Top 10 best hybrid SUVs and hybrid 4x4s 2025

Hybrid SUVs and hybrid 4x4s are more popular than ever, giving buyers a mix of practicality, efficiency, and all-weather capability. Whether you need a spacious family SUV or a rugged 4x4 for tougher conditions, hybrid technology can help cut running costs without sacrificing usability. But with so many options on the market, it’s important to know which models genuinely deliver on their promises. That’s where our expert road testers come in – they’ve assessed every hybrid SUV and 4x4 on sale to help you find the best.

Not all hybrids are the same, and the type of system a car uses makes a big difference to how it drives. Some SUVs, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, use full-hybrid technology, which means they don’t need to be plugged in but can still drive short distances on electric power. These are great for town driving, offering strong efficiency gains without the hassle of charging. Plug-in hybrid SUVs, such as the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90, take things further with larger batteries that allow for full-electric driving over significant distances, often well over 50 miles, making them ideal for short commutes or city driving with the backup of a petrol engine for longer trips.

Hybrid 4x4s tend to focus more on capability, with models such as the Land Rover Defender PHEV offering serious off-road ability alongside electric efficiency. Some feature part-time four-wheel drive, which means they only send power to all four wheels when extra traction is needed, while others have permanent 4WD for continuous grip on rough terrain. If you need a tow car, a plug-in hybrid with a powerful engine and strong torque figures – like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – can be a great option, although towing range on electric power alone is often limited.

To find out which models truly deliver, our road testers have put them through their paces in real-world conditions. Whether its fuel economy on long motorway drives, practicality on the school run, or traction on rough terrain, every car on this list has been thoroughly assessed beyond the manufacturer’s claims. The result is a shortlist of hybrid SUVs and hybrid 4x4s that offer the best mix of efficiency, performance, and everyday usability.

Best hybrid SUVs and hybrid 4x4s to buy now

Read on to find our list of the best hybrid SUVs and hybrid 4x4s. If you’re after a similar car but feel ready to make the jump to a full EV, then take a look at the best electric SUVs and best 4x4 electric cars currently on sale.

1. Dacia Duster Hybrid 140

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• Prices from £24,350
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 56.5mpg

The Dacia Duster Hybrid 140 maintains Dacia’s no-nonsense approach while adding hybrid efficiency. Its 1.6-litre engine and electric motor deliver a claimed 57.6mpg. The automatic gearbox - exclusive to the hybrid - makes driving smoother than the clunky manual in the petrol versions, and while it’s no rocket ship, the Dacia produces a combined 138bhp and a 0-62mph time of 10.1 seconds to make it quicker than the entry-level petrol models. The boot shrinks slightly to 486 litres due to the hybrid system, but it’s still plenty for everyday use. 

2. Hyundai Santa Fe

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• Prices from £46,775
• Maximum WLTP combined electric range: 36 miles

The Hyundai Santa Fe combines efficiency with practicality, offering a choice of a full hybrid or plug-in hybrid. Both use a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with an electric motor, producing 212bhp in the regular hybrid and 250bhp in the PHEV. The latter covers the 0-62mph sprint in 9.3 seconds and comes with four-wheel drive as standard. Hyundai claims the PHEV can achieve 166mpg, but that figure is based on test conditions – most drivers won’t see anything close to that in everyday use.

Boot space is generous, with 628 litres in the five-seat hybrid and 621 litres in the PHEV. Five and seven-seat versions are available, making it a spacious choice for families.

Read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review to find out more.

3. Renault Captur

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• Prices from £24,795
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 61.4mpg

There’s plenty of choice when it comes to small hybrid SUVs, so a model needs to be special to stand out. The newest Renault Captur manages to impress thanks not only to its affordable price, but also due to the smart tech. Unlike the previous-generation Captur, every single model comes fitted with the 10.4-inch touchscreen that uses Renault’s OpenR Link infotainment system that is very easy to navigate and comes with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity. 

The hybrid set-up fitted in the Captur E-Tech is a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with a 1.2kWh battery to make a full-hybrid system that produces a combined 143bhp, and is efficient enough to get over 60mpg on the WLTP cycle. On the road, the Renault is very comfortable, managing to iron out most lumps and bumps, and when moving off the electric motor gives the car a bit of boost to pull away quickly enough.

Read our full Renault Captur review to find out more.

4. Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV

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• Prices from £42,555
• Maximum WLTP electric range: 77 miles

Volkswagen has spent over 80 years developing cars for families, so it's no surprise that the Tiguan PHEV makes our list. Offering a relaxing drive with its proven plug-in powertrain, it provides up to 77 miles of electric range. 

Despite the battery pack reducing boot space by 162 litres, the Tiguan still has a respectable 490 litres of boot capacity and it comfortably seats three adults in the rear. The Tiguan transitions smoothly from electric to petrol power, with the most powerful model boasting a decent combined power output of 268 bhp and achieving 0-62 mph acceleration in 7.2 seconds.

Read our full Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV review to find out more.

5. Ford Kuga PHEV

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• Prices from £38,655
• Maximum WLTP electric range: 42 miles

The Ford Kuga has been out since 2008, and this third-generation model is the best yet. There are three hybrid options: mild-hybrid, full-hybrid and PHEV, with the latter being the best. The Kuga PHEV comes with a 2.5 litre petrol engine combined with a 14.4kWh battery that powers the car in EV mode for around 42 miles. When you are using the Kuga in the normal hybrid mode you have a combined 240bhp at your disposal, and propels the car from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds.

Inside, you get a pair of digital screens and the physical buttons have been replaced by a touchscreen system for navigation and climate controls, while front and rear sensors and a reversing camera are fitted as standard.

Read our full Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid review to find out more.

6. Nissan Qashqai

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• Prices from £34,430
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 54.3mpg

The Nissan Qashqai has been loved by the British public since its release and it’s so popular that last year, in 2024, it was the third best selling car in the whole country. The reason for this popularity is hard to ignore, with a very high level of safety kit in place, earning it a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, and enough tech to keep the family entertained.

The Qashqai hybrid uses a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor and battery to return more than 50mpg, and it’s so smooth that it feels like an EV. This is because it uses the petrol engine effectively like a generator while using the electric motor to drive the car. While it doesn’t have the initial surge that an EV would, the acceleration is progressive, with the engine barely noticeable at lower speeds.

As standard the Nissan comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wired in Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, which is good as the models at the bottom end of the scale don’t have the smart Google-base infotainment features such as Maps.

Read our full Nissan Qashqai review to find out more.

7. BMW X3

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• Prices from £57,245
• Maximum WLTP electric range: 55 miles

The BMW X3 has been around in one form or another for more than 20 years, and it was one of the models that really started the SUV revolution. BMW always seems to get things right, with the newest iteration of the X3 is better than ever. The PHEV X3 uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a 22.3kWh battery, which enables it to drive over 50 miles on electric power alone. It’s when you combine the two that the BMW really comes into its own, producing a combined 294bhp and hitting 62mph from a standstill in 6.2 seconds. 

As you would expect from a BMW, the X3 is one of the most engaging premium SUVs you can buy; it’s mostly composed and comfortable on the motorway but can get a bit jittery when you hit bumps at high speeds. Inside, you can immediately see it is heavily inspired by the iX’s design, which is no bad thing; there’s plenty of mood lighting and a smart and clean design. The new curved twin-screen infotainment dominates the dashboard, with the central 14.9-inch touchscreen being very easy to navigate, with a rotary control on the centre console.

Read our full BMW X3 review to find out more.

8. Toyota C-HR

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• Prices from £31,300
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 60.1mpg

The sporty-looking Toyota C-HR is another one of several hybrid Toyota SUVs to choose from. Despite its sloping roofline, the C-HR is surprisingly spacious for a small SUV, and boasts a well-built (if, perhaps a tad unexciting) interior. 

The real stars of the show, though, are the pair of hybrid engines on offer. The top-of-the-range 2.0-litre 184bhp model offers plenty of punch, but we think the base 134bhp 1.8-litre hybrid will suit most buyers. It should be nippy enough for driving around town and Toyota says it’ll return around 60mpg on the combined WLTP test cycle, meaning it’ll be cheap to run, too.

Read our full Toyota C-HR review to find out more 

9. Jeep Avenger

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• Prices from £31,000
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 52.3mpg

When the Jeep Avenger came out a couple of years ago it became the smallest car in Jeep’s range. Available initially as just an EV, the recent release of the hybrid gives Jeep fans a new option. The Avenger hybrid uses an electric motor to boost the economy of the 1.2-litre, which then delivers 52.3mpg (WLTP). Around towns and cities, the Avenger is smooth to drive with light steering to make manoeuvres very straightforward.

Interior storage is decent, with Jeep claiming 34 litres of space from all of the cubby holes and storage pockets. Boot space reduces by 59 litres compared to the petrol version, only 262 litres with the rear seats up, but folding the seats down expands the space to 1,218 litres. 

Read our full Jeep Avenger review to find out more.

10. Skoda Kodiaq PHEV

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• Prices from £42,000
• Maximum WLTP combined range: 75 miles

Skoda has made its name by making affordable cars that are great value for money and the Kodiaq PHEV is no different. This family SUV provides a huge 75-mile EV range when using the battery alone, while producing a combined 201bhp when using the electric motors with the 1.5-litre engine. The combination also produces 250Nm of torque which allows the car to tow up to 1,800kg.

One of the best features for a big family is the truly cavernous boot space of 745 litres with the seats up, or 1,945 litres with them down. The ride is mostly comfortable, too, although the largest alloy wheels make the ride a bit fidgety.

Top 10 best hybrid SUVs and hybrid 4x4s to buy

1. Dacia Duster
2. Hyundai Santa Fe
3. Renault Captur
4. Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV 
5. Ford Kuga
6. Nissan Qashqai
7. BMW X3
8. Toyota C-HR
9. Jeep Avenger
10. Skoda Kodiaq

How we choose the best hybrid SUVs and hybrid 4x4s

When we choose our best hybrid SUVs and 4x4s, our team of expert road testers evaluates every possible car on sale, putting every manufacturer claim to the test to see how these cars perform in real-world conditions. We test them on a variety of roads, from congested city streets to fast-moving motorways and winding country lanes. For 4x4s, we take them off-road to assess how well their hybrid systems integrate with all-wheel-drive technology. We also look at how smoothly the engine and electric motor work together, whether full-hybrids can deliver meaningful efficiency gains, and if plug-in hybrids live up to their claimed electric range.

Practicality is a key focus, because many buyers choose an SUV for family use. We measure boot space with real luggage rather than relying on manufacturer figures, assess how easy it is to load heavy or awkwardly shaped items, and check how well rear seats accommodate adults and child seats. Cabin storage, driving position and overall comfort are also put to the test, along with the usability of infotainment systems and driver assistance technology. Some features look great on a spec sheet but prove frustrating in everyday use, and we make sure to highlight the difference.

Driving dynamics are carefully assessed, from how each hybrid SUV accelerates, brakes and corners to how well it deals with rough road surfaces. The added weight of batteries can affect handling and ride quality, so we check whether suspension systems can cope or if they compromise comfort. For hybrid 4x4s, we take testing further by tackling steep inclines, loose surfaces, deep water and uneven terrain. Some models come with serious off-road credentials, while others are more suited to wet grass than rocky trails – our testing separates the two.

For those who need towing capability, we evaluate how well each model handles a trailer or caravan, looking at torque delivery, stability and how towing affects real-world fuel economy. After extensive testing in all these areas, we identify the hybrid SUVs and hybrid 4x4s that offer the best combination of efficiency, performance, practicality and capability – ensuring that every car on our list is one we would genuinely recommend.