Best Hybrid Cars of 2024 and 2025
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Traditional hybrid cars offer excellent gas mileage, thanks to their combination of one or more electric motors and a gas engine. Also, hybrids don’t require the effort of finding or installing an external charger. Their cost- and time-saving appeal has influenced more drivers to buy hybrids, and car manufacturers are expanding their hybrid lineups to meet demand.
We compared popular hybrid cars to find models we think stand out. Our ratings are based on safety, comfort, technology, driving features, fuel efficiency and — most important — cost and value.
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Best Hybrid Cars
Our best hybrid cars received the highest overall star rating when comparing traditional hybrids (HEVs) in several categories. (We have not included plug-in hybrids in this list.)
#1 for hybrid cars
on TrueCar's website
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
139 @ 5700 hp
Horsepower
54
Combined MPG
Front Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
5 passengers
Seating Capacity
5 / 60,000
Basic Warranty
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
139 @ 5700 hp
Horsepower
54
Combined MPG
Safety winner: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
Our verdict: The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid scores high in all categories. It’s number one for fuel economy — more than 50 mpg for city and highway driving. The Elantra Hybrid also scores well for safety, has a low starting MSRP and received a Consumer Reports “above average” rating for reliability. It also comes with a 10-year/100,000 mile battery warranty.
💸 5-year cost of ownership
$43,197. This is middle of the range.
Based on AAA and Vincentric automotive data. Includes financing, fees, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation.
🔄 Resale value
Great. (85/100)
J.D. Power's assessment based on the vehicle's expected depreciation over the next three years.
#2 for hybrid cars
on TrueCar's website
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
196 @ 6000 hp
Horsepower
54
Combined MPG
All Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
5 passengers
Seating Capacity
23.8 cu ft
Cargo Capacity
3 / 36,000
Basic Warranty
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
196 @ 6000 hp
Horsepower
54
Combined MPG
Award winner: Kelley Blue Book Best Buy and Best Resale Value, Consumer Reports Top Picks and Edmunds Top Rated Cars, Trucks and SUVs.
Safety winner: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
Our verdict: The Toyota Prius Hybrid has won numerous industry awards. It has outstanding fuel economy, getting more than 50 mpg for city and highway. The Prius Hybrid comes with a suite of safety features including driver monitoring, cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. It has Toyota’s 10-year/150,000 mile battery warranty and is “above average” for reliability according to Consumer Reports.
💸 5-year cost of ownership
$42,940. This is middle of the range.
Based on AAA and Vincentric automotive data. Includes financing, fees, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation.
🔄 Resale value
Great. (90/100)
J.D. Power's assessment based on the vehicle's expected depreciation over the next three years.
#3 for hybrid cars
on TrueCar's website
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
208 @ 5700 hp
Horsepower
52
Combined MPG
Front Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
5 passengers
Seating Capacity
3 / 36,000
Basic Warranty
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
208 @ 5700 hp
Horsepower
52
Combined MPG
Award winner: Consumer Reports Top Picks, Vincentric Best Value in America.
Our verdict: Although the Toyota Camry Hybrid’s fuel economy is slightly less than some other vehicles on our list, it’s still impressive at more than 50 mpg. The Camry Hybrid produces 208 horsepower from its combined gasoline engine and electric motor, for a good balance between fuel economy and acceleration. Like all Toyota hybrids, the Camry has a 10-year/150,000 mile battery warranty.
💸 5-year cost of ownership
$42,508. This is middle of the range.
Based on AAA and Vincentric automotive data. Includes financing, fees, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation.
🔄 Resale value
Great. (85/100)
J.D. Power's assessment based on the vehicle's expected depreciation over the next three years.
#4 for hybrid cars
on TrueCar's website
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
138 @ 5200 hp
Horsepower
48
Combined MPG
All Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
5 passengers
Seating Capacity
3 / 36,000
Basic Warranty
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
138 @ 5200 hp
Horsepower
48
Combined MPG
Award winner: Vincentric Best Value in America.
Our verdict: The Toyota Corolla Hybrid has the lowest starting MSRP and five-year cost of ownership in its category. It also received a Consumer Reports “above average” rating for reliability. Like all new Toyota hybrids, the Corolla comes with a 10-year/150,000 mile battery warranty. Compared to other hybrid cars, it scored lower for fuel economy, interior room and trunk space.
💸 5-year cost of ownership
$39,544. This is on the low end.
Based on AAA and Vincentric automotive data. Includes financing, fees, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation.
🔄 Resale value
Great. (85/100)
J.D. Power's assessment based on the vehicle's expected depreciation over the next three years.
#5 for hybrid cars
on TrueCar's website
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
192 @ 6000 hp
Horsepower
47
Combined MPG
Front Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
5 passengers
Seating Capacity
5 / 60,000
Basic Warranty
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
192 @ 6000 hp
Horsepower
47
Combined MPG
Our verdict: The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid scores well for safety and has Hyundai’s SmartSense, a standard suite of safety and driver-assistance features. It also has Hyundai’s battery warranty of 10-years/100,000-miles. When compared to other hybrids, its starting MSRP and five-year cost of ownership is higher, while its fuel economy rating is a little lower.
💸 5-year cost of ownership
$46,077. This is on the high end.
Based on AAA and Vincentric automotive data. Includes financing, fees, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation.
🔄 Resale value
Great. (89/100)
J.D. Power's assessment based on the vehicle's expected depreciation over the next three years.
#6 for hybrid cars
on TrueCar's website
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
204 @ 6100 hp
Horsepower
44
Combined MPG
Front Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
5 passengers
Seating Capacity
3 / 36,000
Basic Warranty
Gas/Electric Hybrid
Engine Type
204 @ 6100 hp
Horsepower
44
Combined MPG
Safety winner: IIHS Top Safety Pick+.
Our verdict: The Honda Accord Hybrid is a top pick for safety, and it comes with Honda Sensing, a suite of standard advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and collision mitigation. The Accord’s starting MSRP and five-year-cost of ownership is higher than other hybrids, but it does maintain its resale value well. It also comes with an eight-year/100,000 mile battery warranty.
💸 5-year cost of ownership
$47,582. This is on the high end.
Based on AAA and Vincentric automotive data. Includes financing, fees, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation.
🔄 Resale value
Great. (87/100)
J.D. Power's assessment based on the vehicle's expected depreciation over the next three years.
How hybrid cars work
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine with one or more electric motors to improve efficiency. They seamlessly switch between the gas engine, electric motor, or both, reducing fuel consumption and emissions compared to traditional gas-only cars.
The electric motor of a hybrid provides support during acceleration, hill climbing and passing, helping to enhance performance while conserving fuel. Many hybrids also feature an auto start/stop function, shutting off the engine at stops to save fuel and restarting when needed. This dual-power system optimizes efficiency without requiring external charging.
Is a hybrid car or electric car better?
Here are some differences to consider.
Range. Because they receive power from a gas engine and an electric motor, hybrids have a longer range than battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). If the battery is depleted, a hybrid uses the gas engine to keep going.
Car cost. Hybrids usually cost less upfront than all-electric vehicles, because they use a smaller battery. However, BEVs can save more in fuel costs over time.
Fuel costs. Fuel costs vary depending on the price of gas and electricity where you live, but BEV drivers tend to spend less. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, hybrid drivers can save up to $1,500 a year in fuel costs, compared to BEV drivers at $2,200. That’s a difference of up to $700 annually.
Refueling. When you’re in a hurry, hybrids can refuel faster at a gas station than the time it takes to charge a BEV.
Maintenance. With a hybrid, you will still invest time and money in engine-related upkeep, such as oil and fluid changes. This type of maintenance isn’t required for BEVs.
Emissions. Because hybrids do burn gasoline, they have tailpipe emissions. BEVs have none.
Financing and buying a hybrid car
Although hybrids typically cost more than traditional gas-powered cars, fuel savings over time can help offset the higher upfront price. To lower both initial and ongoing costs, consider these strategies:
Check for incentives. Some states, utility companies and local programs offer rebates or tax credits for hybrid purchases. Also, look for auto rebates or special financing on auto manufacturer websites. (HEVs don’t qualify for a federal tax credit, but some plug-in hybrids do.)
Secure the lowest auto loan rate. Shop around for the best auto loan interest rate you can qualify for. Some lenders offer green or electric car loans with rate discounts that apply to hybrids. Getting a preapproved auto loan may strengthen your negotiating power at a dealership, because you can ask the dealer to beat the preapproved rate.
Know your budget. An auto loan calculator can help you estimate the loan amount, interest rate and term that will result in a monthly payment you can afford. Also, use pricing tools such as Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds to determine a fair vehicle price.
When you’ve shopped and narrowed your choice to a few hybrid car models, schedule test drives, if possible. This is especially important if you’re new to driving a hybrid, because the hybrid driving experience can feel different when compared to a gas-only car. It can also vary greatly among hybrid models.
To learn more about finding and buying the best hybrid car for you, check out these additional resources.
How we rate and rank vehicles
Our car rankings are based on a thorough review of more than 3,400 makes and models, with upward of 500 data points for each, as well as inputs from respected third-party automotive resources. Within specific vehicle segments, we select 60 or more data points that matter most to buyers and owners of those vehicles. We then score the vehicle with the heaviest emphasis on helping you make a smart financial decision.
Review and rating process
NerdWallet’s overall car ratings are weighted averages in seven categories.
Cost and value includes metrics like starting MSRP, warranties, five-year cost of ownership and resale value.
Safety includes safety features and industry safety awards.
Fuel efficiency includes combined, city and highway mpg for gas vehicles and MPGe for electric vehicles.
Driving features and functionality combines data points such as horsepower and drivetrain options, along with cargo and towing capacity. Cars can also lose points in this category for the number of recalls.
Comfort and interior covers metrics related to head and leg room, seating and temperature control.
Tech and convenience includes things like smartphone integration, wireless phone charging and infotainment. We get that these are must-haves for some people, but our methodology focuses most on cost and value factors.
Awards includes industry awards from Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports and Vincentric.
Subcategories within each of these categories vary slightly based on vehicle segments and what’s important to drivers in that group.
About outside-award winners
Consumer Reports and Kelley Blue Book each have a history of evaluating vehicles and delivering useful information to consumers. Their awards reflect well-rounded assessments and, we think, are worth noting.
About safety winners
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit group with decades of experience performing crash tests and other safety evaluations on vehicles. Top performers are issued one or both of two designations: Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+. To earn a TSP+ rating, vehicles must meet additional criteria for a higher level of safety performance related to front and side crash tests, headlight performance and pedestrian front crash prevention.
About the five-year cost of ownership
Our five-year cost of ownership estimate is based on information from AAA and Vincentric and includes the categories of financing, fees, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation. For comparison purposes, our cost of ownership estimate is based on the national average for a new, base-model vehicle driven 15,000 miles annually, with equal amounts of city and highway driving, and figured gas costs using the current national average price per gallon at the time
About resale value
We base resale value on J.D. Power's forecast of a vehicle’s depreciation over the next three years. J.D. Power uses their industry-leading valuations data for this assessment and ranks each vehicle on a 100-point scale: Best (91-100), Great (81-90), Average (70-80) and Fair (0-69).
Who we are
Our autos team is made up of writers and editors who cover a wide range of auto industry and financial topics. We have more than 30 years of combined experience in finance and autos. Each team member adheres to NerdWallet’s strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Our writers’ bylines have appeared in Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets.
