10 of the best hybrid cars

10 of the best hybrid cars to lease right now

TL;DR: What's the best hybrid car to lease?

The best hybrid car to lease depends on what you need.

For families, the Hyundai Tucson, Ford Kuga and Chery Tiggo 8 are all excellent shouts. If you want serious electric range and low running costs, the BYD SEAL U and OMODA 9 are hard to beat.

Company car drivers should look closely at the OMODA 9 and JAECOO 7, both of which sit in a very favourable Benefit in Kind bracket.

Whatever you're after, there's a hybrid lease deal in this list with your name on it.

Hybrid cars have well and truly hit their stride – and the numbers back it up.

Research by YouGov found that 46% of car buyers would choose a hybrid. And there are no signs of that trend slowing down.

They're the perfect middle ground – cleaner and cheaper to run than a traditional petrol or diesel, without the range anxiety that still puts some people off going fully electric.

Whether you're after a plug-in hybrid lease to slash your fuel bills, a self-charging hybrid that keeps things simple, or a company car with a Benefit in Kind (BiK) rate that won't make your bank account wince, we've pulled together 10 of the best hybrid cars you can lease right now.

One thing worth knowing before you start: from April 2028, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivers will face a new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) charge of 1.5p per mile – around £128 a year with a mileage of 8,500 miles. Mild and full hybrids won't be affected.

Ready to find your perfect hybrid lease?

What are the different types of hybrid car?

Before we start comparing lease deals, it's worth knowing the difference between the three main types of hybrid powertrain.

A mild hybrid (MHEV) uses a small electric motor to assist the petrol engine and improve efficiency. You can't drive on electric power alone – it just makes the engine work smarter.

A self-charging/full hybrid (HEV or FHEV) has a larger battery that can power the car on electricity alone for short distances, particularly in town. No plugging in needed – it charges itself as you drive.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has the largest battery and needs charging via a plug. The reward is serious electric range – many manage 30 to 60 miles and some push beyond 90, meaning the petrol engine barely gets a look-in on most daily journeys. If you're considering going fully electric, take a look at our electric car lease deals.

Not sure which is right for you? Talk to one of our leasing experts.

BYD SEAL U

Here's a stat that should make you look twice: the BYD SEAL U Comfort can officially cover 78 miles on electric power alone (WLTP Comb).

More than the Range Rover Sport P460e, at a fraction of the price.

BYD's first plug-in hybrid to hit UK roads arrived with a point to prove, and it succeeds. The kit list reads like a premium options sheet: ventilated and heated front seats, 360-degree cameras, head-up display and wireless charging for two smartphones.

And all of that comes as standard across every trim.

The hybrid system is smooth, the flat rear floor keeps the back seats liveable, and 425 litres of boot space handles family life without any drama.

Our pick: BYD SEAL U Comfort

MG HS

What Car? named the MG HS plug-in hybrid their PHEV of the Year for 2025 – and Best Family SUV for Value. That's not a fluke.

The MG HS PHEV has a WLTP Comb electric range of 75 miles, and in real-world testing it managed 74. That kind of real-world accuracy is rare, and you could realistically cover most of your weekly mileage without touching the petrol engine.

Boot space is a consistent 507 litres across every variant, which is unusual for a PHEV, and genuinely useful for families.

It's not the most exciting thing in the world to drive, but it's not trying to be.

It's trying to be a practical, comfortable, affordable family SUV.

At that? It excels.

Our pick: MG HS Plug-in Hybrid SE

Ford Kuga

The Ford Kuga has quietly become one of the most well-rounded family SUVs on the market, and with versions at both ends of the hybrid spectrum, there's a version to suit almost every kind of driver.

For many, the full hybrid (FHEV) will be the sweet spot.

Smooth, efficient, and more willing to run on electric power than comparable rivals.

Company car drivers might want to look at the PHEV instead: its 43-mile (WLTP Comb) electric range keeps CO2 low, BiK costs competitive, and an eight-year battery warranty adds reassurance for longer contract terms.

What the Kuga does brilliantly is drive well, carry families comfortably, and offer genuine hybrid efficiency without asking too much of you in return.

Our pick: Ford Kuga ST-Line FHEV

Chery Tiggo 7

Chery might be a new name on UK roads, but they're far from a new company.

Behind the Tiggo 7 sits one of the world's largest automotive manufacturers – the same group behind JAECOO and OMODA – and they've arrived with a clear proposition: a lot of car for not a lot of money.

The Super Hybrid PHEV delivers 56 miles of electric-only range (WLTP Comb) and charges from 30-80% in 20 minutes.

Inside, it punches well above its price with soft-touch materials throughout, physical air-con controls and a cooled wireless charging pad.

Chery is too new to the UK to have a reliability record here. But what they do offer is a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty and 12 months roadside assistance, which goes a long way to covering that uncertainty.

Our pick: Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Summit

Hyundai Tucson

If practicality is your priority, the Hyundai Tucson is very difficult to beat.

The boot is among the largest in the family SUV class: 620 litres in the non-hybrid versions, and a still-impressive 558 litres in the PHEV.

Families who've played the 'will it all fit?' game on a Friday afternoon before a holiday will know exactly why that matters.

And the engine choice is broad.

The full hybrid is hushed and brisk in town; the PHEV, with CO2 emissions of just 22g/km and 43 miles of electric range (WLTP Comb), is one of the more tax-efficient choices in the class for company car drivers.

Sure, the Tucson isn't the sharpest thing to drive – it flows rather than darts, and the steering is better suited to a relaxed pace than a spirited one.

But for a family SUV lease where comfort, space, and running costs are the priority, that's no bad thing.

Our pick: Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi Plug-in Hybrid N Line

JAECOO 7

The JAECOO 7's headline figure is a competitive 57 miles of electric-only range (WLTP Comb), ahead of both the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Kuga PHEVs, with a 40kW rapid charging rate that delivers a 30-80% top-up in around 20 minutes.

If you're predominantly charging at home and keeping most journeys within that electric range, the running cost case is strong.

The Super Hybrid System (SHS) itself is refined and quiet, and the kit list is generous: heated seats, panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, and a powered tailgate on the entry-level trim.

The driving dynamics take some adjustment on bumpier roads, so it's best suited to drivers doing motorway and urban miles, exactly where the electric range does its best work.

Our pick: JAECOO 7 1.5T SHS Luxury

OMODA 9

The OMODA 9 leads this list on electric range: a remarkable 93 miles (WLTP Comb) from a family SUV which makes it one of the most compelling PHEV options here.

The 34.5kWh battery is the largest fitted to any car here, and in testing, the OMODA 9 managed just over 80 miles per charge in real-world conditions.

Pair that with 70kW rapid charging capability and you have a car that, for most daily driving, barely needs to touch its 1.5-litre petrol engine at all.

The 660-litre boot is generous, the panoramic sunroof is standard, and the spec list – heated and cooled seats front and rear, head-up display, ambient lighting, autonomous parking – reads like a premium options sheet on a rival that costs considerably more.

Add on its seven-year/100,000-mile warranty and separate eight-year high-voltage battery warranty, and you have a car that punches well above its price point.

Our pick: OMODA 9 1.5T SHS Noble

Chery Tiggo 8

The Chery Tiggo 8 is the only seven-seater in this list – and it undercuts virtually every rival in the class.

The Super Hybrid PHEV delivers 56 miles of electric-only range (WLTP Comb) and charges from 20-80% in 20 minutes – faster than the Peugeot 5008 PHEV, which can't rapid charge at all.

For a seven-seater at this price point, that's a genuinely impressive stat.

The sliding middle row seats let you prioritise legroom or boot space as needed, and the front passenger seat folds flat for longer loads. Adults are best kept to the first two rows, but for families needing occasional seven-seat flexibility, it's hard to argue with this value.

Our pick: Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Summit

Honda Jazz

You genuinely won’t find a more spacious supermini than the Honda Jazz.

That might not be scientifically verified, but we once managed to move an entire house in about five trips with a Jazz (it even gave the bigger SKODA Yeti a run for its money with how much we fit in).

And it even fits a flat-packed Billy bookcase. Just about.

It’s the perfect choice if you’re after the compact dimensions, but don’t want to compromise on practicality and versatility.

The fuel-sipping hybrid system keeps running costs low, and if you don’t want to commit to anything more electrified than a mild hybrid, this is one of the best examples around.

Are we in love with the Honda Jazz? Yes. But you will be too, if you just give it a try.

Our pick: Honda Jazz 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid Elegance eCVT

Toyota Corolla

No plugging in. No charging cables. The Toyota Corolla's full hybrid system does everything itself – and quietly gets on with being one of the most efficient family cars on the road.

And efficient it is.

Real-world testing returned 50.5mpg in combined driving – a figure that holds up well around town, where the electric motor handles most of the low-speed work.

CO2 emissions from as little as 100g/km also make it a sensible choice for a company car in the FHEV class, keeping BiK bills lower than a standard petrol equivalent without the commitment of a plug-in. Find out more about the tax benefits of leasing for businesses.

Physical dials for the air-conditioning are a welcome touch, and standard kit across all trims is generous: automatic LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and dual-zone climate control.

Toyota finished fourth out of 30 manufacturers in the 2025 What Car? reliability survey, and a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty backs that up.

For drivers who want a reliable, efficient, no-fuss hybrid lease without changing their routine to accommodate charging, the Corolla remains one of the best in its class.

Our pick: Toyota Corolla Hatchback 1.8 Hybrid Icon

Hybrid leasing FAQs

Is a hybrid car a good choice for a business lease?

For many company car drivers, a plug-in hybrid is one of the most tax-efficient lease choices available right now. PHEVs sit in a low BiK bracket thanks to their low CO2 emissions, but to get the most out of it, you'll want to charge regularly. If that's not practical, a full hybrid like the Toyota Corolla or Ford Kuga FHEV still delivers lower emissions and better fuel economy than a petrol equivalent. Find out more about business car lease deals.

How many miles can I do on electric power alone?

The cars in this list range from 43 miles in the Hyundai Tucson PHEV to 93 miles in the OMODA 9 (WLTP Comb). For most daily commutes, even the shorter ranges will cover the majority of journeys on electricity alone – provided you charge regularly.

Will hybrid cars face new charges in the future?

From April 2028, PHEV drivers will face a new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) charge of 1.5p per mile – around £128 a year on 8,500 miles, roughly half what petrol and diesel drivers currently pay in fuel duty. Mild hybrids and full self-charging hybrids won't be subject to the additional eVED charge.

Ready to find your hybrid lease deal?

Whether you're after a spacious family SUV, a tax-efficient company car, or a no-fuss self-charging hybrid that fits around your routine, there's a deal in this list to suit.

Our leasing experts can help you compare monthly costs, work out the right contract length and mileage, and get you behind the wheel of your next hybrid faster than you'd expect.