Want a hybrid car? The most and least reliable models revealed

Hybrid cars are often seen as the ideal stepping stone between a conventional petrol or diesel model and an electric vehicle. But they are also among the most dependable motors you can own right now.

Despite the complexities of having a combination of combustion engine (almost always petrol), small battery pack and electric motor, hybrids are by far the most robust fuel type, according to What Car?’s latest reliability survey.

Showing just how far the technology has come since the Toyota Prius debuted in Britain at the turn of the Century, just 19 per cent of owners of hybrid cars – both conventional self-charging hybrids and plug-ins (PHEV) – reported at least one fault in the last two years.

To put that into context, 22 per cent of petrol went wrong, 27 per cent of EVs and almost a third of diesels.

The data from the latest reliability poll also reveals they spend the least amount of time off the road being fixed – and owners infrequently need to put their hand in their own pocked to cover repairs.

But which models are best?

Here’s the countdown of the ten hybrids with the highest reliability scores. We’ve also revealed the three lowest-rated models, which will still prove more dependable than most petrol, diesel and electric cars. 

MOST RELIABLE HYBRID CARS

10. Volvo XC60 PHEV (2016-present)

Reliability score: 96.5%

Volvo has turned predominantly into an SUV maker, especially in the UK where it has deleted its saloon models and – despite reversing a recent decision to cull them – has seriously whittled-down its estate options. The XC60 is one of its longest running 4X4s, yet it’s been electrified with a choice of plug-in hybrid drivetrains.

Some 15 per cent of owners of the PHEV cars said they had faced reliability problems over the previous 24 months. Most of these headaches were caused by bodywork niggles and non-powertrain electrical woes, such as infotainment gremlins. One in five of these were undrivable as a result of faults.

Positively, all were repaired by Volvo under warranty. Unfortunately, though, some of these took a bit of time; while half we’re rectified within a day, a third were off the road for over a week.

9. Toyota C-HR (2016-2023)

Reliability score: 96.8%

Toyota’s first-generation C-HR crossover is among the most reliable hybrid cars. Most issues were related to the 12-volt battery. However, there were also some reports of electrical issues

When the Toyota C-HR arrived in showrooms in 2016, it wowed drivers with its concept car looks. The compact SUV – sold exclusively as a self-charging hybrid – is well equipped, has a modern cabin design and holds its value exceptionally well, making it a solid choice even for used buyers today,

Another factor that makes this a strong second-hand option is its reliability record, Just 14 per cent of owners expressed to What Car? that they’d encountered faults in the last two years. Most were related to the 12-volt battery. However, there were also some reports of other electrical issues, too.

Getting C-HRs repaired and back on the road was largely a rapid process; 83 per cent were in workshops for less than a day and the rest were remediated within a week. But owners did face costs despite many being within the three-year window of Toyota’s warranty. Yet 73 per cent of owners had to cough up for repair bills – most of them over £100. Some reported garage receipts over £500.

8. Volvo XC40 PHEV (2017-present)

Reliability score: 97.0%

Of the tenth of Volvo XC40 PHEV owners who reported problems, some were relatively minor (air-con and 12-volt battery) but others were more serious, including issues with the hybrid battery pack. The latter resulted in two thirds of faulty cars being rendered undrivable

Since it arrived on the market some seven years ago, the Volvo XC40 has been This is Money’s favourite compact SUV. It drives well, is incredibly comfortable and well-appointed with a classy interior. While Volvo has terminated its relationship with diesel engines, early models were available with oil burners as well as petrol, hybrid and pure-election drivetrains. We’re discussing solely PHEV cars here, though.

Only one in ten plug-in hybrid XC40 drivers told What Car? their Volvos had suffered dependability woes. In contrast, the other engine types had around twice as many issues.

PHEV faults ranged from relatively minor problems such as the air-con and 12-volt battery up to more serious issues with the hybrid battery pack, the latter faults likely those resulting in two thirds of cars being rendered undrivable. Every fault was repaired free of charge under warranty, though. One complaint was that just a fifth were fixed in a day – the rest took a week or longer.

7. Lexus NX (2021-present)

Reliability score: 97.6%

Some 13% of drivers of the current Lexus NX reported a fault of some kind in the last 24 months. Most were pretty minor though with the vast majority bodywork related

Lexus – the luxury arm of Toyota – tends to tick two main boxes with its cars: they’re always premium models with plush interiors and in almost all scenarios come with hybrid power. One of the smallest vehicles in its line-up, the NX crossover, fits this bill using the tried-and-tested 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid drivetrain that’s powered Toyota cars for a generation.

The latest example of the NX is proving a relatively dependable purchase. Some 13 per cent of drivers of this car reported a fault of some kind in the last 24 months. Most were pretty minor though with the vast majority bodywork related.

While the vast majority of NXs should have been covered by the manufacturer’s three-year warranty, one in ten owners did incur costs of between £301 to £500 to have their cars put right. Around four in five were fixed in a day or less and the rest were in workshops for less than a week. But the new NX still isn’t as reliable as its predecessor…

6. Mercedes A-Class (2018-present)

Reliability score: 98.7%

Hybrid Mercedes A-Classes are proving more reliable than petrols with just one in ten drivers of the former encountering faults compared with a fifth of complaining petrol owners

The current Mercedes A-Class is an accomplished family hatchback. It might be the smallest car the German outfit produces but it hasn’t cut corners of luxuries with a great cabin, lots of classy materials and heaps of equipment. It’s better to drive than any A-Class to precede it, too, and has the A250e self-charging hybrid offers a green powertrain option.

Hybrids are proving more reliable than petrols with just one in ten drivers of the former telling What Car? they had encountered faults in the last 24 months compared with a fifth of complaining petrol owners.

And the sole cause of issue with hybrids is related to interior trim, and all of these problems were resolved free of charge under warranty. Unfortunately, some drivers had to be patient before getting their cars back from workshops, with just a quarter returned to their driveways in under 24 hours. Two fifths were in repair garages for over a week.

=4. Lexus RX (2016-2022)

Reliability score: 98.8%

With a 98.8% reliability score, the Lexus RX (2016-2022) not only sits among the top five most dependable hybrid cars – it’s the highest rated luxury car across all fuel types

One of the first luxury SUVs to offer petrol-electric power exclusively, Lexus’ RX is one of the daddies of the hybrid market. Large, capacious, safe and a cabin decked in plush materials, every version is a tempting option for buyers in this market. The car we’re focussing on here his the previous-generation RX.

With a 98.8 per cent reliability score based on feedback from owners, this not only sits among the top five most dependable hybrid cars – it’s the highest rated luxury car in the latest What Car? report.

A mere 3 per cent of owners of this generation of RX said they had to deal with problems. These were restricted to non-drivetrain electrical systems – including the air-con – and the bodywork. Every car was fixed in a day and under warranty.

=4. Toyota RAV4 hybrid/PHEV (2019-present)

Reliability score: 98.8%

Just 3% of Toyota RAV4 owners had problems with their cars over the last two years, limited only to 12-volt battery and hybrid battery pack issues

The highest scoring Toyota in this list is the current RAV4, which is the second highest-scoring family SUV too. Having spanned five generations dating back to the mid-nineties, it has consistently been a dependable choice of motoring for Britons for three decades.

The latest example is sold as both a conventional self-charging hybrid and a PHEV – the latter offering up to 46 miles of electric-only range when fully charged. These results combine both hybrid drivetrains.

Just 3 per cent of owners had problems with their cars over the last two years, limited only to 12-volt battery and hybrid battery pack issues. Most were still drivable and a third were fixed within 24 hours – the rest within seven days. While Toyota covered the cost of 83 per cent of repairs, the rest had to pay £100 to £200 to get their SUVs put right. 

3. Hyundai Kona hybrid (2019-present)

Reliability score: 99.0%

The hybrid Hyundai Kona is not just proving a lot more dependable than the fully electric version, it’s good enough to be the third most dependable petrol-electric car in this list

Buyers Hyundai Konas have a wide choice of fuel types – it is sold as a petrol or fully electric car with a hybrid option a stepping stone between the two. And it’s the latter petrol-electric combo that we’re covering here.

Just 7 per cent of hybrid Kona drivers had to deal with faults in the previous 24 months – that’s a much smaller share of owners than Kona Electric users, of which a quarter had to cope with their cars developing issues. For the hybrid models, it was mostly electrical gremlins in the sat-nav/infotainment system that was the cause of complaints.

With most issues being minor, it’s no surprise that all faulty cars could still be driven and all were repaired within a week – half in under 24 hours. The Korean brand’s five-year warranty also means all models referenced had work undertaken at no cost.

2. Lexus ES (2018-present)

Reliability score: 99.3%

The Lexus ES hybrid saloon is far from a popular choice in Britain. However, based on its 99.3% reliability rating, maybe more people should consider it. Here’s what tends to go wrong…

Second in the list of most reliable hybrid cars is one that’s a relatively rare sight on UK roads. The Lexus ES executive saloon might benefit from low vehicle excise duty costs, company car tax and high miles-per-gallon returns, but it isn’t what you’d call a volume seller in Britain. But based on its dependability alone, maybe it should be a more considered used buy.

Owners of ES saloons up to five years old suggest they’re pretty much bulletproof with a combined reliability rating of 99.3 per cent. This is because only two in fifth drivers had any issues to complain of in the last 24 months – all of them related to the sat-nav/infotainment system. 

Every fault was resolved in less than a week and under warranty at no customer cost.

1. Lexus NX (2014-2021)

Reliability score: 100%

Not a single Lexus NX (2014-2021) owner of five-year-old examples reported experiencing a fault with their cars. As such, the previous-generation compact SUV scores 100%

While the current Lexus NX is proving reliable enough to take seventh spot in this list, the version that came before it has claimed the crown of most dependable hybrid car.

Of all the owners of this model who provided feedback to What Car?, not a single one could name a fault in the last two years.

That means no days off the road being repaired, no unwanted repair bills and – quite simply – not headaches whatsoever. As a result, it earned a 100 per cent reliability rating.

LEAST RELIABLE HYBRID CARS

3. Toyota Yaris Cross (2021-present)

Reliability score: 93.1%

A 93.1% reliability rating means the Toyota Yaris Cross is still extremely robust – just not as dependable as other hybrid cars

The Toyota Yaris’ failure to make the top 10 most reliable hybrids comes as a major shock, given it has always been among the most dependable small cars since the first generation launched shortly before the turn of the last Century. But more concerning is the fact the Yaris Cross – the jacked-up crossover version of the latest model – is the third least reliable hybrid.

In its defence, a 93.1 per cent reliability rating is far from terrible. A quarter of owners said their car had suffered a problem in the last 24 months, mostly triggered by the 12-volt battery.

More than three quarters (77 per cent) were covered by the warranty, though the remaining drivers had to pay between £100 and £500 to have issues fixed. Two third were back on the road within a day but 15 per cent were in workshops for over a week.

2. BMW 330e (2016-present)

Reliability score: 92.0%

The BMW 330e is far from unreliable, though owners who did encounter problems faced long periods without their cars – and some incurred high repair costs

As with the Toyota Yaris Cross, the BMW 3 Series hybrid – the 330e – is far from unreliable, with a score of 92.0 per cent. However, due to the general robustness of hybrid vehicles, that score is low enough to be considered among the three worst performers, incredibly.

Some 16 per cent of owners encountered issues – and many of these were linked to the engine/motor electrics and the hybrid battery pack. As such, repairs proved both costly and time consuming.

Just over half of faulty cars were off the road for more than a week and, although BMW foot the bill in seven in ten instances, over a fifth of drivers had to stump up workshop costs in excess of £1,500.

1. Ford Kuga hybrid/PHEV (2021-present)

Reliability score: 89.6%

A relatively high volume of faults cost the Ford Kuga in the reliability rankings. A third of owners said their car had suffered faults and these were commonly caused by the 12V battery

Again, we first need to reiterate that a reliability rating of 89.6 per cent far from suggests the Ford Kuga is a car riddled with reliability issues, but the score is still lower than any other hybrid model. The latest SUV is available as a conventional or plug-in hybrid – the latter offering 43 miles of electric-only range if the battery is charged to 100 per cent.

A high volume of faults is what cost the Kuga; a third of owners of hybrids said their car had suffered faults and these were commonly caused by the 12-volt battery.

Half or troubled examples were undriveable as a result and two fifths spent more than a week off the road being repaired. Fortunately, almost all were covered under warranty, though 3 per cent of owners had to pay garage bills of £201 to £300.