In 1901, the world's first hybrid electric car was invented by Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the sports car company. The Lohner-Porsche Mixte was powered by electricity stored in a battery and a gas engine. Then gas took over for the rest of the century, propelling innovation in car manufacturing and seeing new safety standards every decade. In the late 1990s, Toyota and Honda began mass-manufacturing hybrid vehicles - and the hybrid market took off.
Here are our Top 10 hybrid vehicles out today.
10. Honda Civic
Honda is well-known for its reliability and has a wealth of experience and knowledge of hybrid engine technology and for the full hybrid experience, the Honda Civic offers top hybrid technology. It can run silently on electric power and going much further than a mild hybrid, the Civic delivers up to 315 Nm of torque.
Finally, the Honda Civic has a range of up to 521 miles and CO2 emissions of just 89g/km.
9. Toyota Corolla
Toyota has spent decades innovating its self-charging technology. Now, drivers don’t need to plug in the Toyota Corolla, as it switches from electric energy to a mix of petrol and electric power, to fully optimise driving performance.
The Toyota Corolla has safety features installed which detect other road users and brake assistance is activated when the risk of collision is detected.
8. Lexus NX 350h
The best self-charging all-rounder is the Lexus NX 350h - known for its comprehensive safety system. The hybrid comes with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which features a pre-collision system designed to alert drivers to traffic across the road. It can also slow the vehicle down when it sees a pedestrian in the way.
Inside the hybrid, passengers can enjoy a personalised multimedia experience and features like the Mark Levinson®* PurePlay Surround Sound with Clari-Fi®.
7. Ford S-Max
The Ford S-Max is best for self-charging family car life, without jumping on the SUV bandwagon. Its alloy wheels carry passengers on exciting escapes to the countryside - with room for pets, muddy boots and excited pets. The flexible seating system seats five to seven people and up to three ISOFIX points for child seats. There’s multi-colour ambient lighting and deliciously heated front seats, accessible with a keyless entry system.
6. Toyota Yaris Cross
The Toyota Yaris Cross is our top-pick as the best self-charging compact SUV. Strong and sophisticated, the hybrid is designed for busy urban streets, offering high riding driving position and a spacious interior.
The Toyota Yaris Cross offers a flexible boot floor and secure underfloor storage as well as advanced multimedia and connected system plus the wireless smartphone integration, this is a hybrid that makes life easier.
5. Honda Jazz
Honda has a great deal of experience with hybrid engines and has a firm understanding on what loyal Honda customers want. The Honda Jazz system means its full hybrids can run on silent electric power, while still delivering outstanding performance. This hybrid is self-charging, drawing power from the combustion engine and from regenerative braking, saving drivers time and energy.
4. Kia Sorento Hybrid
The Kia Sorento offers drivers a thrilling driving experience with advanced electrified powertrains, making it the best big self-charging SUV on our list - and an elegant one too.
This hybrid has black side mirror caps, finished in an Aurora Black Pearl look, enclosed in a black high-gloss surround and glossy black garnish on the driver and front passenger doors.
In addition, the Sorento Edition is also available, with the latest generation of diesel and petrol engines featuring the drivers choice of Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid powertrains.
3. Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
For a fully-paralleled hybrid driving system, the Tucson Hybrid is equipped with both a petrol engine and an electric motor, which work together to deliver maximum efficiency and speed.
The first Hyundai SUV to be manufactured according to Hyundai’s new Sportiness design identity, the Tucson’s wide body and muscular stance is a progressive look for any hybrid driver.
2. Mazda 2 Hybrid
The Mazda 2 Hybrid comes with rain-sensing wipers and power windows in both the front and rear. The head-up display projects information up onto the windshield, allowing the driver to focus on the road. Included here are Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Departure Alert, for added safety.
The Mazda 2 Hybrid offers drivers a carefully designed centre display made for secure visibility, allowing drivers effortless access to apps while on the go. Its wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration is built to further enhance the driving experience. Topped with a panoramic sunroof, the Mazda 2 Hybrid feels extra spaciousness with added luxury.
1. Renault Austral
The Renault Austral is run on the latest generation of E-TECH hybrid technology, with a high-tech cockpit and enhanced connectivity. The Interior Design team challenged itself to make the central console more exciting for drivers.
“Straight away, we thought of adding a sound to go with the hand rest’s movements: a befitting, somewhat metallic ‘notch’ sound,” said Olivier Albrieux, Perceived Quality expert at Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi. “We’re really proud of the result and can’t wait for future owners of the Austral to start enjoying the sliding hand rest’s movement.”
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