Best Used Hybrid Cars in 2023

The Toyota Corolla has been a popular, affordable car for decades, and the hybrid model brings a more efficient powertrain to the legendary nameplate. The 2021 Corolla Hybrid is a straightforward proposition: it’s a normal car that happens to be extremely efficient, with an EPA-rated 53 mpg city/52 mpg highway that outperforms most competitors.

This Toyota has a minimalist interior, middling engine power and typical hybrid brakes with a bit more bite than most drivers experience. If saving money is the goal, however, it’s hard to beat: it won the U.S. News 2021 Best Hybrid and Electric Car for the Money award.

The Toyota Prius has been ubiquitous on American roads since it was introduced to the U.S. in 2000. Since then, it’s become synonymous with the term “hybrid,” and the 2019 model is no exception. Standard front-wheel-drive Prius models return a stellar 54/50 mpg city/highway, and the Eco base model gets an even-better 58 mpg city/53 mpg highway. All-wheel drive also became an optional feature in 2019.

It is, however, otherwise unremarkable. No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on any trim level and an extremely pokey 0-60 time means the Prius is good at saving gas but not entertaining drivers.

The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq is another stats-sheet darling, with phenomenal EPA-rated fuel economy in the base model hybrid at 55 mpg city/54 mpg highway, and a plug-in hybrid version with 119 combined MPG-equivalent. The plug-in model can go up to 29 miles solely on electric power.

All versions of the 2019 Ioniq struggle at highway speeds, however, and they have overly numb steering and lackluster handling. Despite its incredibly sedate handling, it’s also not the most comfortable ride because of the occasionally bouncy suspension. Unlike the Prius, however, the Ioniq offers standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2019 Kia Optima Hybrid is the inverse of our last several models. It offers a relatively dismal (by hybrid standards) 39 mpg city/45 mpg highway, but it’s more enjoyable to drive than other hybrids on the market. Some versions of the Optima Hybrid have over 200 horsepower, and its handling is engaging yet comfortable on rough pavement. It also boasts a very upscale interior for its class, as well as standard leather seats.

The plug-in hybrid variant gets 103 MPGe combined, and it provides 29 miles of all-electric driving range thanks to its 9.8 kWh battery pack.

Ford no longer produces sedans, but its older models still have plenty to offer. The 2019 Ford Fusion Hybrid is a solid car that prioritizes comfort and an engaging ride over most other attributes. Like the Optima Hybrid before it, the Fusion Hybrid gets a relatively unremarkable 43 mpg city/41 mpg highway, but it has a 188 horsepower engine and an upscale interior.

The Fusion Hybrid’s infotainment system is straightforward, and it offers a plethora of driver-assistance and safety features. It is lacking in cargo space for its class, however, and the sloping roofline means taller rear occupants might not find enough headroom.

The 2019 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid provides a smooth ride that doesn’t compromise fuel economy. It gets 49 mpg city/43 mpg highway, and its cabin is still relatively spacious and comfortable, though sometimes a bit noisy.

Unfortunately, the trunk only provides a miniscule 11.6 cubic feet of storage, and the Malibu Hybrid offers relatively few standard driver-assistance features, meaning buyers may need to shop around to find a well-equipped model. On the bright side, the infotainment interface is easy to use, and 2019 was the first year a standard 8-inch touch screen and driver information display was added.

The Honda Insight was a relatively forgotten model even when it was still sold, and it was discontinued last year to free capacity for Civic and CR-V Hybrid production. It’s still worth remembering for used shoppers, though, because it was a well-designed hybrid, with a low-slung battery pack that both improves handling and allows the trunk to offer vastly more cargo capacity than most compact hybrids. It also gets up to 55 mpg city/49 mpg highway.

You’ll notice some engine noise under acceleration, and despite its solid handling, the Insight isn’t exactly sporty. Still, it was a finalist for the U.S. News Best Hybrid and Electric Car for the Money award in 2021.

The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid was fully redesigned for the 2021 model year with slick new looks. Its stellar safety ratings, driver-assistance features and affordable entry point made it the winner of the U.S. News 2021 Best New Car for Teens award, and it’s cheap to operate, with an excellent 53 mpg city/56 mpg highway in the base model.

It offers standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control and a six-speed automatic transmission. Perhaps the most notable downside is that there are some cheap-feeling cabin materials.

The Toyota Avalon has been a luxurious-yet-economical model for its entire life, and the Hybrid adds excellent fuel economy to the mix. While its 43 mpg city/44 mpg highway EPA ratings aren’t class-leading, the rest of the Avalon Hybrid is superb and its large footprint is rare for a hybrid sedan. This helped win it the U.S. News 2020 Best Hybrid or Electric Car for Families award.

The Avalon Hybrid offers a Lexus-like ride and interior while being one of the few large sedans to offer a hybrid powertrain. One of its only downsides, unfortunately, is that its luxurious interior and size means it’s on the pricier side of the hybrid market.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is one of the top-rated used sedans on the market because it has few weaknesses. It was a U.S. News finalist in 2021 for both Best Hybrid or Electric Car for the Money and Best Hybrid and Electric Car for Families awards thanks to its well-rounded nature.

In 2020, the Sonata was fully redesigned, which brought with it better tech, more cargo space, better fuel economy (at 50 mpg city/54 mpg highway in its most-efficient guise) and an available solar roof to recharge the battery. It also offers a robust suite of standard driver-assistance features.

The Honda Accord Hybrid was fully redesigned in 2018, and the 2019 model is a strong choice for used shoppers. It gets 48 mpg city/highway combined, and it has copious amounts of cabin room and a powerful 212-horsepower hybrid powertrain. It achieved perfect crash-test marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and its standard accident-prevention technology list is long.

The Accord Hybrid’s infotainment system is easy-to-use, and the interior is comfortable for both front and rear occupants. Its driving dynamics are a bit ho-hum, however, and some cabin materials feel very low-rent. Still, if tech, comfort and miles per gallon are a buyer’s main criteria, the Accord Hybrid is tough to overlook.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid tops our list thanks to its rock-solid base platform and phenomenal fuel economy. It won the 2019 Best New Cars for Teens award and was a finalist in two other categories, and was U.S. News’ highest-ranked hybrid car for 2019.

It gets up to 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway, and it has a serene, comfortable interior even at highway speeds. The Camry has exceptional trunk space for the hybrid class and in 2019, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa all became standard features. Minor complaints are that the powertrain sometimes hesitates under hard acceleration, and its handling is boring, but for most used car shoppers, it’ll be hard to find anything wrong with the Camry Hybrid.

After you’ve chosen some models to consider, visit our used car listings to see what’s available in your area. 

If you’d rather buy or lease a new hybrid car, be sure to use our U.S. News Best Price Program. The program connects shoppers who want to buy or lease a new car with local dealers. It offers a significant savings with pre-negotiated prices, home delivery and online sales options.

• 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.0/10 | Fuel Economy: 52 mpg combined
• 2019 Toyota Prius – U.S. News Score: 8.1/10 | Fuel Economy: 52 mpg combined
• 2019 Hyundai Ioniq – U.S. News Score: 8.2/10 | Fuel Economy: 55 mpg combined (119 MPGe combined plug-in)
• 2019 Kia Optima Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.3/10 | Fuel Economy: 41 mpg combined (103 MPGe combined plug-in)
• 2019 Ford Fusion Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.3/10 | Fuel Economy: 42 mpg combined
• 2019 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.3/10 | Fuel Economy: 46 mpg combined
• 2021 Honda Insight – U.S. News Score: 8.3/10 | Fuel Economy: 52 mpg combined
• 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.4/10 | Fuel Economy: 54 mpg combined
• 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.5/10 | Fuel Economy: 44 mpg combined
• 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.5/10 | Fuel Economy: 52 mpg combined
• 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.6/10 | Fuel Economy: 48 mpg combined
• 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid – U.S. News Score: 8.7/10 | Fuel Economy: 52 mpg combined