Hybrid vehicles are sometimes seen as the best stepping stone between a traditional petrol or diesel mannequin and an electrical automobile. However they’re additionally among the many most reliable motors you may personal proper now.
Regardless of the complexities of getting a mixture of combustion engine (virtually all the time petrol), small battery pack and electrical motor, hybrids are by far essentially the most sturdy gas kind, in accordance with What Automobile?’s newest reliability survey.
Exhibiting simply how far the expertise has come because the Toyota Prius debuted in Britain on the flip of the Century, simply 19 per cent of homeowners of hybrid vehicles – each typical self-charging hybrids and plug-ins (PHEV) – reported not less than one fault within the final two years.
To place that into context, 22 per cent of petrol went flawed, 27 per cent of EVs and virtually a 3rd of diesels.
The information from the newest reliability ballot additionally reveals they spend the least period of time off the highway being fastened – and house owners occasionally must put their hand in their very own pocked to cowl repairs.
However which fashions are greatest?
This is the countdown of the ten hybrids with the very best reliability scores. We have additionally revealed the three lowest-rated fashions, which is able to nonetheless show extra reliable than most petrol, diesel and electrical vehicles.
MOST RELIABLE HYBRID CARS
Reliability rating: 96.5%
Round one in seven XC60 PHEV house owners stated encountered reliability points within the final 24 months. Volvo repaired all of them underneath guarantee, although some took a little bit of time to repair
Volvo has turned predominantly into an SUV maker, particularly within the UK the place it has deleted its saloon fashions and – regardless of reversing a current resolution to cull them – has severely whittled-down its property choices. The XC60 is one in all its longest working 4X4s, but it has been electrified with a alternative of plug-in hybrid drivetrains.
Some 15 per cent of homeowners of the PHEV vehicles stated that they had confronted reliability issues over the earlier 24 months. Most of those complications have been brought on by bodywork niggles and non-powertrain electrical woes, reminiscent of infotainment gremlins. One in 5 of those have been undrivable because of faults.
Positively, all have been repaired by Volvo underneath guarantee. Sadly, although, a few of these took a little bit of time; whereas half we’re rectified inside a day, a 3rd have been off the highway for over every week.
Reliability rating: 96.8%
Toyota’s first-generation C-HR crossover is among the many most dependable hybrid vehicles. Most points have been associated to the 12-volt battery. Nevertheless, there have been additionally some experiences {of electrical} points
When the Toyota C-HR arrived in showrooms in 2016, it wowed drivers with its idea automotive seems. The compact SUV – offered completely as a self-charging hybrid – is effectively outfitted, has a contemporary cabin design and holds its worth exceptionally effectively, making it a strong alternative even for used patrons right this moment,
One other issue that makes this a powerful second-hand choice is its reliability file, Simply 14 per cent of homeowners expressed to What Automobile? that they’d encountered faults within the final two years. Most have been associated to the 12-volt battery. Nevertheless, there have been additionally some experiences of different electrical points, too.
Getting C-HRs repaired and again on the highway was largely a fast course of; 83 per cent have been in workshops for lower than a day and the remaining have been remediated inside every week. However house owners did face prices regardless of many being throughout the three-year window of Toyota’s guarantee. But 73 per cent of homeowners needed to cough up for restore payments – most of them over £100. Some reported storage receipts over £500.
Reliability rating: 97.0%
Of the tenth of Volvo XC40 PHEV house owners who reported issues, some have been comparatively minor (air-con and 12-volt battery) however others have been extra critical, together with points with the hybrid battery pack. The latter resulted in two thirds of defective vehicles being rendered undrivable
Because it arrived available on the market some seven years in the past, the Volvo XC40 has been That is Cash’s favorite compact SUV. It drives effectively, is extremely snug and well-appointed with an aesthetic inside. Whereas Volvo has terminated its relationship with diesel engines, early fashions have been accessible with oil burners in addition to petrol, hybrid and pure-election drivetrains. We’re discussing solely PHEV vehicles right here, although.
Just one in ten plug-in hybrid XC40 drivers instructed What Automobile? their Volvos had suffered dependability woes. In distinction, the opposite engine varieties had round twice as many points.
PHEV faults ranged from comparatively minor issues such because the air-con and 12-volt battery as much as extra critical points with the hybrid battery pack, the latter faults doubtless these leading to two thirds of vehicles being rendered undrivable. Each fault was repaired freed from cost underneath guarantee, although. One grievance was that only a fifth have been fastened in a day – the remaining took every week or longer.
Reliability rating: 97.6%
Some 13% of drivers of the present Lexus NX reported a fault of some sort within the final 24 months. Most have been fairly minor although with the overwhelming majority bodywork associated
Lexus – the luxurious arm of Toyota – tends to tick two predominant containers with its vehicles: they’re all the time premium fashions with plush interiors and in virtually all eventualities include hybrid energy. One of many smallest automobiles in its line-up, the NX crossover, suits this invoice utilizing the tried-and-tested 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid drivetrain that’s powered Toyota vehicles for a technology.
The newest instance of the NX is proving a comparatively reliable buy. Some 13 per cent of drivers of this automotive reported a fault of some sort within the final 24 months. Most have been fairly minor although with the overwhelming majority bodywork associated.
Whereas the overwhelming majority of NXs ought to have been coated by the producer’s three-year guarantee, one in ten house owners did incur prices of between £301 to £500 to have their vehicles put proper. Round 4 in 5 have been fastened in a day or much less and the remaining have been in workshops for lower than every week. However the brand new NX nonetheless is not as dependable as its predecessor…
Reliability rating: 98.7%
Hybrid Mercedes A-Courses are proving extra dependable than petrols with only one in ten drivers of the previous encountering faults in contrast with a fifth of complaining petrol house owners
The present Mercedes A-Class is an achieved household hatchback. It is likely to be the smallest automotive the German outfit produces but it surely hasn’t lower corners of luxuries with an excellent cabin, numerous stylish supplies and heaps of kit. It’s higher to drive than any A-Class to precede it, too, and has the A250e self-charging hybrid affords a inexperienced powertrain choice.
Hybrids are proving extra dependable than petrols with only one in ten drivers of the previous telling What Automobile? that they had encountered faults within the final 24 months in contrast with a fifth of complaining petrol house owners.
And the only real reason behind subject with hybrids is expounded to inside trim, and all of those issues have been resolved freed from cost underneath guarantee. Sadly, some drivers needed to be affected person earlier than getting their vehicles again from workshops, with only a quarter returned to their driveways in underneath 24 hours. Two fifths have been in restore garages for over every week.
How are the reliability scores calculated?
In 2024, What Automobile? acquired suggestions from 29,967 house owners in regards to the automobiles they drive. Every motorist was requested about faults – if any – their vehicles had suffered within the earlier 24 months.
In cases the place the proprietor stated their automotive had suffered an issue, they have been requested how a lot the fault had value to restore and the way lengthy the motor was off the highway being fastened. This information was then used to calculate a reliability score. In complete, reliability scores for 199 completely different fashions throughout 31 manufacturers have been created.
The rankings are just for vehicles as much as 5 years outdated – these courting again to 2019.
The suggestions from drivers can be used to offer extra element to potential patrons about the most typical faults and the way a lot the restore invoice for his or her automotive was over the two-year interval.
Reliability rating: 98.8%
With a 98.8% reliability rating, the Lexus RX (2016-2022) not solely sits among the many high 5 most reliable hybrid vehicles – it’s the very best rated luxurious automotive throughout all gas varieties
One of many first luxurious SUVs to supply petrol-electric energy completely, Lexus’ RX is among the daddies of the hybrid market. Giant, capacious, secure and a cabin decked in plush supplies, each model is a tempting choice for patrons on this market. The automotive we’re focussing on right here his the previous-generation RX.
With a 98.8 per cent reliability rating based mostly on suggestions from house owners, this not solely sits among the many high 5 most reliable hybrid vehicles – it’s the very best rated luxurious automotive within the newest What Automobile? report.
A mere 3 per cent of homeowners of this technology of RX stated they needed to take care of issues. These have been restricted to non-drivetrain electrical methods – together with the air-con – and the bodywork. Each automotive was fastened in a day and underneath guarantee.
Reliability rating: 98.8%
Simply 3% of Toyota RAV4 house owners had issues with their vehicles during the last two years, restricted solely to 12-volt battery and hybrid battery pack points
The best scoring Toyota on this listing is the present RAV4, which is the second highest-scoring household SUV too. Having spanned 5 generations courting again to the mid-nineties, it has constantly been a reliable alternative of motoring for Britons for 3 a long time.
The newest instance is offered as each a traditional self-charging hybrid and a PHEV – the latter providing as much as 46 miles of electric-only vary when absolutely charged. These outcomes mix each hybrid drivetrains.
Simply 3 per cent of homeowners had issues with their vehicles during the last two years, restricted solely to 12-volt battery and hybrid battery pack points. Most have been nonetheless drivable and a 3rd have been fastened inside 24 hours – the remaining inside seven days. Whereas Toyota coated the price of 83 per cent of repairs, the remaining needed to pay £100 to £200 to get their SUVs put proper.
Reliability rating: 99.0%
The hybrid Hyundai Kona isn’t just proving much more reliable than the absolutely electrical model, it is adequate to be the third most reliable petrol-electric automotive on this listing
Consumers Hyundai Konas have a large alternative of gas varieties – it’s offered as a petroleum or absolutely electrical automotive with a hybrid choice a stepping stone between the 2. And it is the latter petrol-electric combo that we’re protecting right here.
Simply 7 per cent of hybrid Kona drivers needed to take care of faults within the earlier 24 months – that is a a lot smaller share of homeowners than Kona Electrical customers, of which 1 / 4 had to deal with their vehicles growing points. For the hybrid fashions, it was largely electrical gremlins within the sat-nav/infotainment system that was the reason for complaints.
With most points being minor, it is no shock that each one defective vehicles might nonetheless be pushed and all have been repaired inside every week – half in underneath 24 hours. The Korean model’s five-year guarantee additionally means all fashions referenced had work undertaken without charge.
Reliability rating: 99.3%
The Lexus ES hybrid saloon is way from a preferred alternative in Britain. Nevertheless, based mostly on its 99.3% reliability score, possibly extra folks ought to take into account it. This is what tends to go flawed…
Second within the listing of most dependable hybrid vehicles is one which’s a comparatively uncommon sight on UK roads. The Lexus ES govt saloon may profit from low automobile excise obligation prices, firm automotive tax and excessive miles-per-gallon returns, but it surely is not what you’d name a quantity vendor in Britain. However based mostly on its dependability alone, possibly it needs to be a extra thought-about used purchase.
Homeowners of ES saloons as much as 5 years outdated recommend they’re just about bulletproof with a mixed reliability score of 99.3 per cent. It is because solely two in fifth drivers had any points to complain of within the final 24 months – all of them associated to the sat-nav/infotainment system.
Each fault was resolved in lower than every week and underneath guarantee at no buyer value.
Reliability rating: 100%
Not a single Lexus NX (2014-2021) proprietor of five-year-old examples reported experiencing a fault with their vehicles. As such, the previous-generation compact SUV scores 100%
Whereas the present Lexus NX is proving dependable sufficient to take seventh spot on this listing, the model that got here earlier than it has claimed the crown of most reliable hybrid automotive.
Of all of the house owners of this mannequin who offered suggestions to What Automobile?, not a single one might identify a fault within the final two years.
Meaning no days off the highway being repaired, no undesirable restore payments and – fairly merely – not complications in any respect. Consequently, it earned a 100 per cent reliability score.
LEAST RELIABLE HYBRID CARS
Reliability rating: 93.1%
A 93.1% reliability score means the Toyota Yaris Cross remains to be extraordinarily sturdy – simply not as reliable as different hybrid vehicles
The Toyota Yaris’ failure to make the highest 10 most dependable hybrids comes as a serious shock, given it has all the time been among the many most reliable small vehicles because the first technology launched shortly earlier than the flip of the final Century. However extra regarding is the actual fact the Yaris Cross – the jacked-up crossover model of the newest mannequin – is the third least dependable hybrid.
In its defence, a 93.1 per cent reliability score is way from horrible. 1 / 4 of homeowners stated their automotive had suffered an issue within the final 24 months, largely triggered by the 12-volt battery.
Greater than three quarters (77 per cent) have been coated by the guarantee, although the remaining drivers needed to pay between £100 and £500 to have points fastened. Two third have been again on the highway inside a day however 15 per cent have been in workshops for over every week.
Reliability rating: 92.0%
The BMW 330e is way from unreliable, although house owners who did encounter issues confronted lengthy durations with out their vehicles – and a few incurred excessive restore prices
As with the Toyota Yaris Cross, the BMW 3 Sequence hybrid – the 330e – is way from unreliable, with a rating of 92.0 per cent. Nevertheless, as a result of normal robustness of hybrid automobiles, that rating is low sufficient to be thought-about among the many three worst performers, extremely.
Some 16 per cent of homeowners encountered points – and plenty of of those have been linked to the engine/motor electrics and the hybrid battery pack. As such, repairs proved each expensive and time consuming.
Simply over half of defective vehicles have been off the highway for greater than every week and, though BMW foot the invoice in seven in ten cases, over a fifth of drivers needed to stump up workshop prices in extra of £1,500.
Reliability rating: 89.6%
A comparatively excessive quantity of faults value the Ford Kuga within the reliability rankings. A 3rd of homeowners stated their automotive had suffered faults and these have been generally brought on by the 12V battery
Once more, we first must reiterate {that a} reliability score of 89.6 per cent removed from suggests the Ford Kuga is a automotive riddled with reliability points, however the rating remains to be decrease than some other hybrid mannequin. The newest SUV is accessible as a traditional or plug-in hybrid – the latter providing 43 miles of electric-only vary if the battery is charged to 100 per cent.
A excessive quantity of faults is what value the Kuga; a 3rd of homeowners of hybrids stated their automotive had suffered faults and these have been generally brought on by the 12-volt battery.
Half or troubled examples have been undriveable because of this and two fifths spent greater than every week off the highway being repaired. Happily, virtually all have been coated underneath guarantee, although 3 per cent of homeowners needed to pay storage payments of £201 to £300.
Some hyperlinks on this article could also be affiliate hyperlinks. When you click on on them we might earn a small fee. That helps us fund This Is Cash, and preserve it free to make use of. We don’t write articles to advertise merchandise. We don’t enable any industrial relationship to have an effect on our editorial independence.
