There are now many hybrids out on the market. Hybrids have grown explosively since they were first introduced not that long ago, notably since the Toyota Prius first saw its debut. There are two main types of hybrids. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). PHEVs basically run two separate systems with a plug-in battery with regenerative charging and a normal combustion engine. They normally have a short electric range of around 20-50 miles before their gasoline engines kick into gear. HEVs only have regenerative charging and are fully dependent on the gasoline engine.
With so many hybrids now on the market, it may be difficult to choose the best one. The good news is that there are now lots of very good hybrids on the market that can offer you some serious fuel savings. Hybrids come into their own with city driving while PHEVs are particularly efficient with short regular commutes to and from work where you can charge your battery at work or in your garage overnight. Here are eight of the best hybrids on the market today where you can get the biggest bang for your proverbial buck.
8 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
This Korean compact five-door liftback is the first car to be offered in all the electric forms - HEV, PHEV, and fully electric (EV) with no fully internal combustion engine options. The Ioniq first saw production in 2016 with the Ioniq Blue hybrid being rated at 58 miles per gallon.
At 58 miles per gallon, the Ioniq hybrid boasts the status of being the most efficient mass-produced hybrid vehicle. The previous leader in fuel economy is the legendary Toyota Prius, however, it has dethroned its rival. Its incredible fuel economy has been helped by its increased aerodynamic shape and reduced weight.
7 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8
The T8 is a plug-in hybrid version of the XC90 and has an all-electric range of 14 miles. The T8 has proven to be popular with sales reaching 20% of all Volvo's XC90's global sales despite space savings by reducing the fuel tank size and removing the spare tire.
Still, this is a very attractive option for those looking for a hybrid mid-size luxury crossover SUV. The XC90 is now in its second generation and boasts great fuel economy and the best of Swedish engineering.
6 Toyota Prius Prime Hybrid
While the iconic Prius may have lost its commanding position as being the most fuel-efficient hybrid car to its Ioniq rival, it remains an extremely desirable and well-engineered hybrid. Debuting in 2015, the Prius Prime is a PHEV and is now in its second generation.
The Toyota Prius Prime comes with an all-electric range of around 25 miles - twice the range of the first generation. It boasts a very high fuel economy of 133 mpg-e in all-electric mode. One odd feature though is that it comes with only four seats as Toyota couldn't meet its very ambitious efficiency targets with the fifth passenger.
5 Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Toyota Camry Hybrid is a mid-size sedan with an efficient gasoline/hybrid powertrain. Of course, the advantage of the Camry Hybrid over the standard Camry is its increased fuel economy in addition to its greater power. Its main rivals are the Hyundai Sonata and the Honda Accord Hybrid.
For the 2021 model year, the Camry Hybrid offers its base variant - LE through to its more upscale XLE, SE, and XSE variants for those looking for a more of a sporty look to an otherwise fairly standard sedan.
4 Volkswagen Passat GTE Estate
Volkswagen has recently introduced a plug-in hybrid to its variants for its popular Passat range. Thanks to some even more recent upgrades it now has an all-electric driving range of 31 miles. The Estate also boasts a large trunk, although the batteries do occupy the space for the spare wheel.
One other side effect of incorporating a whole duel system into the hybrid is that it also weighs more than its diesel counterparts coming in at 1735 kg vs 1474. This is of course all part of the trade-offs with having a hybrid car. The Passat GTE also comes with four driving modes: E-Mode, Hybrid, Battery Charge, and GTE.
3 Škoda Superb iV
The Škoda Superb is a Czech-made large family car that has been in production since 2001. In its iV form, the Superb boasts a large enough battery to power the car for an all-electric drive of about 34 miles and combines it with its 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine.
The Superb iV also undercuts some of its rivals like the Peugeot 508 SW hybrid - as well as being more spacious than the Passat. Its battery takes about three and a half hours to charge if you're charging from a 3.6kW wallbox, certainly ok if you can charge it at work or in your garage at home.
2 BMW 330e
The BMW 330e is a variant of BMW's 3 series - which is now in its sixth generation. This compact executive German car comes in both hatchback and sedan body shapes.
The BMW 330e was first unveiled in Frankfurt in 2015 and features a four-cylinder gasoline engine and a 66kw electric motor. It has an mpg-e of 72 miles and an all-electric range of a still rather limited 14 miles.
1 Honda CR-V 2.0 I-MMD Hybrid
Combining its 2.0-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor, the CR-V offers plenty of grunt. This great SUV family car is the brand's first electrified SUV in the USA and is expected to become Honda's best-selling hybrid as it is based on its top-selling vehicle.
The CR-V comes as an all-wheel-drive and offers a 40-mpg city rating and a 38 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The CR-V Hybrid offers both a spacious interior and a smooth ride.
In conclusion, now in 2021, there are many very good hybrid cars out there on the market that can save you some serious money on gas!