12) 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
$27,235 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10
The all-wheel-drive Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is an appealing option for SUV shoppers that don’t want to compromise a conventional driving experience. The RAV4 comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that combine to achieve 34 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. That’s good for an all-wheel-drive SUV.
The model’s interior is attractively styled and has spacious seats in both rows. The RAV4 comes standard with a long list of safety features, though you’ll have to move up from the base model to get desirable infotainment features like smartphone app integration. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available.
11) 2018 Toyota Prius Prime
$27,100 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10
The Toyota Prius Prime is one of our Best New Cars for Teens, and it’s easy to see why. The plug-in hybrid model has earned high reliability and safety ratings and comes standard with a long list of safety and infotainment features. It’s also one of the cheapest plug-in hybrid vehicles you can buy, and the fuel savings are significant.
The Prius Prime achieves fuel economy ratings of 55 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway when running as a traditional hybrid, plus it offers 25 miles of gas-free driving, just like you’d find in electric cars, earning up to 133 MPGe combined. The Prius Prime gets its power from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors.
10) 2018 Nissan Rogue Hybrid
$27,000 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.6/10
The Nissan Rogue is one of America’s top-selling SUVs. Its hybrid variant, the Rogue Hybrid, is more fuel-efficient than its gasoline-powered sister but carries over much of what buyers like about the Rogue. It delivers a smooth ride, has a high-quality cabin, and attains high safety ratings.
The Rogue Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor that combine to get 33 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The Rogue Hybrid comes standard with front-wheel drive but is available with all-wheel drive. Opting for all-wheel drive makes the vehicle less fuel-efficient, but only slightly.
9) 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid
$25,995 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.4/10
The Kia Optima is a desirable sedan. Add in the fuel efficiency you get with a hybrid powertrain, and it’s easy to see why buyers would be attracted to the Optima Hybrid.
The smooth-riding Optima Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine paired with an electric motor to achieve 39 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway.
The Optima Hybrid is more comfortable for cruising than it is for cornering. Still, it makes a great commuter car and comes standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
8) 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
$25,500 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is a midsize car that has achieved high safety scores and comes with a long warranty. It is best used for commuting, where drivers can take advantage of its comfortable, spacious seating and numerous available high-tech features, including wireless phone charging, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
The Sonata Hybrid gets fuel economy ratings of 40 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway.
7) 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid
$25,320 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.8/10
The Honda Accord Hybrid earns accolades for nearly every aspect of its design and engineering. It has plenty of get up and go thanks to its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. The powertrain achieves an outstanding 48 mpg both in the city and on the highway. Only the more expensive Toyota Camry Hybrid gets better numbers among midsize sedans.
The Accord Hybrid has a modern cabin that is nearly identical to the non-hybrid Accord’s. It has comfortable and spacious seats, the car’s trunk is large, and Honda’s infotainment system is easy to use.
The Accord Hybrid was completely redesigned for 2018 and sees no changes for 2019.
6) 2018 Ford C-Max Hybrid
$24,120 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.0/10
The Ford C-Max Hybrid isn’t as refined or fuel-efficient as other vehicles on this list. It also lacks the safety technologies commonly found in other hybrids.
However, the wagon wins points for its spacious, modern, and well-appointed cabin. It is also nimble and has faster acceleration than most hybrid cars.
The C-Max Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that work together to achieve fuel economy ratings of 42 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
5) 2018 Toyota Prius
$23,475 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.5/10
The Toyota Prius scores highly compared to other vehicles on this list because it is well-rounded. In addition to its fuel efficiency, Toyota’s hybrid hatchback comes loaded with standard features and has a large rear cargo area. New for 2018, the model is available with an 11.6-inch infotainment touch screen.
The Prius is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that prove proficient for getting the Prius to and fro. In the Two Eco trim, the Prius achieves an outstanding 58 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway. Other grades achieve 54 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway.
4) 2018 Kia Niro
$23,240 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.1/10
The Kia Niro subcompact SUV is a well-executed alternative-fuel vehicle, achieving fuel economy ratings of 52 mpg in the city and 49 mpg on the highway. It can be quick off the line and comes with a number of drive modes to help drivers achieve the best experience behind the wheel.
The Niro’s cabin is spacious and well-appointed, offering abundant cargo space and an easy-to-use infotainment system.
3) 2019 Honda Insight
$22,830 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
The Insight has returned. Honda has revived the nameplate for its new fuel-efficient sedan. The Insight in an intriguing car for commuters. It has enough power coming from its 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor to get around town with ease. It achieves 55 mpg in the city and 49 mpg on the highway.
The Insight’s cabin is outfitted with high-quality materials. Despite its low price, the Insight comes nearly as well-equipped as the Honda Accord in its highest trim. The hybrid comes standard with the HondaSensing suite of active safety technology. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an 8-inch touch screen, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and dual-zone automatic climate control are available.
2) 2019 Hyundai Ioniq
$22,400 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
The Hyundai Ioniq only comes in alternative-fuel powertrain variants: hybrid, plug-in electric hybrid, and electric. The Ioniq Hybrid is a hatchback that has abundant cargo space, a high-quality cabin, and an easy-to-use infotainment system. Its rear legroom is limited, something that is typical in a small car.
Hyundai has enhanced the Ioniq for the 2019 model year to include more standard and available safety features.
The most fuel-efficient Ioniq Hybrid, the base Blue grade, achieves 57 mpg in the city and 59 mpg on the highway.
1) 2019 Toyota Prius c
$21,530 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.4/10
The Toyota Prius c is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market, getting 48 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway. It’s also the cheapest hybrid for sale today.
The hatchback boasts seating for five, a spacious cabin, and more standard safety features than many other subcompact cars. It is best in city driving situations, where it is easily maneuverable.
The Toyota Prius c has achieved good safety scores and average predicted reliability.
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12 Cheapest Hybrid Cars
- 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid - $27,235 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10
- 2018 Toyota Prius Prime - $27,100 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10
- 2018 Nissan Rogue Hybrid - $27,000 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.6/10
- 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid - $25,995 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.4/10
- 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - $25,500 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
- 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid - $25,320 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.8/10
- 2018 Ford C-Max Hybrid - $24,120 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.0/10
- 2018 Toyota Prius - $23,475 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.5/10
- 2018 Kia Niro - $23,240 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.1/10
- 2019 Honda Insight - $22,830 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
- 2019 Hyundai Ioniq - $22,400 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
- 2019 Toyota Prius c - $21,530 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.4/10
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These Green Cars Won’t Break Your Budget
More hybrid vehicles are available today than ever before. Automakers are striking a good balance, offering hybrid cars and SUVs that are similar, if not nearly the same, as their non-hybrid counterparts, but with better fuel efficiency. Some companies, like Toyota and Kia, are even selling vehicles that are only made in alternative powertrain variants.
The vehicles in this slideshow are the least-expensive hybrid cars you can buy.
(Prices and model availability change from year to year. We are consistently updating our rankings using new information as it becomes available. Because of that, some of the scores in this slideshow may not match the scores you see in our reviews. However, they were accurate at the time of publication.)
Read on to find out which hybrid cars are the least expensive.