A car expert has revealed the best hybrid cars you can buy in the UK – and they could help cut your fuel costs.
Hybrid cars offer the ‘best of both worlds’ for motorists looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save on fuel, although perhaps aren’t quite ready to make the jump to a full electric car.
The fuel-saving technology has been around for a while now, and the choice is wider than ever, with the best hybrid cars ranging from superminis to family SUVs.
It’s not hard to see the appeal – hybrid tech is able to improve the efficiency of a variety of cars, meaning there are real financial savings to be made.
Handily, experts at Auto Express have revealed the most reliable cars for families.
1. Toyota Yaris £22,125
The Toyota Yaris is a great small car that offers excellent fuel economyAlamy
The latest Toyota Yaris is a quality supermini that’s hard to fault.
There’s only one engine available in the standard car – a 114bhp 1.5-litre petrol with Toyota’s ‘self-charging’ petrol-electric hybrid technology.
The manufacturer claims that you should see fuel economy of over 60mpg, with CO2 emissions below 100g/km, which means you shouldn’t need to make too many petrol station stops, even on longer journeys.
2. Honda Civic £33,815
The latest Civic has a more mature look and a sensible hybrid petrol engineAlamy
The new Honda Civic is a sensible choice, with the manufacturer deciding on a 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid setup as the best way forward to win buyers over.
Here’s the ‘techy’ bit: the petrol engine is used as a generator to power a battery which in turn drives an electric motor, but it can also power the wheels directly at higher speeds.
Honda reckons you should see around 60mpg on average, while the Civic’s performance isn’t too bad either, covering 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds.
3. Kia Niro £28,810
The Kia Niro is a strong all-round family packageAlamy
Kia offers its Niro as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid model, while you can also order a full-electric version, too.
The hybrid is based around a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which is capable of more than 60mpg, with CO2 emissions of around 100g/km.
The Niro is pretty relaxing to drive, and there’s plenty of room for passengers to lounge around – a solid choice.
4. Hyundai Tucson £34,640
You’ll find the Tucson a relaxing drive and a good companion on longer journeysAlamy
The Hyundai Tucson’s is a popular family SUV choice, with the hybrid model using a 1.6-litre electrically-assisted engine producing a decent 230bhp.
It’s a bigger car than the top 3 above, which means it weighs more and isn’t quite as efficient.
However, it covers pretty much everything you’d need from a family motor, while returning an average of almost 50mpg.
5. Kia Sportage £35,270
The Kia Sportage is closely related to the Tucson, although is arguably a little more stylish and fun to driveAlamy
There is virtually nothing to choose between the Sportage or its closely-related cousin, the Tucson – both hybrid’s able to get close to 50mpg.
The Hyundai is a touch more affordable and possibly slightly better at dealing with rougher roads which just gives it the edge in terms of comfort.
Rear seat passengers will appreciate its impressive cabin space, while those in the front have access to Kia’s class-leading onboard tech