The most and least reliable hybrid cars in the UK

Most reliable hybrid cars

1. Hyundai Tucson (2021-present)

Reliability rating 100%

What went wrong? Nothing

The Tucson is a roomy family SUV with a frugal hybrid set-up that is a worthy alternative to diesel power. It’s impressively dependable so far, too, with not a single example in our survey putting a foot wrong. That means zero unexpected costs for owners, making it an affordable vehicle to live with.

2. Toyota RAV4 (2019-present)

Reliability rating 99.5%

The RAV4 puts in an almost faultless performance, with just 2% of owners reporting issues with their cars. The battery and suspension were the only areas of contention, but all issues were dealt with in a day or less. Although only 50% of repairs were done for free, the remaining bills were less than £50 each.

3. Lexus CT (2011-2021)

Reliability rating 99.3%

Only 6% of CT owners needed to call the garage to fix a problem, and the only area concerned was the suspension. All remedial work was carried out for free even though many of the cars in our survey were outside the manufacturer’s warranty period, and all issues were  resolved in a day or less.   

Least reliable hybrid cars

1. Mercedes A-Class (2018-present)

Reliability rating 78.4%

What went wrong? Non-engine electrics 18%, air-con 9%, engine 9%, engine electrics 9%, battery 5%, bodywork 5%, interior trim 5%, sat-nav 5%

Despite being far better than its predecessor, the latest A-Class hybrid falls short of owners' expectations. Forty-six percent of cars went wrong, with issues surrounding the engine, as well as engine and non-engine electrics and the air-con. Only 79% of repairs were covered by Mercedes, leaving some owners with bills in excess of £1500.

2. Ford Kuga (2020-present)

Reliability rating 82.7%

The Kuga’s impressive electric range is tempered by its numerous electrical gremlins. Forty percent of cars suffered a fault, mostly revolving around the 12-volt battery, followed by the air-con, engine, non-engine and engine electrics and sat-nav. Although 89% of work was done for free, nearly 90% of cars took more than a week to fix.

3. Volvo XC60 (2017-present)

Reliability rating 91.1%

While far from being the worst performer in the hybrid sector, the XC60 was let down by the 22% of owners who were handed bills from £500 to £1000 to fix their cars. Most of its problems concerned non-engine electrics. Most cars could still be driven and were fixed in less than a week.

Reliability of hybrids aged up to five years old

Read more: Most reliable electric cars

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