Hybrids come in all shapes and sizes nowadays, from the original mid-size saloon Prius to enormous SUVs like the BMW X7 hybrid, but what if you just need a smaller car, for city driving or short trips? 

These are some of the best small hybrids on sale today.

1. Toyota Yaris Hybrid - £22,640

The Yaris Hybrid has long been a favourite in the small car segment. Known for its reliability, the Yaris combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to achieve remarkable fuel economy. With a spacious interior and decent boot space, it’s perfect for city driving while remaining practical for longer journeys.

At 129 horsepower the Yaris Hybrid has plenty of power to keep up with city traffic, and shouldn’t find motorways difficult either. A vibrant infotainment screen gives Android auto and Apple Car Play.

2. Honda Jazz eHEV Hybrid - £26,885

The Honda Jazz Hybrid is celebrated for its versatile interior and practicality. With a clever 'Magic Seat' feature that makes the most of its cabin space, the Jazz hybrid's economical hybrid powertrain provides excellent fuel efficiency, making it a fantastic choice.

Exterior styling is very reminiscent of the previous generation Jazz, but with a sleek modernisation bringing it firmly up to date with Honda's other models, such as its bigger brother, the Civic.

3. MG3 - £18,495

As one of the cheapest new hybrids out there, the MG3 offers great value, not only will it do over 64 miles to the gallon, but it also has a 10.5” touchscreen infotainment system, as well as a 7” screen for the digital dash.

Whilst the basic SE spec doesn’t get blind spot detection, it does have adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and forward collision avoidance – an impressive amount of safety features for the price.

4. Renault Captur E-Tech Hybrid - £21,395

The Renault Captur offers a stylish SUV-esque exterior paired with a hybrid powertrain that performs well both in the city and on the motorway. Its compact size makes it easier to manoeuvre than a mid-sized SUV, while the spacious interior ensures comfort for passengers. 

At just under £21,400 the Evolution trim level comes with 17” diamond cut alloys, a 10.4” infotainment screen and rear-view camera.

5. Mazda 2 Hybrid - £24,135

As an incredibly popular supermini, the Mazda 2 hybrid is the cherry on the top for those looking for great fuel mileage, with up to 74 MPG achievable. Power is provided by a 1.5L three-cylinder engine, and a 59kW electric motor. 

The base trim, or grade as Mazda term it, is the Centre-Line, which comes with keyless entry, various safety features and a 9” infotainment screen. Multiple stylish colours are available, though the pearl ones will add to the final bill.

6. Suzuki Swift Hybrid - £19,199

Suzuki are famed for making great small cars, and the Swift has been a favourite since its release in the UK in the late 1980s. The hybrid version then, is sure to be popular too! It comes with a mild hybrid system assisting the 1.2-litre petrol engine and plenty of tech.

As standard, the Swift Hybrid comes with heated seats, keyless entry, rear parking camera, and blind spot detection, among a host of other safety features. It really is packed full, especially for such a competitive price and compact size.

7. Fiat 500 Hybrid - £16,800

The 500 uses a mild hybrid system, and its simplicity allows the bargain price of sub £17,000. Instead of a high voltage battery system, it used a 12v lithium battery in place of the normal car battery, and in effect a beefy starter motor to aid the engine; it does not have an electric-only mode.

Despite this, the 500 Hybrid is a fantastic city car, offering reasonably good MPG from the fizzy 3-cylinder petrol engine, and its ability to be parked in the tightest of spots is unparalleled. As with all 500s, its styling and quirkiness add plenty to the deal too.

8. Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid - £21,695

The Clio has been a favourite small hatchback since its introduction in the 90s, famed for not only practicality but French style too, the latest Hybrid edition also brings great fuel economy and a peppy 145hp.

Fitted with plenty of safety tech, alongside a multimedia touchscreen and digital dash, the new Clio has all the bells and whistles. Prices start from £21,695 which is pretty good value considering the modern Clio is considerably larger than it used to be, offering better people and luggage space.

9. Mercedes-Benz A-Class Plug-in Hybrid - £19,995

After reinventing the A-Class, Mercedes has created one of the most popular small cars in the last 10 years, worlds apart from the original cumbersome shape. It has been available with petrol and diesel engines since 2012, but the Hybrid released around 2020 offers better economy and electric-only range.

In typical Mercedes fashion, the interior is well-made and features plenty of upmarket materials. The engine is a small 1.3-litre petrol unit with an electric motor and battery combo giving 47 miles of electric-only range.

10. Peugeot 308 Hybrid - £31,395

Available in full hybrid, plug-in hybrid or diesel guises, the new 308 should be able to fit most people's requirements. Not only are the engines hi-tec but the styling has been thoroughly revamped to suit the rest of the modern Peugeot line, with angular facets and dot matrix-like grilles.

If you have a short commute and the facility to charge at home, the plug-in would be perfect, with 35 miles of electric-only range. Otherwise, the self-charging is the one for you. Thankfully all models come with infotainment screens, diamond-cut alloy wheels and sleek styling.

Are Small Hybrid Cars Worth It?

Depending on your use case, a small hybrid car could be the ideal choice for you. They can often achieve excellent MPG figures, whilst the modern tech gives the same convenience and luxury as a bigger car.

Can You Still Drive a Hybrid Without the Battery?

Yes, you can drive a hybrid on petrol power only, this is useful as EV batteries deplete over time, to the point where some early electric vehicles can only achieve 10% of their original range. Thankfully you can still use the petrol or diesel engine of a hybrid, even if the battery is worn out, just don’t expect to hit the same MPG figures as a new one.

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.