Hybrid powertrains are all about improving fuel economy. However, lots of hybrid cars (especially the plug-in hybrid ones) are big, heavy behemoths – which they need to be to afford enough packaging space for their large batteries, electric motors and combustion engines. There is another way, though.
Car manufacturers are starting to get the cost of producing their hybrid powertrains under rein – and they’re steadily dragging the technology down the segment sizes to keep ahead of tightening emissions regulations. Now, there are a handful of small cars fitted with self-charging hybrid powertrains and plenty available with mild hybrid technology.
By opting for a small car with a hybrid powertrain, you’re tipping all your eggs into the basket market ‘efficiency.’ Small cars powered by pure combustion engines are already very fuel efficient thanks to their small size and light weight – and hybrid powertrain have the potential to drive that inherent fuel economy through the roof.
This list includes a mixture of superminis and small SUVs. There’s a car to suit everyone’s circumstances, too, from practical family haulers to stylish crossovers and even a hot hatchback. One thing you won’t find in this list, though, is a plug-in hybrid car.
The technology is simply too bulky to fit into a small car’s platform – and even if manufacturers could figure out how to squeeze the tech into the space, the extra weight would probably ruin their handling characteristics.
If you’re in the market for a small hybrid car, scroll down to check out the best you can buy right now. We’ve included links to our in-depth reviews for each car, as well as links to our best leasing deals should you wish to have any on your drive.
The best small hybrid cars to buy in 2024
Efficiency, style and entertaining handling
Renault has even managed to make the Clio refined enough to drive over long distances without fatiguing you – and its 391-litre boot is larger than some of the hatchbacks from the class above, such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. The drawback? Well, the hybrid model is quite expensive. Prices start from around £21,000, which is a lot for a supermini.
Read our full Renault Clio review
Pros
- Great in the corners
- Clever hybrid system
- Comfortable interior
Cons
- Hybrid powertrain is pricey...
- … and its gearshifts take forever
Stunning handling and a massive boot
It's also quite practical. Its back seats aren’t quite as roomy as the Skoda Kamiq’s, but its boot is enormous. There are 456 litres of space to play with thanks to Ford’s innovative Megabox underfloor storage system. That’s more than you get in cars from the class above. Check out our Ford Puma long-term review to learn what the car's like to live with.
Read our full Ford Puma review
Pros
- Multi-award winning SUV
- Excellent driving experience
- Impressive boot space
Cons
- Tight rear space
- No full hybrid option
Stellar efficiency and a 10-year warranty
Still not sold? Well, you should also know that the Yaris also comes with the best warranty in the game. If you keep its service book stamped up at a main Toyota dealer, you’ll be covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). That means the Yaris should keep saving you money well into the twilight years of your ownership.
Read our full Toyota Yaris review
Pros
- Painless ownership
- Very well equipped
- Great hybrid system
Cons
- Rivals are more fun
- Comparably expensive
The small car with big ideas… inside
Practicality is amazing, too. The Jazz’s sliding rear seats, narrow-but-tall boot and generous cabin space means there's loads of space for four adults and their luggage – in a car that has the footprint as a supermini. Of the two, the Crosstar is the more interesting car to own, thanks to its funky interior trim, lovely tactile controls and splash-proof seats. But both are highly appealing small hybrids, that are only let down by their high prices and a lack of fun factor. Read our long-term review to learn what the Jazz is like to live with.
Read our full Honda Jazz review
Pros
- Immensely practical small car
- Feels more like a small MPV
- Brilliant hybrid system
Cons
- Standard interior is dull
- Not exactly joyful
Lightweight hot hatch that's achingly good fun to drive
It’s powered by Suzuki’s rather excellent 1.4-litre mild hybrid petrol engine, which serves up 129hp. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but the car only weighs 1,020kg – and that means it can scamper from 0–62mph in less than nine seconds. It’s also great fun in the bends. Check out our Swift Sport long-term test to see what it’s like to live with.
Read our full Suzuki Swift Sport review
Pros
- Huge fun to drive hard
- Relatively cheap to run
- Super efficient
Cons
- Showing its age now
- More warm than hot
Smooth in town, optional four-wheel drive for the country
Like the Honda Jazz Crosstar, the Yaris Cross doesn’t offer a long EV range. Instead it uses the electric portion of its powertrain to maximise the efficiency of its petrol engine and offer occasional bursts of electric-only power. It’s also quite good to drive. It handles keenly, its powertrain is silky smooth and it has a comfortable ride.
Read our full Toyota Yaris Cross review
Pros
- It's a true mini hybrid SUV
- Great to drive around town
- Frugal yet brawny hybrid
Cons
- Interior looks and feels dull
- Sluggish infotainment
Grown-up small SUV with clever fuel-saving tech
It’s a comfortable car, dealing well with potholes on urban roads and even handling pretty tidily. The numb steering and light gearbox don’t inspire much confidence, though, while the dashboard is a sea of hard, drab plastic that feels cheap and oppressive. Still, it's worth accepting that for up to 50mpg.
Read our full Hyundai Bayon review
Pros
- Comfortable and quiet
- Excellent reliability record
- Decent interior and boot room
Cons
- Characterless engine
- Some low-rent interior plastics
Catch one from an approved used dealer
However, it’s a very good car. We still haven't found a supermini that offers a better driving experience. Ford's 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine is already rather enjoyable – but with the addition of a 48V boost for seamless stop/start and a little in-gear assistance, and it achieves smiles per mile somewhat higher than its lowly spec and tiny engine suggest. We'll miss it when it's gone.
Read our full Ford Fiesta review
Pros
- Good value, yet stylish and fun
- Cheap to run, easy to live with
- What you see is what you get
Cons
- Not around for much longer
- Expensive compared to non-hybrid Fiestas
Small hybrid cars FAQs
Are small hybrid cars worth it?
As you can see, the market for small hybrid cars is not exactly flush with choice, particularly when looking for the best – worthy candidates that don’t quite make the cut are the Fiat Panda Hybrid (due to the base vehicle being somewhat dated), the Skoda Octavia iV (because it’s a big car) and the Renault Clio E-Tech (because it’s not very good at British urban speeds).
However, there’s another factor pushing against these cars; purely electric tech.
Is a small hybrid car a good buy in 2024?
Fiat has the 500 Electric. Renault has the tried-and-tested Zoe. And Skoda’s offering for a zero-emission city car has recently gone off sale, but was the hard-to-beat Citigo-e iV. Given the impressive qualities of the Enyaq, when Skoda does release a new small electric car it will probably be better than, say, a hybrid Fabia.
So it’s a fair assumption that buyers of small cars also don’t drive long distances, and as such with almost every electric car on sale now offering a range over 100 miles between charges, that’s sufficient for the type of buyers who would want a new, small second car and probably have space for a charging solution as well.
So it’s logical that there’s a wider variety of electic small cars, and that says promising things about what short-trip buyers want. However, if you do want a car that’s compact and green in the city, but can tackle motorway drive, the few options you do have are very good.
Luke Wilkinson is Deputy Editor of Parkers. He’s worked as an automotive journalist for five years, starting his career at Auto Express before moving to Parkers in 2022. He spends his time writing news, reviews and features for the site, as well uploading occasional content to our sister publication, CAR magazine.
