MG3 review – affordable, efficient and fun-to-drive supermini
Top 10 best small hybrid cars 2024
Small hybrid cars are some of the most efficient cars on the market and are perfect for urban driving
Hybrid cars are growing in popularity in the UK, and the fuel-saving tech is now available in many small cars, too. Small hybrid cars are some of the most cheap-to-run cars on the market and make sense for many drivers.
Hybrid cars use a battery and an electric motor to alleviate some of the strain off their main petrol or diesel engine. This can bring big improvements in fuel economy, as the combustion engine can switch off entirely for low speed driving over short distances. The cost of this technology has decreased in recent years, meaning you can buy a small hybrid car for not much more than a traditional petrol model.
Small hybrid cars will appeal to many drivers, particularly those who live in urban areas. You can cover short distances in silent electric mode, but the petrol engine will kick in when you need to get up to speed. If you’re not quite ready to make the switch to a fully electric small car, a small hybrid can be a great affordable option that can give you a taste of electrified driving.
This list mainly focuses on self-charging hybrids, but there is the odd plug-in hybrid, too. The latter provides a much larger battery for a longer electric-only driving range, but they only make sense if you’re able to plug in and recharge the battery, typically overnight.
Priced from around £18,000
The rejuvenated MG brand has taken the UK by storm with its range of affordable cars, but the MG3 is one of its most impressive yet. Unlike the fully electric MG4 hatchback, the MG3 uses a self-charging hybrid system, combining a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 1.83kWh battery and an electric motor. Not only is it efficient – returning up to 64mpg – but it’s quick, too. All in, the system puts out 192bhp, making for some nippy acceleration.
What really solidifies the MG3 at the top of this list is the value-for-money it offers. Starting from well under £20,000, other small hybrid cars don’t come close. You get the same efficiency figures as pricier hybrid hatchbacks on this list, but with more power and more standard kit. Sure, feel around the cabin and you’ll find some scratchy plastics, and the boot isn’t particularly big, but we can forgive these shortcomings. As a bonus, all MGs get a seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty, which is better than many rivals.
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Priced from around £22,000
The Renault Clio E-Tech is another great-value hybrid hatch that punches above its weight. It’s powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine which is linked to two electric motors and a 1.2kWh lithium-ion battery. The energy the car harvests when slowing down (known as regenerative braking) is stored in the battery and used to drive the car on pure electric power at speeds up to 40mph. Thanks to this electric assistance, official fuel economy stands at 67mpg, which is better than many modern diesel cars.
It has quite a complicated powertrain that can feel rather restless when power is shuffled between the petrol engine and electric motor, but on our test drive, the car spent most of its time in electric mode, which is promising for fuel consumption – it certainly runs on electric power more often than the Toyota Yaris Hybrid. We awarded the Renault Clio our Best Small Car of the Year 2022 award for its mature driving experience and hi-tech interior, which continues to impress.
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Priced from around £30,000
The Hyundai Kona is one of our favourite small SUVs, even more so when fitted with the hybrid engine. It may not be as affordable to buy as some smaller hybrid superminis, but its running costs are just as low; the 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor combine to return 60mpg, but you can expect even more than that if you mainly stick to low speed urban driving. Which you’ll probably want to do, as the Kona isn’t particularly fast – its 12-second 0-62mph time feels particularly leisurely compared to some rivals.
However, we can’t argue with the comfort on offer in the Kona. Having a higher ride height compared to most hatchbacks gives the Kona more suspension travel, allowing it to soak up bumps in the road with ease. Many drivers will appreciate the light controls which are easy to modulate, and the outward visibility is excellent. Throw in a fantastic interior, and you’re onto a small hybrid car winner.
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Priced from around £30,000
Given that the Kia Niro is essentially the same car as the Hyundai Kona underneath, it’s no surprise that it also found its way onto this list. The Niro wears more conventional styling than its sister car, but it still delivers low running costs and a spacious interior – attributes that contributed to its first place in our Carbuyer Best Car Awards 2023.
Unlike most cars that are offered as either an EV or a petrol-only model, the Niro has three separate electrified powertrains to choose from to suit all budgets. The standard Niro Hybrid has a self-charging powertrain that returns 59.8mpg. The PHEV model costs £5,000 more, but it can achieve 40 miles of zero-emissions driving from a charge, cutting overall running costs.
No matter which Niro fits your budget, they all have impressive technology, and we think the ‘3’ trim strikes the best balance between price and equipment. However, those looking at the PHEV may want to check if the boot is big enough for their needs, as it’s smaller than the cargo space in the EV and Hybrid.
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Priced from around £31,000
Toyota has a stellar reputation for its pioneering hybrid technology, and the Corolla builds on the firm's strong record for selling hybrid cars that represent great value for money. We can’t say that the Corolla has the most exciting driving experience, but it has eye-catching styling, a good reliability record and diesel-beating efficiency.
Both the 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre hybrid powertrains return over 60mpg, and the Corolla will be around £1,500 cheaper annually for company-car drivers than a petrol Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra. Even the entry-level model includes LED headlights and a reversing camera, and you get a five-year warranty like the one offered by Hyundai.
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Priced from around £25,000
The original Renault Captur, like the Nissan Juke, helped popularise the crossover class. Its spacious cabin coupled with generous boot space tempted families out of their hatchbacks and into SUVs with a taller ride height and better practicality. Now in its second generation, the Captur has grown in size, features a striking new design and benefits from even lower running costs, thanks to the hybrid E-Tech version.
The PHEV powertrain is identical to the one found in the Clio hatchback and combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a 9.8kWh battery. It’s actually the most powerful Captur you can buy, with a power output of 145bhp, but as it weighs 400kg more than the standard Captur, it still takes 10.6 seconds to sprint from 0-62mph. The Captur’s automatic gearbox shifts through gears smoothly but there is a notable transition between petrol and electric power.
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Priced from around £23,000
For a long time, the Toyota Yaris was the only supermini to come with a hybrid option, which also made it one of the cheapest ways to get a ‘hybrid’ badge. There are now a few choices facing buyers, as the Mazda2 Hybrid is essentially just a rebadged version of the Toyota Yaris, while there’s also the high-riding small SUV-styled Toyota Yaris Cross, which offers similarly low running costs – all three use the same powertrain.
Up to 68.8mpg is promised, which is some way ahead of the 50mpg most highly-efficient petrol superminis can manage. The Yaris should also be easier to drive in stop-and-start traffic, as it has an automatic gearbox and can be driven in pure electric mode at low speeds using battery power for short distances. The Yaris has an excellent reputation for reliability and a host of safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, are fitted as standard.
Like several other hybrids on this list, negatives include a fairly small boot which measures just 286 litres. It is at least a good shape, with a smaller loading lip than the Renault Clio.
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Priced from around £37,000
It may be the priciest car on this list, but the Volkswagen Golf delivers a polished driving experience, a premium cabin and a cutting edge plug-in hybrid powertrain. Following a 2024 facelift, the Golf eHybrid uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine alongside a large 19.7kWh battery. That’s nearly the same size as the battery fitted to the original Nissan Leaf EV, and as a result, the Golf can travel up to 88 miles on electric power alone – more than most PHEVs on sale today.
Like every Golf gone before it, the latest model is more than capable of managing family life, with roomy rear seats and plenty of safety kit. Unfortunately, the big battery eats into boot space, so there’s only 273 litres on offer – less than the Yaris supermini – but at least you get plenty of standard equipment.
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Priced from around £27,000
The Honda Jazz impressed us with its smooth driving characteristics and technology. It now gets Android Auto and Apple Carplay smartphone connectivity as standard, and if you go for the SR model you’ll get to enjoy them on a nine-inch touchscreen. The small car from Honda has had a loyal customer following for decades, thanks to its versatile cabin and low running costs. The clever e:HEV hybrid system reduces fuel consumption to 61.4mpg, but the Jazz is no longer the cheapest car in its class – a starting price of nearly £27,000 is considerably more than the MG3 and Renault Clio .
Boot space isn’t class-leading, although the raised position for driver and passengers makes it easier to get in and out. We would stick with the standard wheels, as the larger optional alloy wheels make the ride less comfortable. At low speeds the Jazz feels similar to driving an electric car, but you’ll have the ability to refill the petrol tank in minutes, meaning fewer compromises.
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Priced from around £26,000
Those who want a small hybrid car but like the raised ride height and chunky looks of an SUV will be interested in the Toyota Yaris Cross. It’s essentially a chunkier version of the regular Yaris hatchback, using the same self-charging hybrid system. As a result, it’s one of the most frugal SUVs you can buy, returning up to 62mpg. That’s already very impressive, but we saw nearly 67mpg during our in-depth test, with the Yaris Cross spending most of its time driving in electric-only mode.
There are some drawbacks to the Yaris Cross, namely its slightly cramped interior, which isn’t as roomy as that in the Renault Captur. It’s also more expensive than the Captur, which can be hard to justify unless you value Toyota’s solid reputation for reliability and its class-leading warranty of up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
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