Best hybrid SUVs 2025

By Ben Welham

Last updated: 6 March 2025

SUVs are a popular option among motorists in the UK, making them as trendy as they are practical.  

One downfall of the mighty SUV is that they’re big cars, so often not great on fuel, but that’s where the beauty of a hybrid SUV comes in.  

Choosing the best hybrid SUV guarantees a cleaner-feeling car with great mpg, and one that can often travel for several miles without using petrol or diesel at all.  

With so much choice, it can be hard to find the best one for you, which is why we’ve driven all of them to find out which are the best for you and your family. 

Best hybrid SUVs to buy in 2025 

• Hyundai Tucson 

• MG HS 

• Nissan Qashqai e-POWER 

• Ford Kuga 

• Kia Sportage 

• Mazda CX-30 

• Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 

• Renault Rafale 

Plus, we’ll sprinkle in some honourable mentions for good measure.

Best plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs 

Hyundai Tucson 

Being a plug-in hybrid, the Hyundai Tucson is one of the most efficient hybrids you can buy, offering a claimed 200mpg from its 265hp engine and electric motor pairing.  

On a mix of electric and petrol power, you’ll realistically see around 40mpg, which is still good going. And you get a healthy 43-miles of electric-only range at the press of a button. 

Inside, the overall cabin quality is really impressive, which is the same for all of Hyundai’s models. 

• Read our Hyundai Tucson review 

MG HS 

With attractive pricing and a supreme hybrid setup, it’s no wonder the 672.6mpg MG HS PHEV is on our list. However, real-world you’re looking at around 40mpg. 

Thanks to its massive 75-mile electric range and 300hp 1.5-litre engine, it’s no wonder they’re flying off the new (and used) shelves. 

Following the success of the MG4 hatchback, the HS benefits from the same great interior but on a larger scale, giving you all the features you’d want including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

• Watch our MG HS review 

Honourable mentions 

While the two above are our stand-out models, you can’t forget some other suitable plug-in hybrids that do the job just as well.  

For a premium look, go for the Audi Q3, and if you want a highly desirable SUV packed with tech, the Range Rover Evoque is right up there too. 

Best self-charging (HEV) SUVs 

Nissan Qashqai e-POWER 

The Nissan Qashqai e-POWER is a bit different to a ‘conventional’ self-charging hybrid car because it runs as an electric car almost all the time, using the 1.5-litre engine to charge it. 

This helps it achieve its 53.3mpg rating, which is mighty impressive for a full-sized SUV. And because the car does all the hard work, you can drive away and only worry about filling it up with petrol. 

There’s a reason we selected the Qashqai as our hybrid car of the year in 2024. 

• Read our Nissan Qashqai review 

Ford Kuga 

The Kuga is a little different to the Qashqai in that it drives like a normal petrol but uses hybrid power to boost efficiency – up to an impressive 50mpg from its 2.5-litre engine. 

And, since the engine charges the battery in the Ford, you still don’t have to worry about plugging it in. 

Despite all this eco goodness, the main reason we love the Kuga is how it drives. It has to be the most fun hybrid SUV you can drive without spending a fortune on a sporty one, and for that we can’t recommend it enough. 

• Read our Ford Kuga review 

Honourable mentions 

Self-charging hybrids are becoming more popular because you don’t need to plug your car in to access the electric power, and there are lots of choices. 

This is why cars like the futuristic-looking and efficient Kia Niro and swish Peugeot 2008 are also great buys. 

Best mild-hybrid (MHEV) SUVs 

Kia Sportage 

Available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the Kia Sportage is one of the most popular SUVs on sale. And it’s even better as a hybrid. 

There are several versions of it including a PHEV and HEV, but the mild hybrid one is our pick. It has a 1.6-litre engine mated to a 48V lithium-ion battery for up to 44.1mpg, and all the power you need for family life. 

It also helps that Kia takes particular pride in its interiors, so they’re all high quality and well-equipped from the get-go. 

• Read our Kia Sportage review 

Mazda CX-30 

Don’t be mistaken by its hatchback-like looks because the Mazda CX-30 is just as much an SUV as any other car on this list. 

Even as a mild hybrid, you can achieve real-world fuel economy of around 47mpg, which is good by itself, until you realise you can get it with a manual gearbox too. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. 

This, paired with a driver-centric setup makes it a fine car to drive and live with. And it’s a Mazda, so the styling is spot on, inside and out. 

• Read our Mazda CX-30 

Honourable mentions 

With petrol-engined-car-like performance and added efficiency gains, it’s no wonder mild hybrids have proved so popular. 

And models like the CUPRA Formentor and BMW X1 show that mild hybrid SUVs can be just as good to drive as they are on fuel. 

Best super-hybrid SUVs 

Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid 

Low running costs and high performance rarely go together, but in the case of super hybrids such as the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, they really do. 

This 519hp beast is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 engine and can get to 62mph in just 4.7 seconds yet returns a claimed 201.8mpg in hybrid mode (22.8mpg more realistically). Not bad, eh? 

Plus, you get access to drive a Porsche which means badge-envy and some of the most comfortable and high-tech in the business. 

Renault Rafale E-Tech 

Renault calls its new Rafale plug-in hybrid a 'super hybrid', and it’s not hard to see why with its 300hp (in the 4x4 version) and 65 miles of electric driving range.  

With a claimed 565mpg, razor-sharp styling and smart features, it’s no wonder the brand is very excited about this one. 

You also get a proper electrified all-wheel drive system in the top-spec model, which makes this car ideal for UK roads in winter. 

• Watch our Renault Rafale review 

What makes a good hybrid SUV?

The best hybrid SUV can be a brilliant choice for a family car if you want to save on fuel and take steps towards fully electric driving.

SUVs are often heavy and use more fuel as a result. A good hybrid SUV will balance out these effects and keep your car efficient and affordable to run.

Newer hybrid SUVs are also getting all of the latest tech and features, so you might be tempted to crossover if you like an on-trend car that's fully kitted out.

A good hybrid SUV will also be reliable - and this is a real benefit of cars with electric tech. Usually, these models cost less in terms of maintenance over time and you won't have to worry about replacing the battery for many years.

Used hybrid SUVs for sale 

As you can see, there are so many properly good hybrid SUVs out there, from swanky Porsches to more affordable MGs – there are so many to choose from. 

Check out our full range of used hybrid SUVs for sale, all with a 14-day money back guarantee and a free 90-day warranty. 

Read more about hybrid SUVs:

• Best self-charging hybrid SUVs

• Best plug-in hybrid SUVs