Top Hybrid Cars of 2025 for Maximum Efficiency

Hybrids that don’t require plugging in provide the gentlest introduction to electrified motoring. Their modest batteries and electric motors help improve the efficiency (and performance) of conventional cars without imposing extra burdens on owners. If you want a hybrid that isn’t a tall-riding crossover or SUV, choices are fairly scarce in 2025, but they do remain. Here’s where to look for the right one for you.

Purchasing a hybrid sedan in 2025 means it will originate from an established automaker, not a fledgling startup trying to find profitability. U.S. brands currently don’t offer models in this segment, so any hybrid car you choose will come from an Asian or European manufacturer.

General Motors offers no hybrids at present. Cadillac might introduce a hybrid version of its updated XT5, using a powertrain akin to the one sold in China, but that’s the only U.S.-market possibility I’m aware of at the moment. Ford and Lincoln limit hybrids to crossovers, SUVs and the F-150, while Stellantis only has the Pacifica Hybrid minivan and Jeep hybrid SUVs, all of which are plug-in models.

If you do want a plug-in but prefer not to have a tall crossover or SUV, aside from one Toyota (the Prius Prime), most remaining choices are from premium marques. Many of these luxury PHEVs emphasize performance—some exceed 800 horsepower—and target very different buyers than those who select a non-plug-in hybrid for efficiency. I’ve omitted all plug-ins from this roundup.

How We Test

Across our writers, contributors and editors, we’ve accumulated decades of combined car-review experience and can quickly recognize a dud. There aren’t many genuinely bad cars these days, so we dig deeply into analysis and testing to determine which ones stand out. That’s why we perform numerous real-world evaluations, assessing vehicles on road trips, during charge and fuel-economy tests, on the track and off-road.

Although our primary attention has been on vehicles that plug in (EVs and PHEVs), we’ve also sampled nearly every hybrid on the market and believe hybrids still hold a valuable place today. We’ve driven hybrids in North America, Europe and China, so our viewpoint on these cars is global in scope, even if our recommendations remain U.S.-focused.

The chief criterion for a hybrid is fuel economy. This is the fundamental figure by which they are measured. Performance follows, because while thriftiness rules, no one wants to pilot the automotive equivalent of a sloth. Then we assess value, equipment, technology and the ownership experience, so that after consulting one of our Best lists, you’ll know precisely what to expect when you shop for one of these cars.

The list below contains the hybrid cars we tested and preferred, taking all of the above into account, presented in descending order of combined efficiency.

2025 Toyota Prius

EPA Fuel Economy: 57 mpg city / 56 mpg highway / 57 mpg combined

Hybrids don’t get more ubiquitous than the Toyota Prius. Now in its fifth generation, it’s offered as either a regular hybrid or a plug-in, and you can also opt for all-wheel drive for the first time. Show it a corner and it actually provides a surprisingly high degree of driver enjoyment, while advertising a combined 57 mpg. You can buy a Prius today starting at $28,550, and if you choose the plug-in hybrid variant, that climbs to $33,375 or $35,280 with all-wheel drive.

2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

EPA Fuel Economy: 51 mpg city / 58 mpg highway / 54 mpg combined

The Hyundai Elantra is available as a hybrid with excellent efficiency. While it appears much more aggressive and sporty than the larger Sonata, its hybrid powertrain is less potent with just 139 hp. It takes nearly nine seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill, but getting there feels more engaging than most other hybrids on this list because it uses a snappy dual-clutch transmission, not a slipping continuously variable gearbox. It’s also fairly light, handles well, and returns 54 mpg. Prices start at $25,450.

2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid

EPA Fuel Economy: 53 mpg city / 50 mpg highway / 51 mpg combined

The newest Toyota Camry hybrid looks and feels so upscale it could wear a Lexus badge. It’s also the most athletic-looking and -driving Camry ever, yet it doesn’t give up efficiency with a 51 mpg combined rating. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine produces up to 232 hp when paired with the Camry’s electric motor. You can boost capability by adding the $1,525 optional all-wheel drive to the base model’s $29,895 price.

2025 Honda Accord Hybrid

EPA Fuel Economy: 51 mpg city / 44 mpg highway / 48 mpg combined

Honda has never made a bad Accord. The latest hybrid version is one of the best yet, delivering 204 horsepower from two electric motors (a generator and a traction motor), combining driving enjoyment with exceptional smoothness and refinement. It’s also economical, with a 51 mpg city rating and 48 mpg on the highway. Real-world fuel economy in typical driving will be roughly 10% lower, but it remains an impressive overall package. Prices start at $36,090 for the EX-L Hybrid, destination charge included.

2025 Honda Civic Hybrid

EPA Fuel Economy: 50 mpg city / 47 mpg highway / 48 mpg combined

Much of what the Accord achieves, the Civic Hybrid mirrors, but in a smaller and more budget-friendly package. It deservedly earned Motor1’s best car of 2024. It’s not quite as refined as the larger Accord, particularly at higher speeds, but it’s a real hoot through corners. Plus, you can choose either a sedan or hatchback body style. The Civic Hybrid sedan starts at $29,845 in Sport trim, while the hatchback is slightly pricier at $30,495. The sedan variant posts a marginally better 49 mpg combined rating.

2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

EPA Fuel Economy: 44 mpg city / 51 mpg highway / 47 mpg combined

The Hyundai Sonata hybrid received a bold redesign for 2025. It now features a two-tier front end with daytime running lights up top and the actual light clusters positioned lower. If you can live with the styling, you get a very capable midsize sedan with a highly efficient hybrid powertrain that pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor to produce 192 hp. It returns an impressive 47 mpg combined and is reasonably priced, starting at $31,250.

2025 Lexus ES300h

EPA Fuel Economy: 43 mpg city / 44 mpg highway / 44 mpg combined

While the Toyota Camry hints at Lexus-level polish, the ES300h is a bona fide Lexus. With 215 hp from its hybrid system, it isn’t particularly rapid, needing a leisurely 8.1 seconds to reach 60 mph, but in-gear acceleration is surprisingly lively thanks to the electric motor’s assistance. With an EPA combined rating of 44 mpg, it’s not quite as efficient as its Camry mechanical cousin, but it remains very good. Its $44,835 starting price is significantly higher than the Toyota’s as well. A refreshed Lexus ES will arrive next year.

2025 Lexus LC500h

EPA Fuel Economy: 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway / 29 mpg combined

If you want the qualities of the LS500h in a slightly smaller, sportier two-door package, the Lexus LC500h remains available. It shares the same powertrain, but being lighter and more aerodynamic, it achieves a notable 29 mpg combined. The defining trait of the LC, regardless of powertrain, is its design. Whether it will age well is debatable, but right now it’s one of the most attention-grabbing mass-market cars you can buy. It starts at $104,350, which isn’t outrageous for something that resembles a concept car.

2025 Lexus LS500h

EPA Fuel Economy: 22 mpg city / 29 mpg highway / 25 mpg combined

If you’re purchasing a luxurious electrified Lexus sedan, you might as well opt for the LS500h flagship hybrid, which is substantially more sumptuous to ride in and offers greater performance than the ES. A 3.5-liter V-6 paired with an electric motor makes 354 hp while still returning 25 mpg combined, a respectable figure given its size. You trade some efficiency compared with smaller sedans, but gain a lot of extra luxury. With a starting price of $116,660, it’s far from inexpensive. But with an efficient powertrain and a breathtaking interior, it’s the clear choice for those seeking a large, opulent hybrid sedan.

The Bests

Of all these cars, the Honda Accord is the best all-rounder — refined, enjoyable and efficient for a fair price. If maximum efficiency and value matter most, though, the Toyota Prius is the undisputed economy champion with its 57 mpg rating and sub-$30,000 starting price.

Lexus provides something other brands don’t: luxurious flagship models with a non-plug-in hybrid drivetrain. That makes the LS500h and LC500h particularly distinctive offerings. These models aren’t exactly flying off dealership lots in hybrid trims, but they are the best way to combine top-tier luxury with low running costs without the inconvenience of plugging in.

There remain plenty of buyers who prefer a car rather than an SUV, and who want electrification without having to plug it in. The top cars for those buyers do an excellent job of blending thrift, fun and affordability with abundant tech and a strong brand image. Any of these models is a solid pick — try them and see which one suits you and your budget best.