Hybrid Cars have been around for some time now, but it’s only in the last few years that we’ve seen them really take off. Alternative electric fuel sources have become much more desirable due to the ever decreasing cost of the technology. As the trend has developed some Hybrid Cars are even capable of driving in excess of 30 miles just using their electricity.
Currently, Hybrids come in a number of different variants but the name says it all, they’re a hybrid of traditional fossil fuel combustion engines and newer electric systems. CBR takes a look at the best 5 hybrids currently on the market today.
1. Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Cars
The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is the first car to be available in all three formats of major hybrid cars. You can pick from either the standard hybrid which relies more so on petrol, the plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) which has battery packs big enough to be charged on the mains, or the fully electric model.
The Ioniq is Hyundai’s first attempt at making a hybrid car and boasts an impressively clean 79g/km of CO2 emissions, so whilst it still wouldn’t pass the London Congestion Charge it’s fairly cheap to tax. The Ioniq is also the most standard ‘car looking’ vehicle on this list making it a cinch for the best hybrid on the market right now.
The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is available starting from £19,995.
2. Toyota Prius
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The Toyota Prius is almost certainly the most well known hybrid out there, available since the late 90’s.
The car boasts Co2 emissions of just 75 g/km making it exempt from both road tax and the London Congestion Charge. It’s cheap running cost has made it one of the primary choices for Uber drivers, so from a strictly fiscal point of view this one is almost certainly the right hybrid to pick. From a consumer standpoint however, many have had problems with the aesthetic of the car and found to be a bit too ‘hybrid’ in it’s design.
The Prius is sold in over 90 markets, with Japan and the United States being its largest markets. Prices start from £23,295.
3. Kia Niro
The Kia Niro may look like a fairly typical SUV but it’s this kind of design that puts it on the list. SUV’s have a notoriously poor reputation for their Co2 emissions so whilst the Niro is not the cleanest hybrid – the standard model spits out around 88 g/km of Co2 emissions – the fact that it is a hybrid makes it one of the better SUV’s available today.
The Niro, is clearly not the most stylish or the cleanest car on the market but it’s combination of practical applications and cleaner driving technology make it a truly great hybrid, in every sense of the word.
The Kia Niro SUV is available starting from £21,295.
4. Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a much more typical looking SUV, especially for a hybrid car, but that’s all just part of it’s charm. A fully functional and spacious SUV with the cleanliness of some of the most advanced electric motors available.
The Outlander is the second SUV on this list and decidedly cleaner than the Kia Niro with emissions of just 41 to 42 g/km which makes it exempt from both the London Congestion Charge and road tax. The reason it’s not higher on the list it’s size makes it impractical for city driving and it comes with a much higher starting price.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is available starting from £34,304.
5. Mercedes E-Class
The Mercedes E-Class is just what you’d expect, it’s a Mercedes but with some electrical augmentations. Naturally you’d expect to pay a premium for a Mercedes, but a hybrid model likes this actually makes fairly good economical sense in the long run.
It’s Co2 emmissions can go as low as 49 g/km, so it skips out on both road tax and the London Congestion Charge. The beauty of this hybrid model is it’s plug in electric system which will allow for up to 20 miles of purely electrical based driving.
The Mercedes E-Class is available starting from £34,440.
