The BMW 3 Series is a staple of the new and used car markets, and loved by business and private buyers alike. 

The 3 Series - along with BMW itself - used to be synonymous with creamy straight-six engines. It still does some of those in the performance models, but nowadays things are different with the more mainstream versions. You're more likely to see a BMW 330e parked on your street than any six-cylinders, that's for sure. 

The big reason the 330e is now so popular is because its plug-in hybrid system allows for super-low company car tax. It's the default choice for businesses, then, but part of that is that it's just such a good all-rounder. 

Using a 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor and battery pack, it puts out a healthy 288PS and is also capable of up to 38 miles on a charge. Up to 217mpg is possible if you plug it in, too, according to official figures. It's also fun to drive, with superb handling yet also decent refinement, while the interior is a class act with top-notch quality and easy-to-use tech. 

Compact executive cars with hybrid engines are big business. This shouldn't be surprising, because so many are company cars and hybrids offer huge Benefit-in-Kind tax savings. The Mercedes C-Class is the posh small saloon of choice for this very reason.

You see, the C300e plug-in hybrid offers up to 62 miles of smooth, silent battery power before the petrol engine kicks into life. That's nearly double that of the BMW 330e, and means the Merc is by far the cheapest option for business users. 

But there's plenty of appeal for everyone, as the long EV range means impressive economy as long as you charge it up regularly, and punchy performance thanks to 312PS with the petrol engine and electric motor working in unison. A comfortable ride combines with excellent refinement to make every journey relaxing, too. 

What's more, you get a plush cabin loaded with fancy technology, more space than most rivals, and a real feeling that you're driving around in a miniature S-Class. 

If you're in the market for a hybrid car that can comfortably carry up to seven people, look no further than the new Kia Sorento. The upmarket SUV (yes, Kia knows how to do upmarket these days) is available as a self-charging hybrid or plug-in hybrid (as well as a diesel), with both combining a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a battery pack and electric motor.

It's not a cheap option, with petrol or diesel versions of the SEAT Tarraco and Skoda Kodiaq undercutting it on price. It's fully loaded, though, with an 8.0-inch media system, heated seats and LED headlights standard across the range. We'd suggest looking for a '2' model or above for leather seats and a generally plusher cabin.

Unless you're a company car driver, we'd probably recommend the slightly more affordable self-charging hybrid model over the PHEV.

The Dacia Jogger is a fairly unique proposition on this list. For instance, there aren't many cars here that can seat seven people: only the far larger Kia Sorento can manage that. And there are fewer still - none in fact - that can do so for less than the price of a Vauxhall Corsa. This thing is a genuine bargain.

Okay, so the sixth- and seventh seats in the Jogger are better suited to occasional use than regular use due to the tight space that surrounds them, but having them there in reserve can be very handy indeed when your kids demand an impromptu playdate. As is often the case in a Dacia, the cabin is fairly no-frills in terms of its quality and finish, but that's entirely forgivable given the low price.

The hybrid system on offer pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a pair of electric motors to deliver 140PS. Performance is entirely reasonable, and the system makes the car capable of an official WLTP fuel economy figure of 57.7mpg. That's a very reasonable return. The Jogger is a reasonably comfortable and easy car to drive, too.

Honda doesn't have the same reputation for hybrids as Toyota, but the Japanese rival has been beavering away on them for some years now. We were quietly impressed with the hybrid-only Honda HR-V and the Honda Jazz when they were launched, but the latest Honda Civic has blown both out of the water. 

Like its siblings, the latest Civic is only available as a hybrid car (if you ignore the Type R hot hatch), using a self-charging hybrid system. But this one is even better thanks to all sorts of engineering wizardry from Honda. With 184PS, it'll get from 0-62mph in a reasonably brisk 7.8 seconds, and with a new type of electric CVT gearbox, it feels a like a traditional automatic, yet it's still super smooth in town. 

The new Civic is also a really nice thing to drive because of its sorted ride and handling. Yet the practical stuff hasn't been forgotten about: it's roomy and comfortable, build quality is excellent and the Civic has the best in-car technology we've seen from Honda. 

It might be a little more expensive than rivals like the Toyota Corolla, and not very exciting to look at, but the Honda Civic is now one of best self-charging hybrid cars around. 

It's hard not to be impressed with the Skoda Octavia Estate. Comfortable and with a good-sized cabin, plus the Octavia's boot should easily be large enough for most families' needs. The latest model is also nicely equipped and, considering what you get, it represents great value for money. 

The Skoda Octavia Estate is available in a variety of petrol and diesel flavours, but there's also the choice of mild hybrid and PHEV power. The mild-hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to deliver a claimed 51.9mpg, though our pick is the 1.4-litre TSI iV PHEV that combines a 1.4 petrol engine with an electric motor and battery pack. This sees the Octavia iV able to cover 43 miles under electric power alone, while the combined power output of 204PS means it's pretty quick, hitting 62mph in 7.8 seconds. 

If that's not quick enough for you, there's also a hot vRS model which, like the standard estate, also comes as a plug-in hybrid with 245PS and an electric-only range of 38 miles. 

The new Toyota C-HR has been given a visual makeover, which looks great, and the only powertrain options are hybrid ones. There are three to pick from, with 1.8 and 2.0-litre self-charging hybrid powertrains connected to an e-CVT gearbox, while a plug-in hybrid model will arrive later and offer an impressive 40 miles of range on a charge.

So, that’s the hybrid requirement checked off: what about the rest of the car? Well, this is a small crossover SUV, so while its diminutive size is handy on city streets and around car parks, it means space inside is a little limited. Up front there’s just enough space for adults, but the rear seats are best reserved for children or bags. Don't expect too much boot space, either.

Throughout the C-HR, you’ll find a quality finish, with recycled materials and nice attention to detail. Move up the trim range, and things only improve, with more eye-catching finishes and a bucket load of additional tech.

Handling is good, too, with very little body roll, so it’s nimble through the corners. It’s not going to wow you with performance, but the Toyota C-HR gets the job done around town or on the motorway without much fuss.

The Hyundai Tucson is quieter in the cabin than a Nissan Qashqai, more fun to drive than a Skoda Karoq, and boasts the biggest boot in its class. What's more, there's a trio of hybrid options to pick from, so it should be cheap to run.

If you need a spacious family SUV and want something that's going to turn heads, the Tucson is a great choice. It's got a smart interior that's well kitted out, while the infotainment system is one of the best in the business.

The mild-hybrid is the thirstiest of the options, so you’ll be better off opting for self-charging or plug-in hybrid power, although the latter will reduce the cavernous 620-litre boot a touch.

There’s plenty of space for passengers, too, with tall folks in the back benefiting from decent leg- and headroom. You’ll also find a pleasing array of storage cubbies and a large glove box.

Prices start at around £30,000 for a new Tucson, but you can save yourself several thousand pounds if you look for a recent secondhand model.

 The Volvo V90 has always been a cracking estate car, which made it all the more surprising when, a wee while ago, Volvo decided to withdraw it from sale - along with all of its other saloon and estate models -  as a new car so that the firm could concentrate on building and selling SUVs instead. Happily, however, after the predictable backlash that followed, Volvo decided to reinstate its V60 and V90 estate models.

It's available in two plug-in hybrid forms, the T6 (with 350PS, official fuel economy of 353mpg and an electric-only range of 54 miles) and the T8 (with 455PS, official fuel economy of 313mpg and an electric-only range of 52 miles). The 488-litre boot isn't as big as you might expect in a large Volvo estate car (due to the hybrid gubbins), but the car impresses in a variety of other ways, with its effortless style and character, sumptuous quality and peerless safety record.

The new Lexus NX might look quite a bit like the old Lexus NX, but it's a much better car underneath. Plus, whereas the old model was only a self-charging hybrid, you now get the choice of a plug-in hybrid, too, so there's something for every situation. 

Behind the NX's angular body is an interior of peerless quality, while the previously fiddly Lexus infotainment has been greatly improved. It's more spacious, too. But it's the driving experience that's the biggest revelation. 

The old NX wasn't remotely fun to drive and had a pretty poor ride quality, meaning it was totally outclassed by the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. The newer car is much better at balancing a comfortable ride with tidy handling, while delivering better performance, too. 

Both the hybrid choices are good, but if you're doing bigger miles then it's the NX350h self-charging hybrid that makes the most sense with an overall 47.9mpg economy figure. The NX450h+ is quite a bit more expensive, but significantly faster, and capable of impressive economy thanks to an electric range of up to 47 miles.