Cheapest Hybrid Cars to Run in the UK (2026)
With UK petrol averaging 174.1p a litre, a hybrid can cut a typical fuel bill by a third or more compared with a petrol car of the same size. This guide ranks popular full hybrids (the self-charging kind, no plug) by what they cost to fuel, using current prices.
How we worked these out: official combined MPG figures come from manufacturers and car-buying sites, and real drivers typically get around 15% less. We've applied that to every car, then priced the fuel at the current UK petrol average of 174.1p per litre. Treat the figures as a fair comparison between cars, not a promise for your own driving.
Hybrid running costs, ranked
| Car | Type | Official MPG | Estimated real-world | Fuel per 100 miles | Fuel per year (12,000 miles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris Hybrid | Small hatch | ~70 MPG | ~60 MPG | ~£13.19 | ~£1,583 |
| Renault Clio E-Tech Full Hybrid | Small hatch | ~67 MPG | ~57 MPG | ~£13.89 | ~£1,666 |
| Mazda2 Hybrid | Small hatch | ~67 MPG | ~57 MPG | ~£13.89 | ~£1,666 |
| MG3 Hybrid+ | Small hatch | ~64 MPG | ~54 MPG | ~£14.66 | ~£1,759 |
| Toyota Yaris Cross | Small SUV | ~64 MPG | ~54 MPG | ~£14.66 | ~£1,759 |
| Honda Jazz e:HEV | Small hatch | ~63 MPG | ~54 MPG | ~£14.66 | ~£1,759 |
| Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid | Family hatch | ~63 MPG | ~54 MPG | ~£14.66 | ~£1,759 |
| Honda Civic e:HEV | Family hatch | ~60 MPG | ~51 MPG | ~£15.52 | ~£1,862 |
| Hyundai Kona Hybrid | Small SUV | ~60 MPG | ~51 MPG | ~£15.52 | ~£1,862 |
| Dacia Jogger Hybrid | 7-seat family | ~59 MPG | ~50 MPG | ~£15.83 | ~£1,900 |
| Dacia Duster Hybrid | SUV | ~56 MPG | ~48 MPG | ~£16.49 | ~£1,979 |
| MG ZS Hybrid+ | SUV | ~55 MPG | ~47 MPG | ~£16.84 | ~£2,021 |
Official MPG from carwow and RAC listings, rounded. Real-world estimate is 85% of official. Petrol 174.1p/litre, 1 gallon = 4.546 litres.
Our picks
How much does a hybrid save?
A petrol car managing a real-world 38 MPG costs about £20.83 per 100 miles to fuel at today's prices. The most efficient hybrids in the table cost around £13.19-£15.52, which is a saving of roughly £741 a year for someone driving 12,000 miles.
Where hybrids shine: town and suburban driving, where the battery helps most. On long motorway runs at 70mph the advantage shrinks, and a good diesel can match them. If most of your miles are motorway, check both.
Hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric?
A full hybrid is the simplest: no plug, no charging habits to change. A plug-in hybrid can be cheaper still if you charge it at home, but if you rarely plug in it behaves like a heavy petrol car. If you can charge at home, a pure EV is usually cheapest of all — see our cheapest electric cars to run and the EV vs hybrid comparison.
Work out your own cost
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