Choosing the best hybrid cars to lease in 2023 is a tough ask. But it wasn’t always this way. When hybrids first shot into the limelight in the UK, choice was pretty slim.
Hybrid cars are so popular, they’ve become difficult to get hold of and you may have to endure a lengthy waiting list. This is where leasing can help. Leasing companies often have stock ready to go, and usually at highly competitive monthly prices.
On this page we round up what we consider to be the best hybrid cars that are also regularly in stock among leasing companies.
Standard, plug-in, and mild hybrids
The batteries in standard hybrids (hybrids you don’t plug in) are replenished by recuperating kinetic energy from the brakes as the car slows, and by taking a small amount of the engine’s power to recharge them. This electricity is then deployed at convenient times to increase economy. Some standard hybrids can run on electric power alone for a few miles. Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai, and others, refer to this as a self-charging hybrid.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) have their batteries recharged by connecting the car to an auxiliary power supply, otherwise known as a charger.
Oh, and there are mild hybrids too. These employ a small electric battery to make better use of start-stop systems and a small electrical boost under hard acceleration. They are not capable of driving via electric motors alone. For the sake of clarity, we’ve excluded these types of cars from this list.
Editor’s choice: Honda Civic
Our Car of the Year
Read our Honda Civic review
Pros:
✅ Impressively powerful and efficient
✅ High quality interior
✅ Best-in-class ride
Cons:
❌ Rear headroom is a bit tight
❌ No entry-level model
The 2021 and 2022 Parkers Car of the Year winners were electric. But 2023 is favouring hybrids because of electricity prices increasing and fuel prices coming down. This in some way explains how the hybrid Honda Civic took home our best car of 2023 gong.
It’ll do 60mpg without breaking a sweat, will cover the 0-62mph sprint in less than 8 seconds and there’s no need to plug-in. The interior feels reassuringly well put together and leasing one is incredibly simple as there are only two trim levels and one engine to choose from.*
BMW 3 Series
A BMW first and a hybrid second
Read our BMW 330e review
Pros:
✅ Up to 37 miles of electric range
✅ Precise steering
✅ Great efficiency and performance
Cons:
❌ Reduced boot space compared with non hybrids
❌ Diesel still more frugal if you don’t charge regularly
The BMW 330e’s 2.0-litre petrol engine makes 181hp, while the electric motor produces 111hp. This means it’s admirably green (39g/km CO2 emissions) and impressively hoofable in the right conditions, courtesy of BMW’s trademark handling and the maximum output of 292hp.
It does come at a price though. The saloon’s boot measures in at a hatchback-like 375 litres compared to a regular 3 Series’ 480 litres. While the estate is also 90 litres down compared with the non-PHEV model.*
BMW 330e lease deals | VIEW OFFER
Range Rover
King of off-roaders comes with a massive electric range
Read our Range Rover review
Pros:
✅ Superbly comfortable
✅ Excellent engines
✅ Opulent
Cons:
❌ Not cheap to run
❌ Massive
Land Rover’s evergreen Range Rover has long been the king of the luxury off-roaders, and this latest model puts even more miles between it and the competition.
The clean design and choice of trims and materials combine to create a restful and elegant place to spend time, and the ride is imperiously smooth. The plug-in models can do around 50 miles on pure electric power, and unlike with most hybrids, they can be fast-charged too. Simply one of the best hybrid SUVs around.*
Toyota RAV4
Sensible and reliable SUV available in regular and plug-in hybrid forms
Read our Toyota RAV 4 review
Pros:
✅ Spacious interior
✅ Lots of standard equipment
✅ Low running costs
Cons:
❌ Interior looks a bit cheap
❌ Can be quite pricey compared with competition
Toyota’s engineers have been making hybrids since the 1990s, and the RAV4’s systems are among the best yet. The plug-in hybrid models offer an official electric-only range of 46 miles and up to 242mpg, while the regular hybrid should do close to 50mpg.
Yes, the plug-in hybrid’s figure is mostly unachievable unless you plug-in every night and rarely travel far. But both options are supremely economical for a five-seat family SUV with a massive boot.*
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The hybrid car for long-distance drivers
Read our Mercedes E-Class review
Pros:
✅ Exceptional comfort
✅ Stunning interior
✅ Genuine five-seat accommodation
Cons:
❌ Boot space reduced in PHEV model
❌ Options can get expensive
No seriously, we’ve added a diesel to this article. Most of the hybrids on this list, while effective at lower speeds, become less economical at motorway speeds.
The Mercedes E 300de allows drivers to travel 34 miles on electric power alone, perfect for town and city driving. But then when you get on a motorway, it’s packing a 2.0-litre diesel engine that will return more than 50mpg without any electrical assistance. Inside, it’s typically E-Class too, in other words, a real step up compared with similar cars. The iPad-like touchscreen is top-of-the-line, and everything feels wonderfully put together.*
Toyota Yaris
Big economy numbers meets massive warranty
Read our Toyota Yaris review
Pros:
✅ Hugely economical
✅ Loads of driver assistance tech
✅ Comfortable
Cons:
❌ Small boot compared with rivals
❌ Interior feels quite old already
The little Yaris is a massively important car for Toyota in the UK. It’s the Japanese company’s bestseller – and this latest generation is only available as a hybrid.
Official fuel consumption ranges from 65.7mpg to 68.9mpg and in real-world testing we’ve found it pretty hard to dip below 60mpg. Best of all it’s a huge step up from the old Yaris. It feels a lot quicker, it’s more comfortable, and it’s quieter too.*
Toyota Yaris lease deals | VIEW OFFER
Volkswagen Multivan
Our seven-seater of the year
Read our Volkswagen Multivan review
Pros:
✅ Flexible seven-seat interior
✅ PHEV a good performer
✅ Better to drive than typical MPV
Cons:
❌ Not small or cheap
❌ Interior not as hardwearing as rivals
Seven-seater SUVs are all the rage at the moment, but we truly believe a good old-fashioned box on wheels is better when it comes to transporting people. Volkswagen’s Multivan is a very plush box, suitable for transporting seven adult-sized passengers.
The Multivan eHybrid uses the same plug-in powertrain as many of VW’s hybrid passenger cars, and when battery and petrol engine work in conjunction there’s more than enough shove, even with seven passengers on board. Capable of up to 29 miles of pure-electric driving too.*
Volkswagen Multivan lease deals | VIEW OFFER
Toyota Corolla
No-nonsense hybrid hatchback
Read our Toyota Corolla review
Pros:
✅ Impressively efficient
✅ Generously equipped
✅ 10-year warranty
Cons:
❌ Boot is quite small
❌ Automatic gearbox is an acquired taste
The Corolla name returned to the UK in 2018. Do you remember the old one as a basic form of motoring without much excitement? Well, this latest model is much less basic, but just as unexciting.
This lack of excitement is chiefly what makes it a good hybrid car to lease. Especially if this is your first hybrid. There are two engines on offer (a 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre), and the whole package is easy to use, easy to understand and you should expect north of 60mpg, even on the motorway.*
Toyota Corolla lease deals | VIEW OFFER
SEAT Leon
Sporty hatchback with some clever tech
Read our SEAT Leon review
Pros:
✅ Great to drive
✅ All the latest tech
✅ Keen pricing
Cons:
❌ Ride on FR models too firm
❌ Fiddly interior
The SEAT Leon has a lot going for it. It undercuts its chassis-sibling, the ever-popular Volkswagen Golf, on price, and SEAT’s most recent refresh of the car added more attractive styling and two new hybrid powertrains.
We’re most interested in the plug-in hybrid option here, which boasts a real-world fuel economy figure of around 70mpg and an electric-only range of roughly 40 miles. It’s still fun to drive, too. Also available as a hybrid estate.*
SEAT Leon lease deals | VIEW OFFER
Citroen C5 X
Our Large Family Car of the Year
Read our Citroen C5 X review
Pros:
✅ Supremely comfortable
✅ Economical, punchy engines
✅ Low tax for PHEV
Cons:
❌ Limited model range
❌ Rear headroom a little tight
The C5 X is an excellent family car. It majors on comfort, with a cosseting ride and supple seats, plus the interior is practical enough for kids, dogs and their associated mess.
There are cars which cost five times as much that struggle to achieve the same level of refinement and comfort, which is only improved upon when slicing through traffic silently in EV mode via the plug-in hybrid powertrain.*
Citroen C5 X lease deals | VIEW OFFER
Benefits of leasing a hybrid car
Waiting times
Buying a new car on a PCP agreement from a dealership will now usually come with a massive waiting list. Leasing companies often have cars in stock and waiting times of less than six weeks.
Less risk than buying outright
If you like the idea of an electric car, but can’t commit to charging every day, or don’t like the range, going hybrid can help. And if you’re after new tech, without any of the financial worry, leasing can offer a simple way to finance a car.
Electric power with no charging
Fully electric vehicles, at the moment at least, are a bit of a pain to charge. Fine if you can charge at home at your leisure. But it can take up to more than an hour at a service station to get to 100%. Hybrids, well standard hybrids at least, do away with this.
Fuel savings
This varies wildly depending on which car you choose. Some plug-in hybrids can cover around 30 miles on electric power alone. If this is your commute you could spend no money on fuel for work days at least. Even regular hybrids, like the Toyota Yaris, should top 70mpg. A similarly sized petrol model will only achieve around 50mpg.
Lower tax
With lower emission rates than petrols or diesels, hybrids do attract lower tax rates than traditionally propelled cars.
* These deals are indicative examples of some packages available as of 28 September 2023, but are subject to change without prior notice. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different and the availability of credit is subject to status. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Parkers cannot recommend a deal for you specifically.
Bauer Consumer Media Limited is an appointed representative of ZenAuto Limited for the broking of regulated consumer hire agreements. ZenAuto Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. ZenAuto Limited’s registered office is Number One, Great Exhibition Way, Kirkstall Forge, Leeds LS5 3BF. ZenAuto Limited’s company registration number is 10967345. ZenAuto is the trading name of ZenAuto Limited.
