Small cars are beneficial because they are easy to drive, affordable, and efficient, and no other type of car is as efficient as a small hybrid. As such, opting for any of these is a good idea if you want to maximize your savings across the range, but don’t go thinking that these cars are not large enough.
Even though they are modestly proportioned, automakers go to great lengths to ensure that their compact cars benefit from clever space management. This means that these types of cars are a lot more spacious than they seem at first glance.
If you want the best compact hybrid car out there, check out the Toyota Corolla because this smart-looking hatchback combines everything you’d ever want from a small hybrid. On the other hand, if you want the best value option out of them all, be sure to check out the Hyundai Ioniq hybrid.
If you prefer SUVs over hatchbacks, yet you still don’t want a large car, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is worth considering. On the other hand, if you want a more luxurious hybrid compact SUV, be sure to check out the Audi Q3 Hybrid. However, if compact sedans are your cup of tea, check out the Hyundai Elantra.
Toyota Corolla – The benchmark hybrid hatchback
More and more automakers are discontinuing their compact hatchbacks for the US market because the average US customer is not all that interested in a hatchback. Be that as it may, the Corolla still manages to sell well even though it is a true compact hatchback.
As such, it’s rather obvious that the Corolla is a competitive car because it offers efficiency and reliability above everything else. The Corolla is also cheap to run, has good quality materials, and is enjoyable to drive no matter how you use it. All in all, it’s a great car if you want something small and easy to live with.
Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid – The most popular hatchback hybrid
For years now, people have relied on the Prius if they wanted the best hybrid hatchback in the US. However, after Hyundai released the Ioniq hybrid, it seems like the popularity of the Prius has shifted towards the Ioniq which is rather understandable because the Ioniq does offer amazing value for the money.
With a starting price of around $23k, the Ioniq undercuts the Prius for a grand or two while offering more in the process. The best thing about the Ioniq is that it offers superior efficiency, a well though after interior and exterior design, and low running costs in general.
Toyota RAV4 – Best hybrid compact SUV on the market
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is one of a very small amount of cars that make way more sense as hybrids as opposed to simply being an ICE car. That’s because Toyota has completely embraced hybridization and made the RAV4 hybrid quicker than a non-hybrid variant while also being considerably more efficient.
The RAV4 Hybrid also comes with lots of safety kit as standard, a smooth powertrain with a sophisticated automatic transmission. As far as reliability is concerned, the RAV4 leads the pack when it comes to compact hybrid SUVs.
Audi is a brand known for sophisticated-looking automobiles that combine technology and comfort better than most executive brands out there. Even though the last-gen Q3 was a bit mediocre when it comes to both interior and exterior design, the new Q3 looks more like a baby version of the Q7 which is exactly what most of us wanted in the first place.
Besides being a looker, the Q3 is also space-efficient which means that it offers lots of passenger space and cargo space without being overbearing to drive. The hybrid powertrain is efficient, quiet, sophisticated, and cheap to run.
Hyundai Elantra – The best compact hybrid sedan on the market
According to many notable online sites, the Elantra is not only the best compact hybrid sedan but also one of the best hybrid cars out there in general. Thanks to a completely revised exterior design, the Elantra now looks purposeful and is more akin to a premium executive sedan than it is to a Japanese economy car.
Furthermore, it also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard which is not something you will often see in this price segment. The combined fuel economy is above 50MPG realistically and it offers a sumptuous ride which is also more akin to the executive sedan segment.
FAQ Section
Are hybrid cars worth it?
Hybrid cars are indeed worth it if you are able to utilize them completely. This means that if you are willing to plug them in all the time, it makes a lot of sense to own one. However, if you are not going to rely on the hybrid powertrain all the time, and you don’t enjoy some specific company car tax cuts, it makes no sense to own a hybrid just yet.
They are more expensive to buy and they are more prone to issues compared to regular ICE cars because they are complex in construction. However, if you are interested in making the transition towards hybrid cars, it’s good to know that there are many options to choose from.
What’s the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a conventional hybrid?
Most people believe that all hybrids are the same, but in reality, they are not. There are many different types of hybrids out there and the two most famous versions are the plug-in hybrid and a conventional hybrid.
A plug-in can be plugged in while a conventional hybrid can not be plugged in. Another major difference is the fact that a plug-in hybrid sports a considerably larger battery and is “more of a hybrid” when compared to a conventional hybrid.
Why do people like small cars?
People like small cars because they benefit from clever space management. This means that they are usually compact on the outside, but deceivingly large on the inside. This means that the differences between a compact car and a mid-size car are not as exaggerated as you might think.
Furthermore, small cars are popular because they are cheaper across the range and are usually superior when it comes to efficiency and maneuverability.
