We present you with the best hybrid cars in 2018, each with its own specific characteristics and purpose.
2018 should be a key year in the consolidation and possible widespread growth in the sales of hybrid cars. Just like petrol and diesel vehicles, each one of them has their signature features and different objectives, but naturally enough they all have one common feature: excellence. We’ve selected what we consider to be the six best hybrids, making it impossible for you to say no to a road trip this year.
Hyundai Ioniq: the promise
The new Korean compact is the first model offered in all-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. This should exponentially boost its sales as it boasts several configuration options. Hybrid versions combine an electric motor with another 1.6 litre petrol engine and together deliver 141 horsepower. Electric range is 50km with a certified fuel consumption of 3.4L/100km. Prices start at €23,900. Make sure to check out the Hyundai Ioniq hybrid test to find out more.
As for the interior and comfort, all variants of the Ioniq take full advantage of Hyundai’s leap in quality with a sophisticated, well-finished, and comfortable interior and plenty of space for luggage. All Hyundais now come as standard with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty for the powertrain, steering, suspension and braking systems, and the Ioniq models offer an eight-year warranty or 200,000km for batteries, whichever comes first.
Kia Niro: the logical choice
This Asian hybrid subcompact crossover SUV is now available to buy in Spain with prices starting at €25,400. Niro shares the Hyundai Ioniq platform, measuring 4.35m in length and comes with 421 litres of luggage capacity. All the standard equipment comes with the latest technology; including hill start assist, Bluetooth, Start/Stop, bi-zone air-conditioning, daylight LED headlights, and a speed limiter. You can read more about our Kia Niro test here.
The 1.6L petrol engine offers 105 horsepower; while the electric can move the car by itself and also helps the former in high acceleration moments, with the two together providing a maximum power of 141 horsepower, and comes with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A hybrid plug-in version is expected to arrive in 2018, offering the same power, but with an electric range of 55 km in the NEDC cycle, although it will have slightly less luggage space.
Range Rover Sport Hybrid: the giant
The hybrid variant of this premium British SUV is on a par with the best of the best, like the Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X5. Range Rover Sport’s mechanics deliver a combined 340 horsepower, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 6.7 seconds despite its weight that comfortably exceeds two tonnes. The SUV can be configured with five or seven seats, and it’s available in Spain at a ‘starting’ price of €99,300.
The Range Rover Sport is neither agile nor cheap, but it is undoubtedly one of the best SUVs on the market, combining excellent performance on the road and certain possibilities off-road, without sacrificing the luxury and refined comfort you’d expect from a Range Rover. The aluminium body measures 4.85m in length and almost 1.9m wide, giving it the possibility to offer up to seven seats.
Toyota Auris Hybrid: the biggest seller
One of the top hybrids on the market is the Japanese compact Toyota Auris, thanks to its reliability and experience. It recently received a makeover to make it even more appealing, and the hybrid version comes in at a very affordable price of €21,970. Delivering 136 horsepower, and more importantly a certified 3.5L/100km, it registers more than 1400km of autonomy. Performance is impressive too, accelerating from 0 to 100km in 10.9 seconds.
Toyota has kept the five-door hatchback, and the familiar Touring Sports that’s 260mm longer than the hatchback and luggage space is bumped up by 170 litres. The Auris Hybrid has three gear levels (Active, Feel! and Advance), while the rest settle for the first two.
Toyota C-HR: the future bestseller
Toyota’s new subcompact crossover is here, hybrid drive, a revamped design and a coupe look. It is already on sale with prices starting from €24,250. The C-HR produces122 horsepower and has three gear levels (Active, Advance and Dynamic Plus)- and from entry level to top of the range offer more than generous extras, including a rearview camera, 17-inch alloy wheels and an 8-inch multimedia touchscreen. We tested it recently, and you can read about it here.
Its low lying sculptured coupe forms keep it close to the road, and the roof drops sharply at the rear allowing very little light to enter through the small windows. Compared to an Auris, passengers sit a few centimetres higher, and luggage capacity is increased by 17 litres when put side by side with the five-door chassis.
Lexus CT 200h
The compact Lexus has been around since 2011, but it’s been regularly getting upgrades along the way, with the last one at the end of 2017. It has a more energetic look and feel on the outside thanks to the new sporty bumpers, a larger spindle grille, and Bi-LEDs headlights. Changes inside the car are far more subtle, but it now comes with a 10.3 display screen and smart control buttons on the steering wheel.
Lexus has also added new upholstery. Despite these changes, the CT 200h keeps its original length of 4.35m and the premium style we’ve come to expect from Lexus. Although the car’s main feature is the hybrid engine, it still has the same 1.8 litre engine coupled with an electric motor, which together produce a combined 136 horsepower, giving enough torque to go from 0 to 100km in 10.3 seconds. Fuel consumption is impressively low, especially in the city, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) helps to serve up better fuel economy but does take away from the driving experience.
