Best Hybrid Cars
With fuel economy numbers that approach 60 mpg, our list of the best hybrid cars includes the most efficient cars you can buy in America (that don't plug into the wall).
Most get as nearly as good as or better mileage in the city than they do on the highway because of the energy that they can recapture through braking and the lower, more efficient operating speeds encountered on city streets.
Honorable Mention: 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
40 mpg | $26,000 | U.S. News Score: 8.3/10
Hyundai recently introduced the 2018 Sonata Hybrid, which is set to arrive start arriving in dealers this spring. You can probably still get your hands on the 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, though, and a good deal likely awaits buyers who opt for the outgoing model.
The 2017 Sonata Hybrid earns a spot about midway down our ranking of midsize cars. It achieves EPA-estimated mileage as high as 39 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. Both numbers are eclipsed by others in the segment.
Honorable Mention: 2018 Toyota Prius C
46 mpg | $20,630 | U.S. News Score: 7.6/10
When it was introduced an eon ago, the subcompact Toyota Prius c had some of the best mileage numbers of any car available in America. Time marches on, however, leaving the smallest Prius with efficiency that lags that of much larger and more powerful hybrids.
What the 2018 Toyota Prius c does have is the lowest price in our ranking of hybrid and electric cars. Included in that low price are automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. In our ranking of subcompact cars, it is scored about three-quarters of the way down the list.
It earns EPA mileage estimates of 48 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway.
9. 2018 Ford C-Max Hybrid
40 mpg | $24,120 | U.S. News Score: 7.8/10
The 2018 Ford C-Max Hybrid is one of the lower-priced hybrids that you’ll find. It offers peppy performance for a hybrid and a roomy interior. However, its mileage lags below other hybrids’ and it doesn't have the cargo space of other wagons with which it competes.
In our ranking of wagons, it holds one of the lowest spots. If you want a new C-Max Hybrid you’ll have to move quickly. Ford plans to kill the slow-selling model in the next few months.
EPA-estimated fuel economy for the C-Max Hybrid is 42 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Some non-hybrid wagons get nearly the same highway mileage, though none approach its city mileage.
8. 2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
43 mpg | $37,500 | U.S. News Score: 8.8/10
In our ranking of large cars, the 2018 Toyota Avalon holds the top spot, but just below it is its hybrid sibling, the 2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid. The hybrid gets nearly double the Avalon gas model’s city mileage, with an EPA-estimated 40 mpg in the city and 39 on the highway.
The Avalon Hybrid was a finalist for both our 2018 Best Large Car for the Money and Best Large Car for Families awards. It comes standard with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. When it comes to predicted reliability, it’s hard to beat, with a 4.5 out of five earned by the current generation of the model.
7. 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid
42 mpg | $25,995 | U.S. News Score: 8.3/10
The 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid is a comfortable five-passenger sedan that gets good mileage for the midsize class but isn't up to the level of many hybrid competitors. It earns EPA-estimated fuel economy of 39 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway. The Optima Hybrid was last redesigned in 2017.
In our ranking of midsize cars, the Optima Hybrid earns a spot about three-quarters of the way down the list, several slots below its non-hybrid Optima sibling (due in part to critics’ disappointment with its fuel economy and trunk space). Standard features include dual-zone automatic temperature control and an infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
6. 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid
42 mpg | $25,390 | U.S. News Score: 8.2/10
The 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid features a high-quality interior and sporty handling, but it does not offer the mileage numbers of many competitors. It earns an EPA-estimated 43 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. Its city mileage is about double what you get with the gas-only Fusion.
While the Fusion Hybrid has a spacious, comfortable cabin for five, its large battery pack takes up a significant amount of trunk space. It earns a spot just below the midpoint of our midsize car ranking.
5. 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
46 mpg | $27,920 | U.S. News Score: 8.6/10
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid earns EPA fuel efficiency estimates of 49 mpg in the city and 43 on the highway. That is 22 mpg better in the city and 7 better on the highway than the most efficient non-hybrid 2018 Chevy Malibu.
The hybrid is priced about $2,700 higher than an equivalent gas-only Malibu. It comes with a host of standard connectivity features, including support for a 4G LTE data connection, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
In our ranking of midsize cars, the Malibu Hybrid earns a spot in the top quarter of the list. It’s several spots above the non-hybrid version. The hybrid Malibu sacrifices some of the Malibu’s truck space for its battery pack.
4. 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
47 mpg | $25,100 | U.S. News Score: 8.5/10
The 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid was completely redesigned for the new model year. It arrived on the market with a base price that’s more than $4,000 lower than the 2017 Accord Hybrid’s. All models now include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assist.
According to the EPA, the Accord Hybrid can achieve 47 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway. It’s powered by 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a two-motor hybrid drive that combine to produce 212 horsepower.
The 2018 Accord Hybrid earns a spot in about the top-third of our midsize car ranking.
3. 2018 Toyota Prius
56 mpg | $23,475 | U.S. News Score: 8.6/10
The first-generation Toyota Prius was one of the first hybrids available in America, and the current Prius continues to be one of the most efficient. The Prius Eco consumes the least amount of gas, with EPA fuel economy estimates of 58 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway.
Most Prius models are rated at 54 city and 50 highway.
Like the Camry Hybrid, the 2018 Toyota Prius comes with the full Toyota Safety Sense package of advanced driver assistance and active safety technology. In our ranking of compact cars, the Prius holds a position in the upper half of the list. The hatchback carries five and has excellent cargo space in the back.
2. 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid
52 mpg | $27,800 | U.S. News Score: 8.9/10
Toyota completely redesigned the Camry Hybrid for 2018, removing one of the greatest weaknesses of the outgoing model. Unlike the outgoing model, the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid doesn’t give up any trunk capacity compared to the gasoline-only 2018 Camry.
In our ranking of midsize cars, the Camry Hybrid holds a spot near the top. It earns EPA fuel economy estimates of 51 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway. That’s 22 mpg better in the city than the most efficient gas-only Camry and 12 mpg better on the highway.
Every Camry Hybrid comes standard with a suite of advanced safety and driver assistance features including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist.
1. 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Blue
58 mpg | $22,200 | U.S. News Score: 8.6/10
The 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Blue is the base model in the Ioniq Hybrid lineup – and also the most efficient. It earns EPA fuel-efficiency ratings of 57 mpg in the city and 59 mpg on the highway. Higher trim models still get excellent ratings of 55 mpg in the city and 54 on the highway.
In our ranking of compact cars, the Ioniq lineup holds a spot just below the segment leaders. Hyundai makes three versions of the Ioniq: the hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and a battery-electric car.
The Ioniq seats five, and the hybrid model features excellent cargo space that is easily accessed with its hatchback design. All Ioniq models come standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Best Hybrid SUVs
Let’s face it, while SUVs do many things well, passing gas stations is not one of their top skills. If most of your driving is in the city or suburban locales, however, you can save some of your gas money, and reduce your impact on the environment, by opting for a hybrid SUV. They do especially well in stop-and-go traffic because they can run for short distances on electric power and their gas engine switches off when you stop.
Honorable Mention: 2018 Nissan Rogue Hybrid
34 mpg | $26,240 | U.S. News Score: 7.2/10
The 2018 Nissan Rogue is the most popular SUV sold in America. It’s also available in a hybrid model. The 2018 Nissan Rogue Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 33 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway in its front-wheel-drive trim. Opting for all-wheel drive lowers the estimates by a couple of mpg.
Our compact SUV ranking shows the 2018 Rogue Hybrid near the bottom of the list. That’s more a statement of the strength of the segment than an indictment of the Rogue Hybrid. While it is competent in many ways, it does not excel in any one area.
3. 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
29 mpg | $36,670 | U.S. News Score: 8.7/10
The 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a significantly higher starting price than the non-hybrid 2018 Toyota Highlander, but it comes standard with all-wheel drive and city fuel efficiency numbers that trounce its non-hybrid sibling’s. Like many Toyota products, it includes standard high-tech safety gear that is optional on most rivals.
The Highlander Hybrid is EPA-rated to get mileage as high as 30 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. That’s about 10 mpg better in the city than the standard V6 Highlander, and about the same highway mileage. Both models have similar horsepower.
In our ranking of midsize SUVs, the Highlander Hybrid holds a slot just below the segment leaders.
2. 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
32 mpg | $27,235 | U.S. News Score: 7.9/10
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comes with a ton of standard safety tech, generous cargo space, and plenty of room for passengers in its two rows of seating. It also boasts excellent city fuel economy, with EPA ratings of 34 mpg (it gets 30 mpg on the highway).
Toyota builds both hybrid and gas-only versions of the popular compact RAV4 SUV. The hybrid model only makes sense to buy if most of your driving is done on urban and suburban roads, as the hybrid doesn’t get any better mileage on the highway than the less expensive gas-only model.
Our ranking of compact SUVs places the RAV4 Hybrid just below mid-pack – and a few places ahead of the gasoline-only 2018 RAV4.
1. 2018 Kia Niro
50 mpg | $23,240 | U.S. News Score: 8.1/10
The 2018 Kia Niro is a small crossover that can achieve phenomenal fuel economy. It’s EPA rated to earn up to 52 mpg in the city and 49 mpg on the highway. If you want to get that kind of mileage, however, you’ll want to opt for the base model.
Upper trims of the Niro have tire/wheel packages and optional equipment that dramatically reduce the car’s fuel economy. The Niro is one of few crossovers available that does not include nor offer all-wheel drive. It’s also one of few hybrids that comes with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission instead of a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
In our ranking of subcompact SUVs, the Niro Hybrid earns a position about a third of the way down the list. It is also available in a plug-in hybrid model, which can travel up to 26 miles on electricity alone.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
Automakers are rolling out new models with hybrid powertrains at a rapid pace, so be sure to check out our new car rankings and reviews before you make a final decision on your new ride. Even the fully redesigned 2018 Jeep Wrangler has a hybrid powerplant option.
With our prolonged period of low fuel prices, sales of vehicles with hybrid systems have been slow. Sales are sure to pick up as fuel prices rise, so take advantage of the great sales incentives on hybrids right now by exploring our new car financing offers page and lease deals site.
Our Best Price Program can save you thousands of dollars, whether you choose to buy or lease. We’ll connect you with local dealers offering guaranteed savings off MSRP. On average, buyers save $3,279 off the sticker price when they use the program.
Depending on your daily driving needs, you might be able to save more money by opting for a plug-in hybrid or a battery electric vehicle. As a bonus, most plug-ins and EVs qualify buyers for significant federal and state tax incentives.
Recommended Articles
-
2019 New York Auto Show: Photo Gallery
-
2019 New York Auto Show: Biggest Debuts
-
Best Hybrid, Plug-in, and Electric Cars of 2019
-
All-New 2020 Tesla Model Y: What You Need to Know
-
2020 Kia Soul EV: All You Need to Know
-
Fastest Cars for the Money in 2019
-
2019 Best Cars for the Money
-
2019 Best Cars for Families
-
2019 Best Vehicle Brand Awards
Save Gas With These Hybrid Cars and SUVs
Gas prices are creeping up again, leading car buyers to look at ways to save fuel. One way to do so is to buy or lease a hybrid vehicle.
Hybrids use a combination of a gasoline engine and electric motors for propulsion, with battery packs that store energy. The battery pack is charged by the gasoline engine plus energy reclaimed as the vehicle brakes or coasts.
Before you decide on a hybrid, you have to look carefully at your driving habits and the higher prices of gasoline/electric hybrids to figure out whether it makes good financial sense. Hybrids typically get much better mileage in the city than their gasoline-only counterparts, but only see slight gains on the highway.
We’ve selected the best hybrids on the market by looking at their combined city/highway fuel economy, price, and U.S. News Best Cars score. Note that we continually update our scores, so the numbers you see on the following pages may not match the ratings you see with each vehicle's review.
We don't have enough information to score some vehicles comprehensively, and some cars don't score high enough to make our threshold for recommendation. You'll see those models listed at the end of each section as honorable mentions.
The following pages start off with the top hybrid cars, followed by the best hybrid SUVs.
If you’re interested in seeing our ranking of luxury hybrid vehicles, click here.