Hybrids that don’t plug in are the most gentle entry into the world of electrified vehicles. Their small batteries and electric motors help boost the efficiency (and performance) of regular cars without overburdening their owners. If you’re looking for a hybrid vehicle that’s not a high-riding crossover or SUV, your options are quite limited in 2025, but they still exist. This is where to find the one for you.
Buying a hybrid sedan in 2025 means that it will come from an established manufacturer, not a startup struggling to turn a profit. But American manufacturers currently don’t have any offerings in this space, so your hybrid car will have to come from an Asian or European carmaker.
General Motors has no hybrids at all. Cadillac may launch a hybrid variant of its revised XT5, with a powertrain similar to the one currently available on the Chinese model, but it’s the only U.S.-market prospect I know of right now. Ford and Lincoln only offer hybrid crossovers, SUVs and the F-150, while Stellantis only offers the Pacifica Hybrid minivan and Jeep hybrid SUVs, and all of those are plug-ins.
If you do want a plug-in but don’t want a high-riding crossover or SUV, aside from a single Toyota (the Prius Prime), all of your other options come from premium brands. Many of these luxury PHEVs have a focus on performance—some have 800 horsepower or more—and address very different buyers from those who would pick a non-plug-in hybrid for its efficiency. I’ve excluded all plug-ins from this list.
How We Test
Between all of our writers, contributors and editors, we have amassed decades of combined car-reviewing experience, and we can quickly spot a dud. There aren’t really any bad cars anymore, so we have to get really in-depth with our analysis and testing of vehicles to determine which ones are better than the others. That’s why we do so many real-world tests, examining vehicles on road trips, during charge tests, on track and off-road.
Our main focus has always been vehicles that plug in (EVs and PHEVs), but we’ve also had the chance to try most hybrids available and we think that hybrids still have a worthy place in the market today. We’ve driven hybrids in North America, Europe and even China, so our perspective on these vehicles has a global scope, even if it ultimately remains U.S.-centric in its guidance.
The main thing we look for in a hybrid is its fuel efficiency. This is the primordial number on which they are judged. Performance is next on our list of priorities because while being frugal is king, nobody wants to drive the automotive equivalent of a sloth. Then we look at value for money, equipment, technology, and what the ownership experience is like, so that after going through one of our Best lists, you will know exactly what to expect when you go out to buy one of these cars.
The list below has the hybrid cars that we tested and liked best, factoring in all of the above, arranged in descending order of combined efficiency.
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 available as either a regular hybrid or a plug-in, and you can also specify all-wheel drive for the first time. Show it a corner and it actually delivers a surprisingly high level of driver enjoyment, while delivering a claimed combined 57 mpg. You can get a Prius today starting at $28,550, and if you want the plug-in hybrid variant, that rises to $33,375 or $35,280 with all-wheel drive.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
EPA Fuel Economy: 51 mpg city / 58 mpg highway / 54 mpg combined
The Hyundai Elantra comes as a hybrid with great efficiency. While it looks a lot more aggressive and sportier than the larger Sonata, its hybrid powertrain is less athletic with an output of just 139 hp. It needs almost nine seconds to hit 60 mph from a standstill, but getting there will feel more exciting than most other hybrids on this list because it has a snappy double-clutch gearbox, not a slippy continuously variable transmission. It’s also quite light and has great handling, while returning 54 mpg. Prices start at $25,450.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
EPA Fuel Economy: 53 mpg city / 50 mpg highway / 51 mpg combined
The latest Toyota Camry hybrid looks and feels so luxurious that it really deserves a Lexus badge. It’s also the sportiest-looking and driving Camry ever, but it doesn’t sacrifice efficiency with its 51 mpg combined rating. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine makes up to 232 hp in combination with the Camry’s electric motor. You can make it extra-capable by adding the $1,525 optional all-wheel drive to the base model’s $29,895 price tag.
Honda Accord Hybrid
EPA Fuel Economy: 51 mpg city / 44 mpg highway / 48 mpg combined
Honda has never made a bad Accord. The latest one in hybrid trim is one of the best ever, with 204 horsepower from two electric motors (a generator and a traction motor), blending driving fun with remarkable smoothness and refinement. It’s also good on fuel, with a 51 mpg city rating and 48 mpg on the highway. Real-world economy under normal driving will be around 10% lower, but it’s still an impressive overall package. Prices start at $36,090 for the EX-L Hybrid, with the destination charge included.
Honda Civic Hybrid
EPA Fuel Economy: 50 mpg city / 47 mpg highway / 48 mpg combined
Most of what the Accord does, the Civic Hybrid matches, but in a smaller and more affordable package. It thoroughly deserved its distinction as Motor1's best car of 2024. It’s not quite as refined as the larger Accord, especially at higher speeds, but it’s really fun through the corners. Plus, you can have it in either sedan or hatchback body styles. The Civic Hybrid sedan has a starting price of $29,845 in Sport trim, while the hatch is slightly more expensive at $30,495. The sedan body has a marginally better 49 mpg combined rating.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
EPA Fuel Economy: 44 mpg city / 51 mpg highway / 47 mpg combined
The Hyundai Sonata hybrid got a bold redesign for 2025. It now has the two-tier front fascia with daytime running lights up top and the actual light clusters lower down. If you don’t mind the design, you get a very competent midsize sedan with a very efficient hybrid powertrain that combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor to make 192 hp. It returns a very impressive 47 mpg combined and is reasonably priced, starting at $31,250.
Lexus ES300h
EPA Fuel Economy: 43 mpg city / 44 mpg highway / 44 mpg combined
While the Toyota Camry has a whiff of Lexus about it, the ES300h is an actual Lexus. With 215 hp from its hybrid powertrain, it's not very quick, requiring a leisurely 8.1 seconds to hit 60 mph, but in-gear acceleration is surprisingly brisk thanks to the aid of the electric motor. With an EPA combined rating of 44 mpg, it’s not quite as efficient as the mechanically related Camry, but it's still very good. Its $44,835 starting price is considerably higher than the Toyota’s, too. A new and improved Lexus ES will be launched next year.
Lexus LC500h
EPA Fuel Economy: 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway / 29 mpg combined
If you’re looking for the same qualities that the LS500h offers but in a slightly smaller, sportier and two-door flavor, the Lexus LC500h is still available. It has the same powertrain, but since it’s lighter and more aerodynamic, it gets a very impressive 29 mpg combined. The defining thing about the LC, whichever powertrain you choose, is the way it looks. Whether it will look good in a few years is up for debate, but right now it’s one of the most head-turning mass-market cars on sale. It starts at $104,350, which really isn’t that much for something that looks like a concept car.
Lexus LS500h
EPA Fuel Economy: 22 mpg city / 29 mpg highway / 25 mpg combined
If you’re going to buy a luxurious electrified Lexus sedan, then you might as well get the LS500h flagship hybrid sedan, which is considerably more plush to ride in and offers more performance than the ES. A 3.5-liter V-6 and electric motor combo delivers 354 hp while still returning 25 mpg combined, a respectable figure given its size. You sacrifice efficiency compared to smaller sedans, but gain a lot of extra luxury. With a starting price of $116,660, it’s far from cheap. But with an efficient powertrain and stunning interior, it's the only choice for those looking for a big, fancy hybrid sedan.
Which To Pick?
Out of all these cars, the Honda Accord is the best all-rounder with refinement, fun and efficiency all for a reasonable asking price. If efficiency and value are your priority, however, the Toyota Prius is the undisputed economy king with its 57 mpg rating and sub-$30,000 starting price.
Lexus offers something that other manufacturers don’t: luxurious flagship vehicles with a non-plug-in hybrid powertrain. That makes the LS500h and LC500h very unique propositions. These cars aren’t exactly flying out of showrooms in hybrid guise, but they are the best way to pair top-tier luxury with low running costs without the hassle of having to plug in.
There are still plenty of buyers out there who want a car, not an SUV, and who want it to be electrified but don’t want to plug it in to charge. The best cars for those buyers do a great job of blending frugality, fun and affordability with plenty of tech and a good brand image. Any of these cars is a fine choice, and all you have to do is try them out and see which one fits you and your budget best.
