Top 10 Hybrid Car Brands (Hybrid Cars, SUVs, Trucks)
Hybrid and plug-in-hybrid car manufacturers are fewer than those that produce gasoline-powered vehicles.
Still, these hybrid car brands make some of the most reliable and fuel-efficient vehicles utilizing the mild hybrid (MHEV), plug-in-hybrid (PHEV), and full hybrid (HEV) technologies, covering cars, trucks, and SUVs.
Best Car Companies with Hybrid Cars and SUVs
#1 Toyota
Toyota is the top hybrid car brand, a leader in gas-electric powertrain technologies with an extensive list of hybrid and plug-in-hybrid vehicles.
Not only does the Japanese marque have a mature hybrid technology, but the Prius and Prius Prime are best-sellers in the hybrid and plus-in-hybrid passenger car segments, respectively.
Even the ever-popular RAV4 SUV has hybrid and plug-in-hybrid versions, so its fan base has a broad range of powertrains to suit various budgets and fuel efficiency demands.
Besides heading the market, Toyota is also the most reliable hybrid car brand, evidenced by Consumer Reports’ latest dependability ranking – Prius, Prius Prime, and RAV4 Prime lead the way.
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles Toyota manufactures comprise:
- Toyota Prius – hybrid hatchback.
- Toyota Prius Prime – plug-in-hybrid hatchback.
- Toyota Corolla – hybrid sedan.
- Toyota Camry – hybrid sedan.
- Toyota Avalon – hybrid sedan.
- Toyota RAV4 – hybrid SUV.
- Toyota RAV4 Prime – plug-in-hybrid SUV.
- Toyota Tundra – hybrid pickup truck.
While the Japanese marque has excellent hybrid vehicles, it is relatively late to the EV party, with its first electric car, the MX-30 compact SUV, making its debut in 2022.
#2 Honda
Honda and Toyota have been arch rivals in the mainstream space for decades, so if Toyota makes excellent hybrid cars, you can be sure that Honda isn’t far behind.
Although Honda does not have as many hybrid vehicles, those available are compelling options for buyers wanting to squeeze more miles from their monthly gas budget.
Honda cars with a hybrid powertrain are a mix of popular and less prominent models, although both are reliable.
The Honda Insight is probably the least recognized among Honda hybrids, but its sedan and hatchback body styles are the brand’s most reliable in the lineup.
The Insight and Accord hybrids have strong fuel economy, and the Clarity PHEV’s electric-only range is an astonishing 50 miles, making the gas-free short trips proposition utterly attractive.
Honda’s hybrid and plug-in-hybrid models list consists of:
- Honda Insight – hybrid sedan & hatchback.
- Honda Clarity – plug-in-hybrid sedan.
- Honda Accord – hybrid sedan.
- Honda CR-V – hybrid SUV.
Like Toyota, Honda looks to catch up on the EV front while its range of hybrid cars fills the void of next-generation energy-efficient vehicles.
#3 Hyundai
Hyundai leads the Korean manufacturers with the most significant number of hybrid cars – its sister brand, Kia, also produces such vehicles.
The models carrying the Korean make’s hybrid technology include some of its most popular vehicles, plus the lesser-known Hyundai Ioniq.
The Ioniq hatchback is also Hyundai’s first automobile built from the ground up as a hybrid.
Still, the Sonata sedan and Tucson SUV are the marque’s more reliable models, and all Hyundai vehicles carry the industry’s longest warranty.
Hyundai has these hybrid models:
- Hyundai Ioniq – hybrid & plug-in-hybrid hatchback.
- Hyundai Elantra – hybrid sedan.
- Hyundai Sonata – hybrid sedan.
- Hyundai Tucson – hybrid & plug-in-hybrid SUV.
- Hyundai Santa Fe – hybrid & plug-in-hybrid SUV.
While the Ioniq hybrids return excellent fuel economy, Hyundai’s future looks promising with its IONIQ range of electric vehicles competing against global EV brands, starting with the compact IONIQ 5 electric SUV.
#4 Kia
Kia cars offer the best bang for the money among affordable vehicles, with a more impressive features list and a longer warranty than class rivals.
Although the Korean hybrid manufacturer does not have many models with gas/electric powertrains, those available are compelling choices in their respective segments.
Kia Niro’s hybrid versions are among the most feature-rich compact SUVs with nimble handling, and the Kia Sorento is one of the few three-row hybrid SUVs on the market.
Unfortunately, the Optima sedan is a discontinued model after Kia retired it at the end of 2020.
Kia carries these vehicles with hybrid powertrain:
- Kia Optima – hybrid & plug-in-hybrid sedan.
- Kia Niro – hybrid & plug-in-hybrid SUV.
- Kia Sorento – hybrid & plug-in-hybrid SUV.
#5 Chevrolet
The Japanese car brands dominate the market with their gas plus electric motor hybrid technology.
On the other hand, American makes are less enthusiastic about offering hybrid versions of their most popular vehicles.
Chevrolet is one of the few that did, but even then, the company shelved the Volt PHEV and Malibu Hybrid after 2019.
It is unfortunate as the Volt has more all-electric range than most plug-in hybrids.
Chevy’s range of discontinued hybrid cars includes:
- Chevy Volt – plug-in-hybrid hatchback.
- Chevy Malibu – hybrid sedan.
#6 Lexus
As luxury car brands go, Lexus is the best hybrid car brand, beating its German rivals to the throne – this achievement shouldn’t surprise as it is under the Toyota umbrella.
Better still, Lexus makes the most durable vehicles of all manufacturers, period.
If you’re in the market for the most reliable and fuel-efficient luxury hybrid car, you cannot go wrong with any model from the esteemed marque’s comprehensive list of hybrids.
Lexus has the highest number of hybrid cars among premium makes:
- Lexus LC 500h – hybrid coupe.
- Lexus UX 250h – hybrid SUV.
- Lexus NX 300h – hybrid SUV.
- Lexus NX 350h – hybrid SUV.
- Lexus NX 450h+ – plug-in-hybrid SUV.
- Lexus RX 450h – hybrid SUV.
- Lexus RX 450hL – hybrid SUV (three-row)
- Lexus LS 500h – hybrid sedan.
- Lexus ES 300h – hybrid sedan.
#7 BMW
Not to be outdone is BMW, which leads the German luxury car makers with the most hybrid vehicles.
However, the distinguished German marque focuses entirely on plug-in-hybrid technologies, so if you desire the all-electric range in your hybrid luxury car, BMW is worth serious consideration.
The BMW i3 is unique with its range extender, covering 126 miles of electric-only range, plus a small gasoline-powered generator that allows you to drive after depleting the battery pack – 2021 saw its final production.
Meanwhile, the X5 plug-in-hybrid has BMW’s longest electricity range among the brand’s PHEV SUV rank.
BMW lovers have these PHEV models to choose from:
- BMW i3 – plug-in-hybrid hatchback.
- BMW 3 Series – plug-in-hybrid sedan.
- BMW 5 Series – plug-in-hybrid sedan.
- BMW 7 Series – plug-in-hybrid sedan.
- BMW X3 – plug-in-hybrid SUV.
- BMW X5 – plug-in-hybrid SUV.
#8 Audi
Audi is one of Germany’s top three luxury car makers and a hybrid car manufacturer, albeit with limited PHEV models.
The brand builds premium cars and SUVs that offer accomplished handling in finely-crafted cabins. It has chosen to target some of its more popular sedan and SUV models to offer mild hybrid and plug-in-hybrid powertrains.
However, their MHEV’s fuel efficiency and PHEV’s electric range are mid-pack.
Audi plug-in-hybrid cars include:
- Audi A7 – mild hybrid & plug-in-hybrid sedan.
- Audi A8 – mild hybrid & plug-in-hybrid sedan.
- Audi Q5 – mild hybrid & plug-in-hybrid SUV.
The A7 Sportback rates as the best Audi hybrid, with impeccable handling, comfortable ride, and above-average fuel economy with the mild hybrid engine and a respectable 26 miles of electric range in the PHEV.
Best Car Manufacturers with Hybrid Trucks
#9 Ford
With the popularity of pickup trucks among Americans and the F-150’s status as king-of-the-hill, Ford has decided to offer its best-selling truck with gasoline, diesel, and hybrid options.
The pickup truck market does not have many hybrid models, so Ford is an excellent manufacturer to consider, with the F-150 hybrid just as capable of hauling and towing as its gas-powered siblings.
While the hybrid truck is the highlight, the other Ford hybrid models are worth mentioning for brand loyalists (rpd).
The Escape and Explorer SUVs have hybrid versions; both offer great handling and a smooth ride, although the compact Ford Escape Hybrid’s strong fuel economy is impressive compared to class leaders.
Ford hybrid vehicles comprise:
- Ford F-150 – hybrid pickup truck (from 2021).
- Ford Escape – hybrid & plug-in-hybrid SUV.
- Ford Explorer – hybrid SUV.
#10 Ram
The light-duty full-size pickup truck segment is competitive, with Ford, Ram, and GMC vying for top spots.
Unsurprisingly, Ram offers its best-selling 1500 truck with a mild hybrid powertrain for marginally improved fuel economy to rival the equivalent from Ford.
Only the Ram 1500 pickup truck offers a mild hybrid powertrain, beginning in 2019.
Still, the Ram 1500’s hybrid offering is more extensive than the ones from Ford F-150.
References:
https://automobiles.honda.com/
https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en
