Best used hybrid cars to buy 2026
Want to embrace electrified driving but need the reassurance of an internal combustion engine? Try one of our favourite used hybrid cars
Hybrid cars offer efficiency benefits over their pure-petrol and diesel-powered counterparts However, with higher list prices of electrified cars, not all of us can afford to buy a brand new hybrid car fresh off the production line. This is where one of our best used hybrid cars comes in.
Hybrid cars have been around for years now and can provide the benefits of electric power alongside the reassurance of a petrol or diesel engine. They use a small electric motor and battery pack that can be used to drive the wheels for a short amount of time. This boosts efficiency, lowers emissions and allows for very quiet running at low speed.
Plug-in hybrids or PHEVs, can travel longer distances on all-electric power thanks to their larger batteries and can be charged up using a plug, meaning you can actually use them like an electric car that happens to have an engine if you need it. They tend to have much smaller batteries than pure electric cars, so can only drive for around 30 miles or so on a single charge.
Which one works for you depends on your lifestyle. PHEVs work for commuters who occasionally do long trips, and normal hybrids are a solution for those who either can't charge up at home or tend to do plenty of longer trips.
Best used hybrid cars
Our expert road testers have tried every hybrid car you can buy in the UK new and used, and we think the Dacia Jogger is the best used hybrid car you can buy right now.
If you want a used plug-in hybrid car, the Mercedes C 300 e is both classy and refined, and can even travel up to 62 miles on electricity before the engine kicks in.
The Volkswagen Passat GTE is also a great used hybrid buy for families.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the best used hybrid cars, or click the links in the table above to jump straight to a make and model...
1. Dacia Jogger
- 1.6 HEV Expression (2024), 31,000 miles - £15,200
Why buy? The hybrid Jogger is a brilliant family car with added efficiency.
The seven-seat Jogger is great value when new, but you could upgrade your Dacia Jogger to hybrid power if you choose to find a lightly used model instead.
The pre-facelift Jogger Hybrid 140 was launched in 2022 and uses a powertrain borrowed from Renault’s Clio and Captur.
A 1.6-litre engine is mated to a small battery and two electric motors to give you extra pace, but the hybrid’s main purpose is to boost economy, giving around 10 miles more per gallon than the 1.0-litre version. Do some sums and you might find out it will claw back the extra purchase cost of the hybrid over the course of your ownership.
There are other advantages, too. The extra oomph makes the Jogger feel less strained out on the road, with the extra low-down torque provided by the electric motors being especially welcome when the car is fully loaded with passengers or luggage – the Jogger is a big car, remember. The other advantage is that the hybrid comes with an automatic gearbox as standard, which will be a boon for anyone who doesn’t like the workout involved with clutch pumping when stuck in traffic.
If your budget can stretch a little further, the facelift in late 2025 included the launch of a new 1.8-litre Hybrid 155 model featuring a petrol engine with even more power and better fuel economy. Nearly new and ex-demo examples of these cost the same as the unelectrified 1.0-litre car, starting at £21,500.
Many Joggers are sold to private buyers rather than to fleets, which means they hold their value well, so it is likely to work out cheaper to buy, own and run than most other family cars.
Latest used Dacia Jogger Hybrid deals
2. Mercedes C 300 e
- AMG Line (2022), 26,500 mI - £24,490
Why buy? The big battery means you’ll be able to avoid petrol pumps for longer.
This later generation of plug-in hybrid C-Class really upped its game, with a bigger 25kWh battery giving an official all-electric range of 62 miles. That will be enough for most motorists to cover their commute for two or three days without needing to plug in or use petrol. That electric motor gives performance a boost, too.
The tax advantages mean the C 300 e is a popular company car, so there are plenty of ex-fleet cars on the market, and prices are keen.
Latest used Mercedes C 300 e deals
3. Volkswagen Passat
- GTE Estate (2022), 30,500 mi - £19,810
Why buy? PHEV power gives the Passat performance as well as practicality.
Adding a PHEV powertrain to the Volkswagen Passat’s 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine doesn’t just bring extra economy and the ability to run for around 30 miles on electric power alone. It also adds a surprising turn of speed, with a combined 215bhp.
The GTE was an expensive car when new, but most were bought by companies keen to cash in on the tax benefits, so they are great value when they reach a few years old and will beat a diesel for economy – especially if you can plug in.
Latest used Volkswagen Passat GTE deals
4. Hyundai Ioniq
- 1.6 h-GDi SE (2019), 98,595 mi - £8,999
Why buy? Hyundai’s answer to the Toyota Prius is very efficient and reliable.
The sleek Hyundai Ioniq hatchback was available with hybrid, PHEV or full electric powertrains and all are sought after. The hybrids use a 1.6-litre petrol engine, which is assisted by an electric motor to give reasonable performance.
Many Ioniqs have been used as taxis, so you should check the records carefully to make sure nothing naughty has happened to the mileage in between the MoT checks. Buy a good one and it will still be in demand when you come to sell.
Latest used Hyundai Ioniq deals
5. Honda CR-Z
- 1.5 IMA Sport (2011), 103,000 mi - £2,995
Why buy? Hybrid coupé combines everyday fun with low running costs.
Honda was one of the pioneers of hybrid tech with the original Insight, which has gone on to be considered a modern classic. We reckon the CR-Z could follow suit. Unlike most hybrids it has a manual gearbox, which means it delivers a sporty experience. It can also return diesel-like fuel economy and costs £35 a year to tax.
The CR-Z also has the reliability you’d expect from a Honda, so you need only look out for an example that’s been cherished.
6. Toyota Yaris
Electrification can feel like a voyage into the unknown for those who have lived with petrol or diesel for ages, but hybrids offer a hassle-free, flexible gateway to EV ownership.
Those dipping their toe into the water for the first time could do a lot worse than by starting with hybrid experts Toyota. The Toyota Yaris is the perfect place to begin, because it's not only a superb hybrid, but also a brilliant supermini.
The hybrid tech is completely unobtrusive as it's working, with the only clue to its operation being the sound of the engine cutting in and out when needed. The fully automatic powertrain makes its voice heard when pushed hard, but if you’re looking for an urban runabout that can do 70mpg and cope with the odd longer journey, then the Yaris Hybrid is worth seeking out.
The oldest examples of the XP130-generation Yaris Hybrid seen here are up to 13 years old now, and prices start from around £4,500 for cars with a six-figure mileage. However, we’d spend some more to get a post-2017 facelift car that’s better equipped and a bit more refined. These start from around £8,500; we found a 2017 model with just under 33,500 miles on the clock for £11,000 in Icon Tech spec via the Auto Express Buy a Car service.
What you get for your money is a compact car that has lots of useful passenger space, is easy to drive and simple to manoeuvre on tight streets, while the electrically assisted powertrain provides some extra zip away from the lights.
Sure, the CVT gearbox can cause the engine revs to soar, but this is only an issue if you’re a frequent motorway user – if you’re just pootling around town, it hardly ever happens.
The other big benefit of a later model is that you can take advantage of Toyota’s service-activated warranty, which is available on cars that are up to 10 years old or have covered less than 100,000 miles. While the Yaris has proved to be largely reliable, this is an added bonus that will help allay any fears about how the hi-tech hybrid system in a second-hand example will perform.
Latest used Toyota Yaris deals
7. Toyota RAV4
If you’ve bought into the hybrid philosophy, then the Toyota RAV4 delivers plenty of family-friendly practicality to go with it, with prices from around £12,000.
There’s room for five and their luggage, while the mix of petrol and electric drive delivers a refined experience. There’s also a powerful plug-in model that could reduce your visits to the petrol pumps even further.
8. BMW 330e
Unfortunately, the BMW 330e badge doesn’t mean a six-cylinder engine, but the punchy electric motor boosts the 2.0-litre four-cylinder enough that it’s no hardship.
BMW’s typically fine handling is also left largely untouched, despite the extra weight that comes with the plug-in powertrain. Thanks to low emissions, the 330e was popular with fleets, so there are plenty of models on offer with used prices starting from around £8,000.
9. Honda Jazz
Ever since the original Honda Jazz appeared more than two decades ago, it has been in a niche of its own. The ultra-versatile mini-MPV has an innovative interior, while reliability is excellent. You also won’t find a car that’s easier to drive, thanks to the CVT transmission and frugal non-turbo petrol/electric hybrid powertrain.
10. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
The Mitsubishi Outlander was once Britain’s best-selling PHEV, and used examples are significantly cheaper and more plentiful than the alternatives.
Its practical cabin is a big plus, as is a near-30-mile EV range. Smarter post-2015 facelift cars are the ones to go for if your budget allows as prices start from around £9,000.
Latest used Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV deals
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