What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable hybrid cars
In our annual Reliability Survey, we ask readers to rate the dependability of cars aged up to five years old. Here, we list the most and least reliable hybrid cars in the UK...
Hybrid power is available across a wide range of cars these days from small hatchbacks to large and luxury SUVs. There are two types on offer: regular hybrids, which are an economical choice for high-mileage urban drivers, and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which are great for people who often drive short distances and can charge up frequently at home or work.
In spite of the added complexity of their dual power systems, hybrids are usually impressively robust. In the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, only 21% of the plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and regular hybrid cars reported on had any issues. While that's not the lowest rate of faults - only 19% of petrol cars suffered any faults - it's much better than electric vehicles (27% went wrong) and diesels, which had a 29% fault rate.
Hybrid cars are also fixed for free more often than diesel cars: 96% of hybrids were fixed gratis, compared with 87% of diesel cars. Like other cars, the most common issues with hybrids were electrical glitches, most of which were quick to sort out.
Here we're looking at reliability data for hybrid cars aged up to five years old. You can find reliability information for older models in our most reliable used cars feature.
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Most reliable hybrid cars
1. Toyota RAV4 PHEV (2019-present)
Reliability rating 92.2%
Most common faults: infotainment/sat-nav system 6%, 12-volt battery 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 33% one day to a week
The RAV4 is a regular feature at the top of our annual reliability charts, and it’s great to see that its durability isn’t tailing off as it ages. The 12-volt battery and infotainment system were the only areas to cause upset among the 12% of owners who told us their car had suffered a reliability issue.
Most faults were minor, though, and 60% of cars were put right in a day or less, with the rest rectified in less than a week. Best of all, Toyota covered the cost of all work required, so no owners were left out of pocket.
Owner’s view: “My RAV4 has done over 70,000 miles under our ownership and never needed anything doing beyond brakes and tyres.”
2. Kia Niro PHEV (2022-present)
Reliability rating 99.0%
Most common faults: brakes 1%, non-engine electrics 1%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 25% less than one day, 25% one day to a week, 50% more than a week
The latest version of the Niro PHEV has a better reliability rating than the previous one, which sits in 16th place in our hybrid reliability table. Only 6% of current Niro PHEVs went wrong compared with 16% of older cars, and, although remedial work was slow for both versions, issues were fixed quicker on the newer model.
All current Niro PHEVs with faults could still be driven, and half were fixed in less than a week. In comparison, 30% of older cars were undriveable and 80% were out of action for more than a week. At least Kia paid covered the cost of putting things right for all owners, though.
3. Toyota RAV4 hybrid (2019-present)
Reliability rating 98.4%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 4%, hybrid battery pack 1%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 60% one day or less, 40% one day to a week
Although the hybrid version of the RAV4 was discontinued at the start of 2025, it remains an excellent secondhand buy. Like the PHEV version, it has punchy acceleration, a smart interior and a lofty driving position. Although it doesn't ever drive on pure electric power alone, economy is pretty good at around 50mpg.
The RAV4 hybrid suffered fewer faults than the PHEV version - 5% went wrong compared with 12% - but those issues rendered 60% of cars undriveable, meaning more hassle for owners. The good news is that Toyota and its dealers covered the cost of all necessary parts and labour.
4. Hyundai Kona hybrid (2019-present)
Reliability rating 98.7%
Most common faults: bodywork 3%, non-engine electrics 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 33% less than one day, 33% one day to a week, 33% more than a week
Although the Hyundai Kona is available as a petrol, hybrid or electric model, the hybrid is the best choice for a number of reasons. It has better fuel economy than the petrol version, and it's cheaper for both road tax and company car tax. The other big factor is dependability: only 8% of hybrid Kona models had any faults, compared with 18% of petrol examples and 24% of electric ones.
The bodywork and various electrical systems were the main bugbears of owners, but these faults didn't prevent cars from being driven. A third of issues were put right in a day or less, and only a third took more than seven days to resolve. Even though some cars would have been outside of Hyundai's five-year new car warranty, all work was done for free.
5. Lexus UX hybrid (2019-present)
Reliability rating 98.0%
Most common faults: infotainment/sat-nav system 7%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 25% one day to a week, 75% more than a week
We only have enough data to report on hybrid versions of the UX, not the 300e pure electric model. However, as a premium family SUV, the UX offers distinctive styling, good fuel economy and a high quality interior.
As a hybrid, only 7% of the UXs reported on had any issues, and the infotainment system was the only area of concern. While the problems didn't stop any cars from being driven, they were slow to fix - three-quarters of affected cars were in the workshop for more than a week. On a positive note, no owners had to contribute to any repair costs.
6. Lexus RX (2016-2022)
Reliability rating 97.9%
Most common faults: bodywork 7%, air-con 4%, non-engine electrics 4%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 100% one day or less
A truly luxurious SUV, the Lexus RX has a refined, well-appointed interior, incredibly comfortable seats and punchy performance. However, unlike its German rivals, it's not offered in conventional petrol or diesel form, it can only be had as a hybrid with a petrol engine assisted by a motor.
Even though many of the cars reported on will have exceeded their new car warranty period, only 7% of vehicles suffered any issues. All problems were put right in a day or less, and at no cost to the owners.
7. Honda Civic (2022-present)
Reliability rating 97.3%
Most common faults: steering 10%, hybrid battery pack 2%, bodywork 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 44% one day or less, 44% more than a week
The Honda Civic e:HEV, to give it its full name, is great to drive, practical and cheap to own. The 2.0-litre hybrid petrol engine is the only option, but it's a good one with fuel economy of around 60mpg.
It's a sound bet when it comes to reliability, too. Only 13% of the examples in our survey went wrong, and 90% of those could still be driven. All remedial work was done for free, but 44% of cars had to spend more than a week in the workshop.
8. Honda Jazz (2020-present)
Reliability rating 96.9%
Most common faults: bodywork 4%, air-con 3%, 12-volt battery 3%, non-engine electrics 3%, brakes 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 63% one day or less, 30% one day to a week
Like the larger Civic, the Jazz is only available as a hybrid these days. Again, that's not a bad thing because it sips fuel gently and is one of the most comfortable and practical small cars you can buy.
Although owners told us 16% of their cars had problems, only 9% were off the road because of them, and nearly two-thirds were put right in a day or less. Best of all, Honda took care of all the bills.
9. Toyota Corolla (2018-present)
Reliability rating 96.5%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 8%, non-engine electrics 3%, interior trim 2%
Average repair cost: 91% £0, 9% £51-£200
Typical time off road: 63% one day or less, 33% more than a week
No wonder the Toyota Corolla is the world's best-selling car, with more than 50 million sold since it first arrived in the 1960s. The latest version is a brilliant family car. It's comfortable, well made, well equipped and remarkably frugal in real-world driving.
While 15% of the cars we were told about had a problem, two thirds of them were in and out of the garage within 24-hours. The 12-volt battery accounted for most issues, and as it's a consumable, it's not a suprise that some owners had to pay for replacements.
10. Toyota C-HR (2023-present)
Reliability rating 95.4%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 16%, bodywork 4%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 50% one day or less, 45% one day to a week
The C-HR is a comfy and efficient small SUV that's available with regular hybrid and PHEV petrol engines. Here we're looking at survey responses for both versions.
With a fault rate of 24%, the C-HR is more prone to problems than its siblings, but most issues were minor and were put right in a day or less. Upset was kept to a minimum, with Toyota covering the cost of all parts and labour to put things right.
Reliability rating 86.1%
Most common faults: infotainment system/sat-nav 33%, air-con 7%, bodywork 7%, exhaust 7%, fuel system 7%, gearbox 7%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 46% one day or less, 46% more than a week
Problems with the infotainment system blighted the ownership experience for a third of Superb hybrid owners. Overall, 60% of the cars in our survey had a problem, making the car far less robust than previous generation petrol and diesel Superbs.
Although no owners faced any repair bills, nearly half had to wait more than a week to get their car back. Only 8% of cars were rendered undriveable by their faults.
2. BMW 330e (2016-2020)
Reliability rating 87.6%
Most common faults: hybrid battery pack 8%, engine/motor electrics 4%, gearbox 4%, bodywork 2%, electric motor 2%, exhaust 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%, suspension 2%
Average repair cost: 75% £0, 19% more than £1500
Typical time off road: 32% one day to a week, 52% more than a week
The plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 3 Series is the best choice as a company car because it has all the qualities of its petrol and diesel siblings and it's cheaper for road tax and company car tax. It's economical too, because it's able to do up to 62 miles on pure electric power.
Owners told us that 26% of their 330es had gone wrong, and half of those cars were in the workshop for more than a week. More worrying is the fact that 19% of owners were left with bill totalling more than £1500, and only 75% of remedial work was paid for by BMW.
Reliability rating 89.0%
Most common faults: engine 9%, 12-volt battery 5%, hybrid battery pack 5%, engine electrics 5%, gearbox 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 25% one day or less, 63% more than a week
Hybrid versions of the Juke suffered slightly fewer faults (23%) than their petrol brethren, and Nissan covered the cost of all repairs. Engine and battery woes were the most prevalent complaints, and there were also reports of difficulties with the gearbox and infotainment system.
As with the petrol Juke, many of the repairs took time to carry out; 63% of afflicted hybrids were in the workshop for more than a week. However, 25% of them were fixed in a day or less, beating the 9% of petrol models that were sorted out within that time frame.
Reliability of hybrid cars aged up to five years old
| Rank | Make and model | Score |
| 1 | Toyota RAV4 PHEV (2019-present) | 99.2% |
| 2 | Kia Niro PHEV (2022-present) | 99.0% |
| 3 | 2019-2024 Toyota RAV4 hybrid | 98.9% |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona Hybrid (2019-present) | 98.7% |
| 5 | Lexus UX (2019-present) | 98.0% |
| 6 | 2016-2022 Lexus RX | 97.9% |
| 7 | Honda Civic (2022-present) | 97.3% |
| 8 | Honda Jazz (2020-present) | 96.9% |
| 9 | Toyota Corolla (2018-present) | 96.5% |
| 10 | Toyota C-HR (2023-present) | 95.4% |
| 11 | Lexus NX (2021-present) | 95.2% |
| 12 | Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV (2018-present) | 95.1% |
| 13 | 2014-2021 Lexus NX | 94.8% |
| 14 | Nissan Qahsqai hybrid (2021-present) | 94.7% |
| 15 | Kia Niro hybrid/PHEV (2016-2022) | 94.6% |
| 16 | Volvo XC40 PHEV (2017-present) | 93.8% |
| 17 | Volvo XC60 PHEV (2017-present) | 93.0% |
| 18 | Toyota Yaris (2020-present) | 92.5% |
| 19 | MG HS PHEV (2019-present) | 92.5% |
| 20 | Toyota Yaris Cross (2021-present) | 91.4% |
| 21 | Ford Kuga (2019-present) | 90.3% |
| 22 | Kia Sportage PHEV (2021-present) | 90.1% |
| 23 | Nissan Juke hybrid (2022 - present) | 89.0% |
| 24 | BMW 3 Series 330e PHEV (2016-2020) | 87.6% |
| 25 | Skoda Superb PHEV (2020-present) | 86.1% |
To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:
Most and least reliable cars overall (2025)
Most reliable car brands (2025)
Most reliable small cars (2025)
Most reliable family cars (2024)
Most reliable executive cars (2025)
Most reliable luxury cars (2025)
Most reliable small SUVs (2024)
Most reliable family SUVs (2025)
Most reliable large SUVs (2024)
Most reliable seven-seaters (2025)
Most reliable electric cars (2024)
Most reliable electric SUVs (2025)
Most reliable sports cars (2024)
Most reliable diesel cars (2023)
Most reliable petrol cars (2024)
Most reliable hybrid cars (2024)
How the research was carried out
To compile the What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, we asked thousands of car owners to give us the lowdown on how reliable their car had been over the previous 24 months.
First we asked them to tell us if the car had suffered a fault, and, if so, how much each problem had cost to put right and how long it had kept the car off the road. The responses for these two factors were weighted and added up for each make and model, enabling us to create a unique reliability rating for each.
The latest What Car? Reliability Survey contains responses from 29,967 people, giving us enough data to report on 199 models aged up to five years old from 31 different car brands.
About the report author
Claire Evans has been a motoring journalist for more than 30 years, working on consumer issues for a great deal of that time. After a stint as the advice columnist for Carweek magazine in the 1990s, she also spent six years working on motoring content for Which?. It is here she oversaw the running of the charity's annual used car reliability survey.
Claire launched the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2017, and since then has helped thousands of buyers choose the most reliable new cars and SUVs, as well as the most dependable used cars.
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