Compact but clever: the best small hybrid cars you can buy in 2025 – Car Magazine
► UK’s best small hybrid cars in 2025
► Self-charging and plug-in hybrids included
► City cars, superminis and SUVs
Welcome to CAR’s list of the best hybrid small cars you can buy in the UK right now. On this page we’ll cover the full spectrum of compact hybrid choice, ranging from cheap and cheerful city cars through to premium SUVs. With self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid tech included, there really is something for everyone right here.
It’s an intriguing moment for the car industry, too. Up until recently, many carmakers were putting even the best hybrid systems on the backburner as they poured energy (pun intended) into full electric vehicles (EVs) instead. But here we are in 2025, and according to sales figures in August, nearly 25 per cent of vehicles sold in the UK this year have been hybrid models – ahead of pure electric at around 22 per cent.
So even though the small electric car sector is presently one of the most exciting and dynamic areas of the market, it seems there is certainly still a place for a cushy middle ground offering the appeal of zero emissions motoring where it matters – such as around town – but the flexibility of a combustion engine for longer distances. As a result, buyers are increasingly spoilt for choice in the small car segment.
We’ve rounded-up the top 10 hybrid small cars, perfect for nipping about town and beyond, with enough electric range to cover short trips, and the back-up of an engine for the longer journeys. From affordable runabouts to premiums picks, our expert team has thoroughly scrutinised what each model offers. If you’re keen to see how we arrived at this list, check out our how we test cars explainer page.
The list below covers our 10 favourite small hybrids (and one to avoid) but if something titchy isn’t top of your priority list, we also have articles dedicated to the best hybrid SUVs and the best hybrid family cars – even the best hybrid estates. And we’re a guide to buying a used hybrid as well.
The best hybrid small car – premium quality throughout, and an outstanding electric-only driving range
Pros: 88-mile electric driving range, solid and refined, quality interior
Cons: Over £2k more expensive than the equivalent Golf, small boot
The Audi A3 remains the brand’s best-seller for good reason. The cabin is solid, sophisticated, and we very much enjoy the satisfying mix of modern infotainment screens with thoughtful physical switchgear. It drives well, comes loaded with standard kit, and despite its compact size, relishes long motorway trips with the polish of a car from a class above.
The refreshed plug-in hybrid pairs the familiar VW Group 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a considerably larger 19.8kWh battery. Performance remains at 201bhp with a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds but now includes a stonking 88-mile WLTP electric driving range – among the longest of any plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) currently on sale. It’s plausible that on daily errands you’d rarely need to wake the engine. Plug it in at home and the A3 PHEV is a seriously frugal proposition. Although the starting price is nearly £40k…
To find out more, read our Audi A3 TFSI e review
Best small hybrid for pinging around town in style
Pros: Chic looks, efficient powertrain, sharp handling
Cons: Gearshifts can be clunky, non-hybrid even more fun
If the A3 feels a little on the pricey side, the Renaut Clio E-Tech Hybrid might just be the ticket. This self-charging hybrid starts at just £21,895, yet it’s handsome, feels premium and strikes the right balance between comfortable and sharp to drive. It’s efficient too; during our time with it, the 143bhp combination of 1.6-litre petrol and electric motor delivered 60mpg. Only smidge off the WLTP economy claim. What’s more, the e-motor gives it a nice little torque boost and drops the 0-62mph time down to 9.3 seconds, making it quicker than the pure petrol variant.
The cabin now has a crisp digital instrument cluster, larger and faster screens plus, in top Espirit Alpine spec, sporty bolstered seats and Tricoloure trimmings scattered around the interior. Since the regular petrol model has massive 391 litre boot, even with the E-Tech hybrid gubbins slashing this by 90 litres it’s still 15 litres more spacious than a Toyota Yaris. Decent for a supermini, with room in the back for actual passengers.
To find out more, read our Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid review
Best small hybrid for blending in
Pros: Lengthy electric-only driving range, vastly improved infotainment, an A3 but cheaper
Cons: Bland interior, lacks zip
Refreshed in 2024, the Golf eHybrid is the most universally sensible pick in this lineup. It’s refined, comfortable, and easy-going, and now features a new illuminated VW badge, an LED light strip along the radiator grille and a few techy upgrades. More mercifully, the update ditches the ropey old infotainment system and replaces it with much-improved MIB4 software. The cabin is otherwise as modest and business-like as you’d expect from a Golf, unless you opt for the sportier GTE model with racier trimming and an extra 41bhp.
On paper, the Golf PHEV a very similar prospect to its A3 cousin, with the same plug-in powertrain, 201bhp output and 88-mile claimed electric driving range. But crucially, it’s around £2.4k cheaper. On a 200-mile mostly motorway run starting with 75 per cent battery, we managed an admirable 62mpg. It’s a devastatingly competent machine, if a little drab.
To find out more, read our VW Golf eHybrid review
Best small hybrid for mild adventure
Pros: Neatly designed interior, handy off-road, nice ride
Cons: Noisy inside, FWD won’t handle proper expeditions
The rugged Dacia Duster SUV is now in its third generation, and alongside self-charging capability comes with injection of modern tech, clever accessories and a much-improved interior. The performance figures aren’t especially striking: the 138bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor delivers 0-62mph in 10.1 seconds. But the cabin makes up for it with thoughtful practicality. There are plenty of cubbies, including a double-deck storage area in the lower dashboard, and the customisable YouClip system allows you to attach additional cupholders or electronic gadgets to suit.
This full hybrid model only comes with front-wheel drive, so if you were looking for a more serious off-road companion, you’d be better off with the mild hybrid 4×4. Even so, the raised height makes light work of potholes and mild off-roading with its plump and nicely damped ride. For £24,830 it’s a very capable adventurer. Throw in the lifestyle options, such as the tailgate-mounted tent and adjustable roof bars, and even Bear Grylls would approve.
To find out more, read our full Dacia Duster review
Best small hybrid for space in a tiny package
Pros: Heaps of passenger space, comfy ride, versatile interior
Cons: Noisy engine when pushed, not thrilling
The Honda Jazz is now sold exclusively with the e:HEV hybrid system, pairing a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors to deliver 124bhp. Though 0-62mph still takes 9.4 seconds, with 253lb ft of torque it feels surprisingly muscular for a sensible supermini. We’re hardly saying it’s a hot hatch but it’s brisk enough to deliver a little oomph when grandma’s making a getaway. Still, it’s most comfortable while quietly wafting around town in EV mode. Press the accelerator hard and the engine stirs with a noisy rev but soon settles. Be gentle.
Inside, Honda has ironed out the annoying ergonomics of the last-gen model and the latest 9.0-inch infotainment screen works like a smartphone but keeps a few physical controls. Despite its tiny footprint, the Jazz also remains one of the roomiest and most practical superminis around. Its clever ‘magic seats’ fold up to swallow tall items or fold flat for the longer ones, and the vast passenger space puts hatchbacks and SUVs from the class above to shame. It’s remarkably well packaged.
To find out more, read our full Honda Jazz review
Best small hybrid for reliability with great urban economy
Pros: Outstanding fuel economy, excellent reliability and warranty, impressive safety tech
Cons: Tight rear space, small boot, unsettled ride on bigger alloys
The Toyota Yaris is the default choice when it comes to small hybrids. Toyota has been doing them since 1997, with a reputation backed up by bulletproof reliability and the chutzpa to offer a 10-year warranty. After that amount of evolution, this is now a quiet, smooth and astonishingly economical little runaround. Toyota claims the 114bhp 1.5-litre three-pot petrol electric hybrid can achieve 70.6mpg, but we managed to hit 80mpg pretty easily.
Not much has changed with the 2025 update apart from a few wheel choices and a nice Forest Green paint option. But the top two specs, Excel and GR Sport (not to be confused with our hot hatch of the year, the GR Yaris) come with 129bhp and 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds. Inside, the Yaris is a little cramped for rear and boot space, where a Clio would serve you better and it isn’t very inspiring to drive, but it’s here for simple, hassle-free motoring.
To find out more, read our full Toyota Yaris review
Best small hybrid for Top Trumps
Pros: Astonishing value, generous kit, comfortable enough
Cons: Doesn’t feel as powerful as the figures suggest, interior feels cheap
Not only is the MG3 Hybrid+ the most affordable car in this list, it’s also one of the quickest off the mark. It dashes to 62mph in 8.0 seconds, thanks to 191bhp and 313lb ft of torque. But while on paper it approaches hot hatch territory, in practice it’s a little less exciting. The hybrid powertrain isn’t quite as resolved as we’d like, with the power delivery sometimes feeling lethargic, other times brisk. Some of the interior finishes are a scratchy reminder that a bargain price comes with compromises, but there’s plenty to like about the MG3.
It’s bigger, smarter and more modern than the outgoing model, with generous rear legroom, a sensible boot, and a load of useful equipment as standard. Spec the plush Trophy model at £21,245 and in return you get heated seats, a heated steering wheel and a 360-degree camera. The price nudges on base-spec Clio territory but the MG is far better equipped.
To find our more, read our full MG3 Hybrid+ review
Best small hybrid for self-charging taxi drivers
Pros: Very efficient, better to drive than it used to be, reliable and well put together (in the UK)
Cons: Rear seat space is cramped, the 2.0-litre loses quite a bit of boot space, not exciting
Put aside any connotations of a mini cab, because the new Corolla is far better than it used to be, especially after the total overhaul of the hybrid system in 2023. The electric motors got beefier, the battery became more efficient, and the whole system was recalibrated. When we tested the 1.8-litre model, it easily reached 50mpg+ on a mix of motorway, urban and country roads, so seeing over 60mpg around town shouldn’t be much of a stretch.
The facelift brought a new 10.5-inch infotainment, a full digital instrument cluster and improved tech inside a cabin that feels sturdy and sensibly laid out. Alas, it didn’t magic-up any more room in the rear. We’d never call the Corolla exciting, but the overall package, with its ruthless efficiency, comfort, safety and up to 10 years of warranty cover will delight the pragmatists among us. Add it all up and you’ve got a car that’s faster, quieter, more satisfying to drive and genuinely fuel efficient in the real world. It looks pretty good these days too.
To find out more, read our full Toyota Corolla review
Best small hybrid if you want a tiny SUV with mind-boggling frugality
Pros: Exceptional fuel economy, excellent hybrid system, functional yet stylish interior
Cons: Limited rear seat space, some cheap bits inside
The decline of the petrol city car market has seen Toyota morph its smallest car into a kind of tiddly SUV, which seems to have resonated well with buyers. We’ve always liked it, too, but it’s been let down by one thing: its 71bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine, which rapidly becomes a significant liability as soon as you venture beyond city limits. Now, in late 2025, Toyota has fixed this issue by revising the Aygo X with the fully fledged 114bhp self-charging hybrid system from the Yaris.
Squeezing in a 50 per cent bigger engine, two (!) electric motors and a battery pack meant Toyota had to extend the front of the car slightly, giving the Aygo X hybrid a subtly distinctive new look. But it’s transformed how it drives, shaving more than five seconds off the previous car’s 0-62mph time while also giving it the lowest CO2 emissions of any new car on sale that doesn’t require plugging in. The rear seats and boot remain cramped, which dents its versatility somewhat, but as a runabout it’s now superb.
To find out more, read our full Toyota Aygo X review
Best small hybrid if you want an actual SUV
Pros: Impressive fuel economy, refined and easy drive, well-built interior
Cons: Limited rear seat space, firm low-speed ride
If you’re after something a little posh, the Lexus LBX self-charging hybrid might be the one for you. It’s got a premium interior, spot-on ergonomics and tech passed down from its bigger, more expensive Lexus siblings. Though it’s based on the Toyota Yaris Cross, it has enough discernible features to set it apart, not just the heavily redesigned styling. Thankfully though, the Toyota hybrid system stays, so it’s outrageously efficient around town.
The 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor combine for 134bhp and 137lb ft of torque, giving a 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds (9.6 seconds for the heavier all-wheel drive version – which we wouldn’t recommend). The LBX is plenty spacious in the front but cramped in the back and the ride at low speed is unsettled for an urban runabout. Happily however, it’s easy to drive, refined and has great visibility. Not thrilling, but at less somewhat satisfying.
To find out more, read our full Lexus LBX review
It’s just not good enough for the money
Pros: Reasonably comfortable, some intricate styling details, different
Cons: Under-developed, cramped for passengers and luggage
Despite its delusions of grandeur, the DS 3 is a not luxury car or even a true premium one, and it’s difficult enough to recommend it as a hybrid. DS has made a concerted effort to raise its profile over the years as a premium marque, even offering gestures as grand as giving customers private tours of the Louvre, but the car itself struggle to justify its £32,910 price tag.
The DS 3 leans heavily on style over substance. The leather watchstrap seats are lovely, the diamond theme is chic, and top spec models have even more leather swathed across the dash. It’s the fundamentals that flop. The layout of the controls is unintuitive, the tech underdeveloped and the infotainment is set for left-hand-drive cars. Rear passengers won’t appreciate the chunky B-pillar and tiny rear windows that make the cabin feel claustrophobic, and the boot is just too small. Pay more for real premium or save thousands on something that’s far less frustrating.
To find out more, read our full DS 3 review
Need a little more info before you commit? Here are our expert answers to some frequently asked questions.
Hybrid is a 21st-centry buzzword that started out meaning one thing and now encompasses a whole load of range-extending to emission-reducing solutions.
Self-charging hybrids, also known as full or series hybrids, are typified by the original Prius and Toyota’s on-going successors. These deliver lower emissions by being running the engine as a generator at optimal load; only the shortest electric-only drives are possible.
These use an advanced starter-generator system in place of a conventional starter motor, which together with a small extra battery and – typically – 48v electrics helps the engine run more efficiency. Only a few of the very latest can move on electric power alone.
These have a larger battery and often a more powerful electric motor, allowing them to travel further on electric power alone. This does mean more weight and expense, but the latest generation are very capable and potentially very efficient.
If you don’t need stacks of space and don’t mind the added cost, the latest crop of small hybrid cars are really quite impressive. Self-charging tech can deliver amazing fuel economy while modern PHEVs have such long electric driving ranges you may barely trouble the petrol engine at all. They’re less stressful than pure electric, too.
Reliability and longevity are usually improved as many hybrid cars spend little time using their fossil-fuel engine, and can usually use regenerative braking in town to save wear on pads and discs as well. No solution is perfect, but small hybrid cars really can offer the best of both worlds for zero-emission town drives and freedom to escape the urban jungle.
Amrit Kaur is a staff writer on the Bauer Media Digital Automotive Hub, writing for both CAR and sister site Parkers. After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spending eight years teaching, she decided to pursue what she always wanted to, and become a motoring journalist. After studying a Master’s in Automotive Journalism she landed her first job with Bauer.
By Amrit Kaur
Staff Writer at CAR and our sister website Parkers. Cheap luxury cars for all, judging by her eBay watchlist
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