The best hybrid cars of 2024: PHEVs and regular hybrids rated

Open gallery Close News 2 mins read 27 August 2024 The best hybrid cars deftly combine green emission ratings with low running costs, as well as the ability to fill up in mere moments from a pump. Their commercial success has been quite a thing to witness over the past couple of decades. It has created a broad and varied patchwork of models to choose from for private buyers and company car owners alike. And it’s that varied selection - at the more compact and affordable end of the spectrum - that we’re getting in among here. If you're after bigger and more luxurious electrified models, we rank those on our best hybrid SUVs page. Related articles As we move closer to the legislated phasing out of new ICE cars across the UK and the EU by 2035, it’s impossible to say how long the hybrid powertrain will remain such a dominant force - but it must already be considered to be on borrowed time.  Car makers are now required by law to register an increasing proportion of their total UK sales volume as electric cars, on a sliding scale that’s set to rise to 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. And while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and regular hybrids may help customers prepare for the idea of a fully electrified car, they won’t help their makers to avoid hefty fines if they fail to meet those deadlines. For now, of course, a hybrid powertrain may simply be the right choice for your next car. Perhaps because it saves you money at the petrol pump; drives down how much benefit-in-kind (BIK) company car tax you pay; gives you a car with a low emissions rating and a useful electric-only range with which to access a low-emissions zone; or lets you make most of your daily motoring emissions-free. In any case, these are our favourites. The best hybrid cars 1. BMW 5 Series8Pros Sonorous six-cylinder engineSuperb chassis balancei7-esque isolation in EV mode Cons Not the most ergonomic interiorElectric range not brilliantCan feel quite big on the road Our choice: BMW 550eThe 5 Series is a real ‘have your cake, eat it and lose weight’ kind of car. Sure, there are other PHEV saloons and there are other PHEVs with six-cylinder engines, but none that offer it all at once, let alone execute the formula so well.The G60-generation 5 Series hasn’t had the easiest time here at Autocar, having been launched in pure-electric i5 form, but it all comes together when you add an engine.The B58 petrol straight six's smooth, willing and sonorous character transforms a very competent PHEV into a truly compelling one. The four-cylinder 530e is more than quick enough, handles well, has competitive electric range and efficiency and uses its battery power very cleverly to make sure that you get the best of both worlds as often and for as long as possible. It's a very recommendable PHEV in its own right. But the 550e has that indulgent, big-engined feel that no amount of acoustic trickery can replicate.Read our BMW 5 Series reviewSave money on a new BMW 5 Series with What Car? Latest Reviews View all car reviews Read our review Car reviewBMW 5 SeriesHas the plug-in hybrid sporting executive saloon finally come of age?Read our review Back to top 2. Mercedes-Benz C-Class7Pros Nearly 50 miles of EV rangeStrong performanceComfort and cruising refinement Cons Cargo space compromisesLimited driver appealFit and finish not as good as you might think Our choice: Mercedes-Benz C300ePacking a drive battery twice the size of many of its PHEV rivals', the Mercedes C300e has a claimed WLTP electric range of up to 69 miles. That's enough not only to make the car particularly tax-efficient but also to make a big difference to the savings it could deliver for drivers who pay for their own fuel.The C300e's powerplant comprises a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 127bhp electric motor and makes 308bhp in all, in a car that can crack 62mph from rest in just 6.1sec.It's  available in both saloon and estate bodystyles with no significant compromise to either passenger or boot space from its extra PHEV hardware.The C300e has impressed our road testers with its refinement and isolation and with its laid-back, luxury-first, Mercedes S-Class-in-miniature vibes.Keener drivers with less of an eye on their tax bills may probably still prefer to consider the likes of the BMW 330e or Peugeot 508 PSE, but for most fleet drivers and operators, the C300e’s excellent electric range is sure to make it a popular option.Read our Mercedes-Benz C-Class reviewSave money on a new Mercedes C-Class with What Car?3. BMW 2 Series Active Tourer8Pros Strong electric rangeGreat packagingCompact dimensions Cons Not the most desirable BMW......or the best to driveCan get expensive Our choice: BMW 230e Active TourerThe compact MPV may be a dying genre, but it appears nobody has told BMW. In fact, in 2023 the bra