Hybrid cars have significantly advanced since the Toyota Prius first debuted in 2000. Today, many new car models offer both hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, which have the potential to reduce fuel costs, especially for those who primarily engage in city or short-distance driving.
One of the key advantages of hybrid vehicles is their impressive reliability, despite the added complexity of their dual power systems.
According to the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, only 19% of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and traditional hybrid vehicles reported any issues.
In comparison, 22% of petrol-powered cars experienced problems, 27% of electric vehicles (EVs) had glitches, and diesel vehicles were the least reliable, with a fault rate of 31%.
In fact, hybrids earned the highest marks in the survey, achieving a reliability rating of 95.9%, compared to 87.7% for EVs.
Additionally, hybrid cars are far more likely to be repaired free of charge compared to other types of vehicles, particularly diesel cars.
A substantial 91% of hybrid vehicles were fixed at no cost to their owners, while only 67% of diesel cars benefited from free repairs.
For hybrid owners who did have to contribute to repair costs, the amount was minimal: only 2% of them spent more than £1500 on repairs, while 6% of diesel car owners had repair bills exceeding £1500.
As with all cars, hybrid vehicles most commonly experience electrical issues, though these problems are typically easy to resolve.
1. Lexus NX (2014-2021)
- Reliability rating: 100%
- Most common faults: None
- Average repair cost: £0
- Typical time off road: None
While the previous-generation Lexus NX may not be the most thrilling to drive due to its uninspiring handling and slow six-speed automatic gearbox, it stands out as the most reliable choice if you’re seeking a fault-free hybrid large SUV.
It not only takes the top spot in this category but also outperforms the current NX model, which scored 97.6% and ranked seventh in the hybrid category in this year’s survey.
No Lexus NX owners reported any issues, meaning none of these vehicles required repairs or left owners without their cars for any period.
2. Lexus ES (2018-present)
- Reliability rating: 99.3%
- Most common faults: Sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
- Average repair cost: £0
- Typical time off road: Up to a week
The Lexus ES is an executive sedan that offers the benefits of a hybrid, such as road tax and company car tax advantages, as well as fuel efficiency, without the need to plug it in for charging.
Like most of the current Lexus models, it features a petrol engine complemented by electric motors, allowing it to travel short distances solely on electric power.
This reduces the CO2 emissions of this large, luxurious saloon to the levels of a small hatchback.
One of the standout qualities of the Lexus ES is its remarkable reliability, making it a standout in its class. It has the highest reliability score among executive cars in our survey and ranks second in the Lexus lineup, only behind the NX.
Only 4% of Lexus ES saloons reported issues, with the only area of concern being the sat-nav/infotainment system. All problems were resolved in under a week, and Lexus took care of all the repair costs.
3. Hyundai Kona Hybrid (2019-present)
- Reliability rating: 99.0%
- Most common faults: Non-engine electrics 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
- Average repair cost: £0
- Typical time off road: 50% one day or less, 50% up to a week
The Hyundai Kona is available in petrol, hybrid, and electric versions, but the hybrid stands out for several reasons. It delivers better fuel economy than the petrol version and offers savings in road tax and company car tax.
Another major advantage is its reliability: only 7% of hybrid Kona models reported issues, while 23% of electric models had problems.
The primary issues with the Kona Hybrid were related to electrical systems, including the sat-nav/infotainment system.
However, these issues didn’t prevent the cars from being driven, and half of the problems were resolved in one day or less, with the remaining issues fixed within a week.
Thanks to the value of the five-year warranty, all repairs were completed at no cost to the owners.
4. Toyota RAV4 (2019-present)
- Reliability rating: 98.8%
- Most common faults: 12-volt battery 2%, hybrid battery pack 1%
- Average repair cost: 83% cost £0
- Typical time off road: 66% up to a week
The Toyota RAV4 is a practical family SUV that offers a spacious interior and reduced CO2 emissions thanks to its hybrid technology.
It is available as either a conventional hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, with the latter capable of covering up to 46 miles on electric power alone. A regular feature in our reliability rankings, the RAV4 is the second-highest scoring family SUV.
According to our survey, only 3% of RAV4s reported issues, which were mostly related to the 12-volt battery and hybrid battery pack.
While Toyota covered the repair costs for 83% of these cases, the remaining 17% of owners had to pay between £100 and £200 for repairs.
Most of the affected vehicles were still drivable, with one-third of the issues resolved within a day or less. However, the rest of the cars were off the road for up to a week.
5. Lexus RX (2016-2022)
- Reliability rating: 98.8%
- Most common faults: Air-con 3%, bodywork 3%, non-engine electrics 3%
- Average repair cost: £0
- Typical time off road: One day or less
The Lexus RX is a genuine luxury SUV, featuring a refined and well-appointed interior, exceptionally comfortable seats, and strong performance.
Unlike its German competitors, however, it is not available in traditional petrol or diesel versions; it is only offered as a hybrid, combining a petrol engine with an electric motor.
In addition to being the most reliable luxury SUV, the Lexus RX also ranks as the highest-scoring luxury car in the latest survey, surpassing models such as the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport.
Only 3% of the RXs reported in our survey had any issues, which were limited to problems with the electrical systems, including the air-conditioning, as well as the bodywork.
All issues were resolved in a day or less, and there were no costs to the owners for the repairs.
6. Mercedes A-Class Hybrid (2018-present)
- Reliability rating: 98.7%
- Most common faults: Interior trim 11%
- Average repair cost: £0
- Typical time off road: 42% more than a week
The Mercedes A-Class is known for its comfort, driving pleasure, and extensive list of features. In hybrid form, it proves to be a more reliable option compared to its primary competitor, the BMW 330e.
It also has significantly fewer issues than the petrol version of the A-Class, with only 11% of hybrid models reported to have problems, compared to 21% of petrol versions, according to owners.
The only common issue reported was related to the interior trim, but all such problems were resolved free of charge.However, owners did experience delays in getting their vehicles fixed, as the repair process was relatively slow.
Only 26% of issues were addressed in a day or less, and 42% of the cars spent more than seven days in the workshop for repairs.
7. Lexus NX (2021-present)
- Reliability rating: 97.6%
- Most common faults: Bodywork 9%
- Average repair cost: 89% £0
- Typical time off road: 78% a day or less
The latest Lexus NX is much more enjoyable to drive compared to its predecessor. It offers strong performance, particularly with the 450h plug-in hybrid, and features precise steering and excellent cornering abilities.
Additionally, it boasts a luxurious interior, impressive refinement, and low emissions.However, when it comes to reliability, the new NX doesn’t quite match up to the older model.
According to owners, 13% of their vehicles had some form of problem, with most issues being minor bodywork-related problems.
While Lexus covered the repair costs for 89% of these cases, 11% of owners were left with repair bills ranging from £301 to £500. Fortunately, most cars were repaired quickly: 78% were fixed in a day or less, and the rest were addressed within a week.
8. Volvo XC40 PHEV (2017-present)
- Reliability rating: 97.0%
- Most common faults: Air-con 3%, 12-volt battery 3%, PHEV battery pack 3%, electrics 3%
- Average repair cost: £0
- Typical time off road: 60% up to a week
The Volvo XC40 is a stylish, comfortable, and practical family SUV with a high-quality interior. In addition to diesel, petrol, and pure electric versions, the XC40 is also available as a plug-in hybrid, which stands out as the best option for a trouble-free ownership experience.
This is because only 10% of PHEV XC40s experienced problems, whereas the other engine variants had around twice as many issues.
Owners reported a variety of faults, including issues with the air-conditioning, 12-volt battery, hybrid battery pack, electrics, and interior trim. All of these issues were resolved at no cost, but some repairs took longer to complete.
Only 20% of cars were fixed in a day or less, 60% were repaired within a week, and the remaining cars took longer to be addressed. Despite these issues, two-thirds of the faulty vehicles remained drivable.
9. Toyota C-HR (2016-2023)
- Reliability rating: 96.8%
- Most common faults: 12-volt battery 8%
- Average repair cost: 73% cost £0
- Typical time off road: 83% a day or less
The Toyota C-HR is a strikingly designed family SUV that comes well-equipped. Now only available as a used vehicle, it represents excellent value for money, with prices for early models starting at just £10,000.
The C-HR also proves to be a reliable choice if you’re in the market for a dependable car. According to owners, 14% of their C-HRs experienced issues, most commonly related to the 12-volt battery, though there were also some reports of other electrical problems.
Fortunately, repairs were usually completed quickly, with 83% of cars repaired in a day or less, and the rest sorted out in under a week.
However, there were some costs involved. Toyota covered the repair expenses for 73% of cases, and most owners paid less than £100 for repairs. In a few instances, owners faced repair bills of up to £500.
10. Volvo XC60 PHEV (2016-present)
- Reliability rating: 96.5%
- Most common faults: Bodywork 5%, non-engine electrics 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%
- Average repair cost: £0
- Typical time off road: 50% a day or less
The Volvo XC60, although one of the older family SUV options, remains a strong choice due to its spacious, premium interior and well-balanced ride and handling.
It offers a range of engine choices, including a diesel option for used vehicles, a petrol mild hybrid, and two PHEV variants. The PHEV models are the focus here.
According to owners, 16% of PHEV XC60s encountered problems, with the majority of issues being related to the bodywork and various electrical systems, including the infotainment system.
The good news is that all repairs were carried out free of charge. However, some repairs were not completed promptly.
While 50% of issues were resolved in a day or less, 33% of cars were off the road for more than a week. Additionally, one in five cars had faults that made them undriveable.