Buying guides
Best used hybrid cars
Hybrid cars are a great option if you want to reduce your carbon footprint and fuel costs compared with a petrol or diesel car. Here are our top 10 used hybrid cars.
By Cazoo editorial team
Whether you need a small hatchback, a family-friendly SUV or any other type of car, there’s a hybrid car to suit your needs. In addition to a petrol or diesel engine, hybrid cars have a battery-powered electric motor that helps increase their fuel economy and reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.
Here we’re focusing on ‘conventional’ hybrids, which use energy from the engine and from the brakes to charge the battery for their electric motor – you can’t plug them in to recharge them. You might hear these being called ‘self-charging hybrids’ or ‘full hybrids’.Conventional hybrids aren’t the only type of hybrid car you can buy, of course – there are mild hybrids and plug-in hybrids, too. If you want to find out more about how each type of hybrid car works and which one might be best for you, have a look at our guides:
You may also be wondering if you should take the plunge and get a pure electric car. To help you decide, our guide lists the pros and cons here:
If you’ve decided on a conventional hybrid, you have some excellent cars to choose from. Here, in no particular order, are our top 10 used hybrid cars.
1. Toyota Prius
If you asked most people to name a hybrid car, chances are they’d answer ‘Toyota Prius’. It has become synonymous with hybrid power, partly because it was one of the first hybrids on the market and partly because it’s now the best-selling car of its type.
The Prius is still a great choice if you want a practical, cost-effective family car that looks distinctive inside and out. The latest version, sold since 2016, is significantly improved over older versions, which were already pretty good. It has generous space for four people (five at a pinch), a big boot and lots of equipment. It’s also lovely to drive – easy, smooth, quiet and comfortable.
Official average fuel economy: 59-67mpg
2. Kia Niro
The Kia Niro shows that you don’t have to spend a lot to get a good hybrid SUV. It’s about the same size as a Nissan Qashqai, which makes it big enough to suit the average family of four. On the move, it’s comfortable and quiet, and most models come with loads of features.
As with the Hyundai Ioniq, you can have your Niro as a fully electric car or as a plug-in hybrid, but the conventional hybrid we’re talking about here is the easiest to find and also the most affordable. The Niro’s seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty from new helps to make ownership as stress-free as possible. As with all Kias, if you buy it used you still could have years left on that guarantee.
Official average fuel economy: 60-68mpg