7 Best Hybrids to Buy Now
In the market for a hybrid car, SUV, truck, or minivan? Check out these top picks from AAA.
Hybrids have come a long way since the once-divisive Prius was introduced more than a quarter of a century ago. Now, cars of all shapes, sizes, and price points—even pickups and luxury vehicles—are available with hybrid power trains. If you’re in the market for a hybrid vehicle, whether to save money or to reduce your environmental footprint, here are some of the best options, based on recommendations from the AAA Car Guide.
Small: Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda once again made the super-popular Civic available as a hybrid in 2025, the first time in nearly a decade. It’s a small, easy-to-park, reliable ride, whether you’re buying your first car or just want something practical that’s still fun to drive. The Civic is comfortable, with a spacious interior and heated seats standard, and it comes with a host of safety features. You have a choice between sedan and hatchback, two trim levels (in hybrid), and don’t forget the EPA-estimated 49 mpg (combined). The drawbacks are minimal: The cabin is loud, and it can be hard to get in and out of.
Midsize: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
The Sonata was cosmetically refreshed for the 2024 model year, with updated front and rear and an ultra-long display screen (it stretches from the steering wheel to the end of the center console), among other changes. (Too bad they didn’t fix the rear roof pillars, which are wide enough to limit visibility, while they were at it.) The midsize sedan offers a comfortable and roomy ride, and plenty of features, including remote keyless entry and a power driver’s seat. The hybrid power train (available in multiple trim levels) delivers an EPA-estimated 47 mpg (combined). A suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and safety features includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane keeping assistance. Upgrade to the Limited trim for a sunroof and leather seats.
Small SUV: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
A recent addition to Toyota’s lineup, the Corolla Cross Hybrid isn’t a sedan; it’s a small SUV that’s almost reminiscent of a wagon. Armed with standard all-wheel drive and an EPA-estimated 42 mpg, the Corolla Cross is comfortable to drive, practical, and reliable. It comes with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane keeping assistance, standard on all trim levels, with blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning included on SE and higher. It’s not perfect, of course: The back seat is cramped, it’s loud when you accelerate hard, and finishes in the cabin feel cheap. But the price point and overall quality still make it a great choice.
Midsize SUV: Lincoln Nautilus
Designed for comfort (and style), the Lincoln Nautilus entered its second generation in the 2024 model year with major upgrades to the cabin. The cabin is luxurious, quiet, and spacious, with leather seats, lots of legroom, and a panoramic display screen that stretches across the entire dash. The hybrid power train offers an EPA-estimated 30 mpg (combined) with quick acceleration. Adaptive suspension is designed to provide a comfortable ride. The controls on this car are a bit annoying (everything, down to the HVAC vent positions, is managed from a touch screen), and the ride can get bumpy on less-than-perfect roads. It’s also expensive, especially for higher trims: The Black Label trim that AAA tested runs $23,000 more than the base price.
Large SUV: Lexus TX 500h
New to Lexus in 2024, the TX 500h may look familiar: It has much in common with the Toyota Grand Highlander, with a healthy addition of luxury and opulence. The SUV offers both a traditional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid power train with AWD standard. Unlike many three-row SUVs, in which the third row isn’t usable for adults, the TX 500h offers a relatively spacious (although not the most comfortable) third row that folds down to provide ample cargo space when needed. It offers a plethora of safety and driver assistance features, heated and ventilated seats, adjustable mood lighting, and even a wireless phone charger, as well as a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The infotainment system isn’t the easiest to use; unfortunately, the HVAC controls are integrated into it, with no separate buttons. It’s a big, pricey SUV, squarely in the luxury category, but a great choice for anyone looking for reliability and comfort.
Pickup: Ford Maverick
The Maverick is a popular compact crew-cab pickup truck that was first released in 2022. With 37 mpg on the hybrid option (which is available on all trims), a roomy 4.5-foot-long bed, and plenty of storage in the cabin and crew cab seating, it’s a practical and affordable (at least in the base trim) option. Automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning are standard, but blind spot warning is optional, even at the highest trim level. The hybrid version of the Maverick has one big flaw for those in snowy climates: It was available only with front wheel drive on models before 2025. The base price is reasonable, but buys you no frills; to get features like a power driver's seat and push start, you’ll have to splurge for the Lariat trim.
Minivan: Kia Carnival Hybrid
The Carnival was first offered with a hybrid power train in the 2025 model year. That obviously improved fuel efficiency significantly, to 33 mpg combined from 21 mpg combined (according to the EPA). “Minivan” might not be the right word for the Carnival: Except for the sliding doors, it looks more like an SUV. Heated front seats and USB ports are standard across all trim levels. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking (which also works at highway speeds), blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Not everything is peachy: The third row can be hard to climb out of, middle-row seats can be hard to remove, and the brake pedal is spongy. Otherwise, families that want to spend less on gas should check it out.
Make smart choices, whether you’re buying, selling, insuring, maintaining, or repairing a vehicle.