Slow predicted depreciation
Weaknesses
- Firm ride, especially on higher-spec models with bigger wheels
- Poor rear passenger space
- So-so interior quality
Real MPG Average 59.9mpg | Town 80.0mpg | Motorway 46.7mpg | Rural 74.1mpg
Quick off the line with perky performance, the Yaris is a top contender if you want to keep running costs low, and with Toyota's great reliability record, you won't have to worry about splurging on endless repairs. Like its taller sibling, the Yaris Cross, it performed best in the town portion of our test, returning a respectable 80mpg.
The Yaris is pretty grippy and controlled round tight corners, but not as fun to drive as rivals such as the Honda Jazz and Renault Clio. There are more spacious small cars out there, but the Yaris comes well-equipped with lots of standard kit. However, the quality of the interior is nothing to write home about, with some scratchy plastics that aren't as well hidden as in the Jazz or the Clio.
Read our full Toyota Yaris review
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Best price from £19,495
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £19,495
RRP from: £23,995
Nearly new deals
From £18,290
Leasing deals
From £241
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Toyota Yaris
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £240.55 Initial payment £2,886.60
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,132 total upfront (£2,887 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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Honda Jazz
Best buy: 1.5 h i-MMD Elegance eCVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 9.4 sec
MPG/range: 62.8 mpg
C02 emissions: 102 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 304 litres
Insurance group: 21A
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Spacious interior with flexible rear seats
- Lots of standard equipment
- Efficient engine
Weaknesses
- Very pricey by small car standards
- Not the quietest cruiser
- Some rivals are more fun
Real MPG Average 56.0mpg | Town 68.8mpg | Motorway 43.4mpg | Rural 73.0mpg
They say good things come in small packages, and the Honda Jazz is no exception. With many tricks up its sleeve, it’s one of the most versatile cars you’ll find: spacious and adaptable, with flexible rear seats for more storage — plus it's cheap to run. Around town, the Jazz achieved 68.8mpg in our tests, and it manages to perform better than most other hybrids on the motorway, at 43.4mpg.
While it's not the most composed along twisty roads, it's nifty around urban areas, where its light steering makes navigating tight turns a breeze. On top of that, it's one of the more comfortable cars in its category, and is particularly smooth on motorways. However, it does cost more than other small cars, and isn't quite as fun to drive as some other rivals such as the Seat Ibiza.
Read our full Honda Jazz review
New car deals
Best price from £23,999
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £23,999
RRP from: £28,475
Nearly new deals
From £23,490
Leasing deals
From £253
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Honda Jazz
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £253.17 Initial payment £3,038.04
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,283 total upfront (£3,038 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Used Renault Clio 2019-present
Strengths
- Great safety tech
- Practical boot
- Smooth hybrid system
Weaknesses
- Reliability complaints about hybrid model
- Clunky manual gearbox
- Rivals are a bit more polished to drive
Real MPG Average 51.6mpg | Town 55.4mpg | Motorway 42.8mpg | Rural 64.2mpg
This version of the Renault Clio has since been replaced by the more powerful E-Tech 145, but there are plenty of examples on the used market, and having returned upwards of 55mpg around town in our tests, it makes a sensible choice for solid efficiency.
The Clio is a practical all-rounder, with a larger boot than others in its category, and plenty of room in the rear seats for three passengers to stretch out comfortably. It also feels plush inside, with plenty of soft-touch materials. However, Renault doesn't have the best track record for electrical issues with its hybrid models, so there are definitely more reliable options out there, such as the Toyota models on this list.
Read our full used Renault Clio review
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Used Toyota Prius 2016-2022
Strengths
- Excellent fuel economy
- Refinement around town
- Comfortable ride
Weaknesses
- Not the quickest thing
- Grabby brakes
- Poor rear head room
Real MPG Average 50.5mpg | Town 60.3mpg | Motorway 41.6mpg | Rural 60.1mpg
The Toyota Prius one of the most famous hybrids out there, and it's exceedingly popular not only as a family car, but also with fleets and taxi firms. With a real-world average of 50.5mpg it's very cost-effective to run.
The comfortable Prius provides plenty of space and, with four trims to choose from, it doesn’t scrimp on equipment, either. Its performance times aren't particularly exciting, though this is on par with most of its conventional rivals. New models are only available as plug-in hybrids, but this used hybrid version is good to drive and offers slightly better real-world economy than its main rival, the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid.
Read our full used Toyota Prius review
Used car deals
Suzuki Swace
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Low CO2 emissions
- Comfortable ride
- Cheaper than equivalent Corolla
Weaknesses
- Can be rather noisy when pushed
- So-so warranty compared with the Corolla
- Limited choice of engines and trims
Real MPG Average 50.3mpg | Town 86.6mpg | Motorway 38.4mpg | Rural 58.4mpg
The Suzuki Swace is essentially the cheaper twin of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. When stripped back, they’re very much the same, with an identical 1.8 litre hybrid system — but the Swace does it all for a lower price. While there’s no option to upgrade the engine as with the Corolla, the Swace is still incredibly efficient, returning 86.6mpg in the town portion of our tests, and 58.4mpg on faster country roads. On top of that, it provides a supple drive, and the adjustable driving position makes it easy to get comfortable.
A brand new Suzuki Swace will set you back around £29,000. There are cheaper rivals, like the Skoda Octavia Estate, but the Swace has much better resale values.
Read our full Suzuki Swace review
New car deals
Best price from £27,714
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
RRP from: £27,714
Nearly new deals
From £14,399
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Used Kia Niro 2016-2022
Strengths
- Cheaper than most hybrids to buy
- Low plug-in running costs
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Firm low-speed ride
- Normal hybrid not that efficient
- Anonymous inside and out
Real MPG Average 50.1mpg | Town 49.0mpg | Motorway 44.0mpg | Rural 60.2mpg
While we may consider its electric sibling (the Kia Niro EV) the more exciting option, this hybrid Niro is nothing to be sniffed at. With a real world average of 50.1mpg, it's pretty cost-effective, and you should be able to get a used one for a good price, too, since the model range has been updated. Early versions with average mileage start at around £11,000, which is around the same as a hybrid Toyota C-HR.
The Niro hybrid may not be the most stylish, but it’s practical and well-equipped, with plenty of space in both the front and rear. Despite being a pretty firm ride around town, it smooths out nicely on the motorway, making long-distance journeys more pleasant.
Read our full used Kia Niro review
Used car deals
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
Best buy: 1.8 VVT-h Icon Touring Sports CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 9.4 sec
MPG/range: 64.2 mpg
C02 emissions: 100 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 596 litres
Insurance group: 17E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Impressively low CO2 emissions on hybrids
- Comfortable ride
- Great reliability record
Weaknesses
- More wind and road noise than in rivals
- So-so infotainment system
- Digital driver's display could be easier to use
Real MPG Average 49.4mpg | Town 68.1mpg | Motorway 39.8mpg | Rural 57.0mpg
We can’t ignore the Corolla Touring Sports after having highlighted the efficiency of the Suzuki Swace – they’re practically identical, after all. The Corolla has all the practicality and comfort of an estate car, with all the benefits of greener hybrid power. Unlike the Swace, buyers have the option to upgrade from the 1.8-litre engine to a more powerful 2.0-litre engine, which can sprint from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds.
When you combine all of this with Toyota’s stellar reliability record and the possibility to extend the warranty to ten years, the Corolla becomes a solid low-cost option. However, the infotainment system could be better, and it doesn't have as much boot space as some of its rivals, such as the Skoda Octavia Estate.
Read our full Toyota Corolla Touring Sports review
New car deals
Best price from £32,155
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £36,700
RRP from: £32,155
Nearly new deals
From £22,497
Leasing deals
From £297
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £297.16 Initial payment £3,565.92
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£3,811 total upfront (£3,566 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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Used Toyota Yaris Hatchback 2011-2020
Strengths
- Spacious
- Hybrid option
- Very reliable
Weaknesses
- Not an exciting drive
- Dull interior
- Several recalls to check off
Real MPG Average 49.2mpg | Town 80.0mpg | Motorway 37.7mpg | Rural 57.5mpg
This previous-generation Yaris is a great option if you’re not looking to spend much on a small car. It’s particularly impressive around town, returning an admirable 80mpg in our tests. With a roomy interior that trumps its successor and plenty of standard kit, it makes for a solid all-rounder.
The Yaris doesn't offer the most exciting drive, especially when you compare it to the rival Ford Fiesta, and its hybrid engine produces a fair amount of noise, but this small car represents good value for money thanks to its reliability and spacious interior. With prices starting from just under £7500, you can’t really go wrong.
Read our full used Toyota Yaris review
Used car deals
Toyota RAV4
Best buy: 2.5 22.7kWh Icon CVT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 7.6 sec
MPG/range: 217 mpg
C02 emissions: 30 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 0 litres
Insurance group: 40E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Exceedingly frugal
- Spacious for four six footers
- Good performance
Weaknesses
- Pricey to buy for private buyers
- Rivals are tidier to drive
- Rear seats could be more versatile
Real MPG Average 49.0mpg | Town 91.9mpg | Motorway 37.9mpg | Rural 54.0mpg
While it’s not our favourite car to drive and the infotainment system pales in comparison to rivals such as the Kia Sportage, the Toyota RAV4 is the family SUV to choose if you're looking for great fuel economy. Its electric motor performs particularly well around town, returning an exceptionally impressive Real MPG score of 91.1mpg in our tests. On top of that, it's spacious and comes with lots of standard kit, as well as a largely adjustable driving position.
You'll find a more comfortable drive in rivals such as the Honda CR-V and the Peugeot 5008, and its weighty hybrid engine means it's not as fun to drive as the Ford Kuga. However, the RAV4 redeems itself with its great real-world economy, and combined with Toyota’s reliability record, running costs are lower than most other cars in its class. For those who can charge at home, a plug-in hybrid version is also available.
Read our full Toyota RAV4 review
New car deals
Best price from £37,345
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £37,345
RRP from: £44,195
Nearly new deals
From £35,990
Leasing deals
From £409
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Toyota RAV4
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 36 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £409.47 Initial payment £4,913.64
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£5,159 total upfront (£4,914 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 36 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
And the least economical hybrid cars...
Toyota RAV4 2.5 Hybrid
Real MPG Average: 37.1mpg. The previous-generation RAV4 SUV is far less efficient than the current model, although it should still offer you lower fuel bills than some purely combustion-engined rivals.
Read our review
Toyota Highlander 2.5 Hybrid
Real MPG Average: 34.6mpg. For something so large, the Highlander is very efficient. In most other respects, though, it's no more than average in the large SUV class.
Read our review
Lexus RX 450h L
Real MPG Average: 30.8mpg. While the RX L offers impressive reliability and lots of kit, it's not especially efficient and its engine sounds coarse when revved.
Read our review
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