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Best hybrid cars on Motability in 2024

  • Which are the best hybrid cars on Motability? 
  • What is the Motability scheme? 
  • Our favourites offered on the scheme

Written by Keith Adams Updated: 1 October 2024

The Motability scheme means that people with disabilities can lease a hybrid car at a discounted rate compared with standard lease deals. You can use your disability-related benefits to finance a car chosen from a list of approved vehicles of all shapes and sizes.

If you’re thinking of taking on a hybrid, the Motability scheme can help as it offers plenty of cars that will allow you to take the advantages of a petrol (or diesel) car, allied with electric running for short distances when desired. However, the cars available are regularly changing, so please check the Motability website for the latest options.

To help you with the job of picking your next car, our experts at Parkers have rounded-up the 10 best hybrid cars on Motability to put on your drive now.

Best hybrid cars on Motability 2024

Great to drive, with superb battery efficiency

This plug-in hybrid BMW is the current state of the art for those looking to balance hybrid efficiency and driving enjoyment. Especially now the 2024 330e has been upgraded with an electric-only range increased to as much as 63 miles.

It’s quick with instant overtaking punch and brilliantly economical when you’re cruising and just want to get there quietly. It also handles very well indeed, despite the added weight of the hybrid system, which makes it slightly less balanced than the petrol and diesel only versions.

Read our full BMW 330e review

Pros

  • Potent acceleration
  • Excellent hybrid efficiency
  • Fabulous dynamics

Cons

  • Expensive when optioned
  • BMW warranty lags behind cheaper rivals

Comfortable and pragmatic choice of practical family car

The Skoda Octavia is available as a mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid, which means there’s an electrified version for everyone.

But we don’t just rate it for its wide model range – it’s also an uncommonly capable family car. It’s well-finished, roomy and comfortable with tons of passenger space. The boot’s also large enough to swallow a week’s worth of luggage, making it perfect for large families. The plug-in hybrid powertrain is capable of almost 40 miles of electric-only running.

Read our full Skoda Octavia review

Pros

  • Excellent fuel consumption
  • Roomy, practical interior
  • Mild, full and plug-in hybrids available

Cons

  • Infotainment could be slicker
  • Touch controls are poor to use

Space and excellent dynamics are the name of this hybrid hatchback’s game

The Honda Civic is our overall Car of the Year with good reason. It’s good to drive and almost ludicrously efficient, with 60mpg on the cards. It’s great value too.

Even the base model has lots of equipment, while the mid-level Sport and range-topping Advance models really pile on the kit. For the huge number of buyers unable or unwilling to plug-in at home, this is where you want to be.

Read our full Honda Civic review

Pros

  • Refined, punchy and supremely economical
  • Good to drive, with sporty handling
  • Excellent practicality, well-shaped boot

Cons

  • If you plug-in, look elsewhere
  • Rear headroom could be better

Solidly reliable with budget-friendly running costs

The Toyota Corolla competes strongly with the Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra. That might seem like a difficult fight to win, but the Corolla has one trick over both of its strongest rivals – hugely impressive fuel economy.

Buyers can choose between two self-charging hybrid powertrains, the most efficient of which can comfortably achieve 60mpg. It’s good, but the Civic does it just that little bit better – warranty support aside.

Read our full Toyota Corolla review

Pros

  • Excellent fuel economy
  • Nice steering and handling
  • Dealer support and reliability

Cons

  • Poor rear head and legroom
  • Not as good as the Honda Civic

Roomy, practical and backed-up with a great warranty

The Kia Niro is a car that you choose with your head and not your heart. It’s very efficient and has a nice interior, with plenty of room for the family, as well as space in the boot.

Even the entry-level 2 trim comes with plenty of useful kit and four tall adults will fit inside. The boot is fine, but is reduced to family hatchback-sized on the plug-in version, though, thanks to additional hybrid gubbins under the floor.

Read our full Kia Niro review

Pros

  • Roomy, high-quality interior
  • Efficient hybrid engines
  • Full and plug-in hybrids (and electric!)

Cons

  • Unrefined engines
  • No great shakes to drive

Striking small hatchback is perfect for the mean streets of the big cities

If you’re not too concerned about interior space and practicality, and are more concerned with your MPG, then the Toyota Yaris could be the perfect supermini for you. It’s perky to drive, comfortable – assuming you choose smaller wheels – and will easily make 60mpg without trying too hard.

We also rate the Toyota’s 10-year warranty support scheme known as Relax. The interior is nothing to write home about, but it’s certainly tough enough to withstand even the most destructive toddler.

Read our full Toyota Yaris review

Pros

  • Excellent car around town
  • Toyota reliability and dealer support
  • Fuel consumption

Cons

  • Cramped rear seats
  • Interior design is dull

Premium mid-sized SUV boasts green smarts

The Lexus NX isn’t short of rivals, but stands out in a busy market – and not just for its striking styling. You can have it with a self-charging or a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which covers most bases here.

The standard self-charging model beats 40mpg without trying too hard, which is what you’d once have expected from a hyper-economical diesel not so long ago. It also comes with lots of luxury car extras like a wireless phone charger, plush leather upholstery and ventilated seats.

Read our full Lexus NX review

Pros

  • Four-wheel drive for those who need it
  • The best dealers in the business
  • Excellent interior quality and trims

Cons

  • Some ergonomic issues
  • Good, but not great on the road

Sporty family SUV is a treat for keen drivers

The BMW X3 xDrive30e plug-in hybrid works as well as you’d expect for a car that shares its plug-in hybrid drivetrain with the excellent 330e.

It’s quick, efficient and unlike the larger X5 doesn’t struggle delivering some impressive MPG figures. Its suspension and steering are sharper than rival SUVs, which makes it an excellent choice for keen drivers. All that really counts against it is suspension so firm that’ll have you playing slalom with potholes.

Read our full BMW X3 review

Pros

  • Decent PHEV range
  • Excellent driving position
  • Refined and strong performance

Cons

  • Expensive before options
  • Firm ride on M Sport models

Stylish, quick, and plush inside – it’s the unconventional choice

Peugeot has managed to create a striking family car that not only looks great on the driveway – it has space for the family, drives well and doesn’t cost a bomb to run thanks to a pair of frugal plug-in hybrid options.

The 225hp Hybrid version is probably all you need, as the Hybrid4’s 300hp almost feels like overkill. What really makes it appealing is that stunning interior though – it’s far more interesting than the equivalent Skoda Karoq or Kia Sportage.

Read our full Peugeot 3008 review

Pros

  • Comfortable ride and seats
  • Two PHEVs to choose from
  • Distinctive styling inside and out

Cons

  • Driving position not to all tastes
  • Handling is not as sharp as we’d like

The luxury family choice with a superb interior

In many ways, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class feels like a scaled down luxury car. It has one of the most luxurious and technology-laden interiors in its segment, and is powered by a quiet engine that really suits its laid-back nature.

The C300 hybrid is definitely the one to go for. It’s powered by a 258hp mild-hybrid four-cylinder petrol engine (so you don’t need to plug it in) which offers a good balance between fuel economy, affordability and performance. If you want a plug-in, the C300de is an interesting alternative, as it combines hybrid and diesel seamlessly.

Read our full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review

Pros

  • Excellent interior tech and voice control
  • Economical, with long battery range
  • Comfortable ride, tidy handling

Cons

  • Some interior quality issues
  • Could be roomier inside

How to qualify for Motability

Motability is a charitable scheme that allows people in receipt of a disability mobility allowance to use their monthly payment to lease a car, enabling them to get out and about. Non-drivers, parents and carers can also qualify so it’s worth reading up on.

To be eligible you need to be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMC DLA), the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (ERMC PIP), the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) or the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

Almost everything is included, with insurance, breakdown cover, maintenance and servicing all covered – customers just pay for the fuel they use.

Does Motability do hybrid cars?

Motability does offer hybrid cars. Mild, regular and plug-in hybrid vehicles are all available.

How many hybrid cars are available on the Motability Scheme?

At time of writing more than 25 hybrid models are on offer, including regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars. Superminis, saloons, estates and family hatchbacks are available.

Are there any hybrid cars on Motability with nil deposit?

Technically, there are no cars with nil deposit. This is because the money you put down with Motability is an advanced payment, not a deposit. The distinction is important to make as you will not get back the money you put down.

At time of writing there were several hybrid cars available with no money down. But this is always changing, so it’s worth checking the Motability website.

Keith Adams 

Keith Adams is the editor of Parkers and has been an automotive journalist since 2004. He’s also edited Classic Car Weekly, Modern Classics, Honest John Classics as well as contributed to CAR, Evo, Octane, Autocar and Pistonheads as well as many other titles in a varied career.