Best hybrid SUVs 2024

The BMW X5 XDrive 45e is a brilliant hybrid SUV. Officially, it returns an incredible 201-235mpg and 27-32g/km of CO2. What's more, being a plug-in hybrid, it can cover up to 54 miles with a full battery charge with zero local emissions. 

Those advertised fuel economy figures are based on the X5’s plug-in battery being fully charged, which means the mpg will be significantly lower when the X5 is running from the 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and the battery is depleted.

All versions of the hybrid X5 use all-wheel drive, while maximum power is a potent 394PS. BMW’s power delivery system is seamless, which means it’s very difficult to tell where the engine stops and the electric motor starts. The performance is great, too: really, it's better suited to the big X5 than the pure petrol options. The only downside is that because the hybrid tech takes up a bit of boot space, you can't spec seven seats.  

Hybrid system aside, the X5 is a very good large SUV. The interior is luxurious with comfortable wide seats, lots of high-quality leather and soft-touch materials. The X5 also has one of the best infotainment systems in its class, operated through a pair of 12.3-inch screens that are sharp, bright and easy to read.

The Kia Sorento is a classy and capable large SUV that illustrates how far the Korean brand has come in a few years.

With smart styling and an upmarket interior with plenty of neat touches, the Sorento no longer feels like the poor man's (or woman's) big SUV. It's no longer the budget alternative, though, but it's still cheaper than premium rivals. You also get seven proper seats, with a surprising amount of space in all three rows. 

Like the smaller Hyundai Tucson, the Kia Sorento is available with mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. It's the full hybrid and plug-in models we're interested here, and the former makes a great case for itself, with an affordable price tag, great smoothness, respectable performance and 40mpg capability.

If that fuel economy figure just isn't good enough, though, you can spend a bit more and plump for the PHEV Sorento. That puts out a healthy 265PS from an all-wheel drive powertrain, promises up to 35-miles of all-electric running and up to 176mpg if plugged in regularly. Our only complaint is the petrol engine is a bit coarse when it kicks into life. 

The Audi Q7 is already one of our favourite SUVs. However, with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, it morphs into one of the best large cars on sale today, with sub-100g/km of CO2 emissions and the promise of up to 88mpg if regular charging is employed. 

The hybrid system combines a powerful 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. The battery gives the Q7 an electric range of 27 miles and a full charge takes 2.5 hours to complete from a home wall box. However, it does mean that the boot is a bit smaller than the standard Q7, while like the BMW X5 hybrid, you can't spec seven seats like you can in pure petrol or diesel versions. 

The Audi Q7 is smooth to drive at low speeds, with the electric motor doing all of the hard work. This means you can waft along in this large SUV in near-silence, while the engine kicks in when the charge runs out, or if the car needs a boost in power. As with the standard Q7, the interior is beautifully put together and supremely comfortable, with three-zone climate control and heated electric leather seats. It really is a very impressive all-round hybrid SUV. 

The Ford Kuga is a comfortable family SUV that’s good to drive and extremely practical. The plug-in hybrid Kuga boosts its potential fuel economy to an incredible 200+ mpg, while also giving this family-friendly Ford an electric range of 35 miles. 

Larger and more spacious than ever before, the latest Kuga feels like it’s been designed for everyday family life. The rear seats, for example, can slide forwards or backwards to maximise passenger or storage space. You also get lots of useful equipment as standard, with all plug-in models getting LED headlights, touchscreen navigation and a rear armrest with a pair of cupholders. 

The hybrid system combines a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a sophisticated electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. A full charge takes 3.5 hours from a home wall box and the Kuga (with a full tank of fuel) will be capable of covering a useful 465 miles.

The original Toyota C-HR proved hugely popular with UK car buyers, and we wouldn't be at all surprised if the same turns out to be true of its successor. This second-generation model has a proper eye-catching design that makes it stand out against rivals like the Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 3008 – which are good lookers themselves – and it drives well, too.

It offers a choice of two hybrid powertrains, with a 1.8-litre engine or a 2.0-litre version. There's a plug-in hybrid model, too, which should give you around 40 miles of electric-only range. Whichever version you go for, you should find excellent fuel economy.

You'll also get a much improved and very comfortable interior, plus a well-judged driving experience that strikes a good balance between composed handling and cosseting comfort. And, as with any Toyota, you get a cracking warranty that could last up to ten years, and a peerless reputation for reliability. 

The Hyundai Tucson was previously a worthy but unexciting midsize SUV, until this new version came along in 2021. Out went the inoffensive-but-bland looks and in came a striking new design language that really marks the new model out against a sea of rivals. 

There's substance to the Tucson's style, too, with a high-tech and upmarket interior that shows Hyundai is hoping to pull buyers away from premium SUVs. It's pretty practical, too, and well-equipped even at the lower end of the range. There's also forward thinking in the powertrain department, with every version available as some form of hybrid, be it mild hybrid, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid. 

The full hybrid (HEV) Tucson is best for those who are unable to charge at home, as it deftly juggles its power sources to provide diesel-beating efficiency. With 230PS, it's reasonably swift, too. There's also a 265PS plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Tucson, which is the version of choice for business users or those who can charge it regularly. Do that, and you could manage to reach the impressive 201mpg claimed figure, with a strong 38 miles of all-electric running possible. 

Want to buy a high-performance SUV without the eco-guilt? The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe could be the automotive oxymoron for you. It’s brutally fast, yet emits the same level of CO2 as a small hatchback. 

In true Porsche fashion, the plug-in hybrid version of the Cayenne Coupe is brilliant to drive. The 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine delivers that trademark Porsche engine howl, while the electric motor and battery pack nullify the running costs to a socially acceptable 60-70mpg and 91-108g/km of CO2. The electric range isn’t the best, however, with a full charge giving you just 22 miles. 

Like all Cayennes, the E-Hybrid Coupe’s road handling belies its size. The steering is light and accurate, while the four-wheel-drive system provides seemingly physics-defying levels of grip. The interior is also cavernous, which means a family of four will have little trouble getting comfortable. 

Lexus has always provided a left-field choice in the premium classes, and with a recent influx of ultra-compact models in the prestige SUV space from the likes of Volvo and BMW, the Japanese manufacturer responded with the super-dinky Lexus LBX. And it's a little cracker.

It's based on the same mechanicals as the Toyota Yaris Cross from Lexus' parent company, and it's similarly impressive to drive, blending a comfortable ride with surprisingly neat handling. Its compact dimensions and responsive steering mean it's particularly good around town, but it doesn't feel out of its depth on faster routes, either. The self-charging hybrid system (front- or four-wheel drive can be specified) works smoothly and unobtrusively, too.

The interior has the quality you'd expect of a premium product, and there are seemingly endless choices of trim level and interior finish that give you lots of control over the look and feel of your interior. IT's not the roomiest car, and the boot is rather awkwardly shaped, but Lexus sells bigger cars if you need more practicality.

Mazda is relatively new to hybrids, and the Mazda CX-60 is actually its first plug-in hybrid car ever. It's a rather decent first go, however. 

Unlike some of the cars here, you won't find many used bargains yet given that it's still quite new, but happily the Mazda CX-60 is already noticeably cheaper than equivalent premium rivals anyway. The CX-60 is the Japanese maker's attempt to go premium.

The plug-in hybrid model is four-wheel drive (there's also a diesel version with rear-wheel drive), which is needed to put down its punchy 327PS output. It's quicker than some of its key rivals, then, and also has Mazda's trademark sharp handling to make it feel fairly sporting despite its weight. Refinement is an issue, however: it's clear the established premium brands have been doing hybrids for some time as their systems are quieter. 

Still, the CX-60 PHEV has a very respectable electric range of up to 42 miles, also promising up to 188mpg. It also has a very nice cabin, which is smart and minimalist, and has great, easy-to-use tech. We just wish it was a little more spacious. 

A decade ago, the idea of a hybrid Land Rover Defender would've raised a few eyebrows, especially among the farming and rural types that bought them. The new Defender, though, is designed for a broader church, from hardcore off-road enthusiasts to tech-savvy urbanites. 

Its brilliant exterior design takes the classic Defender shape into the a age, while the upmarket and high-tech interior is a world away from the old model. That doesn't mean it's not a Defender any more, though, as there are loads of practical touches and hard-wearing trim, while off-roading is still a core focus. 

It's much better than the old Defender on the road, however, with excellent comfort and decent handling. And the P400e plug-in hybrid might be the best of the lot, putting out an impressive 404PS, which takes the huge Defender from 0-60mph in under six seconds. But it's not just about straight-line performance, as the P400e is uncannily smooth and refined, two words that no driver of the old Defender would be familiar with.

The Defender P400e manages 27 miles of range on a charge and promises up to 85mpg. For something so heavy and brick-shaped, the numbers are pretty good. It also means you can drive the Defender around town silently, pollution-free and with less of a guilty conscience.