In the 2000s, hybrids were rare enough that owning a Prius was still a novelty. These days, though, celebrities no longer drive Priuses, and pretty much every automaker has a few in its lineup. It isn’t exactly a mystery why hybrids have gotten so popular, either. They just get significantly better gas mileage. Plus, hybrids tend to drive better than their gas-only counterparts. At the same time, different automakers charge different premiums for giving their vehicles the hybrid treatment. If you don’t have a luxury car budget, what are the best hybrids that won’t cost you an arm and a leg?
Conveniently, our friends over at Consumer Reports recently published a list of the best hybrid cars that are also priced below $35,000. That’s still a lot of money, but it’s also significantly less than the average new car transaction price of nearly $50,000. The cars that made this list also performed well in Consumer Reports’ testing and should be pretty reliable, too. Let’s take a look at what made the list (which is actually a list instead of a slideshow now because we don’t have to do those anymore).
Kia Niro – $26,990
The Kia Niro kind of straddles the line between hatchback and crossover, but regardless of which one you think it is, it’s a practical, fairly affordable little hybrid that’s good for an EPA-rated 53 mpg combined. It also scored well in Consumer Reports’ road test and earned an overall score of 71 when reliability and owner satisfaction were considered. In addition to its great gas mileage CR also praised the hybrid Niro’s hatchback design and secure handling.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid – $23,825
If you’re in the market for a new car, the Toyota Corolla is, well, the Toyota Corolla. It might not be the fanciest thing in the parking lot, but you know it will be reliable. Spring for the hybrid version, and for less than $25,000, you get a sedan that gets 47 mpg combined according to the EPA. It didn’t blow folks away in the road test, but when you add in reliability and owner satisfaction, it still earned a 75 overall. And CR did praise the ride and controls, so it’s not like fuel economy is the only thing the Corolla Hybrid has going for it.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid – $31,150
Hyundai recently gave its Honda Accord competitor a refresh, and while the new look still splits opinions, at least the Sonata doesn’t look like a catfish anymore. The hybrid version is EPA-rated at 47 mpg combined as well as an improved ride. In testing, it performed quite well, and overall, CR gave it a score of 78. You’ll probably enjoy the handling, but the transmission could shift a bit rough for your taste.
Toyota Prius – $28,350
The Toyota Prius may not have the U.S. hybrid market to itself anymore, but the original is still a great pick if you’re looking to save money on gas. It also happens to look great now, thanks to a recent design, and believe it or not, the Prius is now actually cool. It gets 57 mpg combined according to the EPA and performed well in Consumer Reports’ testing, earning an overall score of 77. All-wheel drive drops fuel economy a bit, but it’s nice to have the option, and if someone complains about getting 54 mpg, they have bigger problems than disappointing fuel economy.
Honda Accord Hybrid – $33,655
The old, trusty Honda Accord has been redesigned, so it isn’t quite so old anymore, but it’s still pretty trusty. And now, instead of the Accord Hybrid being its own model, it’s been integrated into the lineup. You’ll have to get a mid-tier Accord Sport if you want the hybrid powertrain, but it’s EPA-rated at 48 mpg combined, and its excellent road test performance resulted in an overall score of 80. It may not be the most fuel-efficient car on this list, but it may still win you over by simply being spacious, comfortable and smooth.
Toyota Camry – $28,700
The Toyota Camry will never be a true sport sedan, but with its latest refresh, it’s now probably the sportiest this midsize family sedan has ever been. It’s also more fuel efficient than ever now that every Camry that Toyota makes is a hybrid. It’ll get 51 mpg combined according to the EPA, and like the Accord, the new hybrid Camry returned excellent road test results, leading to an overall score of 82. If only Toyota’s four-cylinder engines sounded better.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid – $25,350
The Toyotas may have the name recognition and the history of being reliable family cars, but if you want the best hybrid under $35,000, Consumer Reports says to look at the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid instead. It’s EPA-rated at 54 mpg combined and drove great in testing. Paired with its reliability and ownership satisfaction scores, the Elantra Hybrid ended up earning an 82 overall, as well as the #1 spot on this list.
