The best used hybrid SUVs of 2023

Updated: 10 February 2023

SUVs are hugely popular and with their unique combination of style and practicality, it’s easy to see why. Their extra weight and size means that SUVs tend to have higher fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared with a saloon or hatchback, but there are now plenty of SUV models that offer a solution: hybrid power.

Hybrid SUVs combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine for greater fuel economy and lower emissions. Whether you’re talking about a plug-in hybrid that you need to plug in to charge or a hybrid that charges itself (sometimes called conventional hybrid or self-charging hybrid), there are some great used options to choose from. Here are our 10 favourite used hybrid SUVs.

Toyota has done more than any other brand to make hybrid cars popular – it was one of the first to bring hybrid technology to the mass market and its expertise in the area is unmatched.

The Toyota C-HR is a self-charging hybrid, so you can’t top up the battery yourself and it doesn’t offer the incredible fuel efficiency figures of the plug-in cars on this list. It’ll still be very affordable to run, however, with official fuel economy of more than 50mpg. It’s a very stylish car, too, and should prove to be a very reliable option. Compact and easy to park, the CH-R is also enjoyable to drive and remarkably practical for its size.

The Peugeot 3008 has been dazzling buyers for years thanks to its good looks, futuristic interior and family-friendly practicality. This popular SUV also offers something that not many rivals can – not one but two plug-in hybrid in the range.

The regular 3008 Hybrid has front-wheel drive and gives you good performance, while the Hybrid4 has four-wheel drive (thanks to an extra electric motor) and even more power. According to official figures, both are able to travel up to 40 miles on electric power alone given a full charge of the batteries, but while the regular Hybrid can achieve up to 222mpg, the Hybrid4 can achieve up to 235mpg.

• What is a hybrid car?

• The best electric SUVs

• Electric vs hybrid vs plug-in hybrid cars

You can argue a case for calling the Kia Niro a crossover, or even a hatchback, but we think it’s rugged-looking enough to be included here. The previous-generation Niro, on sale new from 2016 until 2022, was available as a conventional hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, so you can choose the one that’s right for you. Both come with Kia’s seven-year warranty, which should deliver some peace of mind when you’re searching for a used one.

According to official figures, the plug-in hybrid can travel up to 36 miles in pure-electric mode before you use the petrol engine and give you an average of 200mpg. What you get in the real world will depend on your charging and driving habits, of course. Alternatively, the hybrid model doesn’t need to be charged and has an official average of nearly 60mpg. Whichever version you choose, the Niro is a brilliant family car that offers a lot of space and features for your money.

If you want a Mini but you need a little more practicality, the Mini Countryman should fit the bill. You get the same retro character and fun driving experience, but with a higher driving position, space for the family and a good-size boot. The extra  electrical components mean the boot in the Countryman Plug-in Hybrid is slightly smaller than the standard model, but it’s still a practical choice. Up front, the Countryman features one of the most distinctive dashboards you’ll find in an SUV, with an array of personalisation options having been available when new.

The combination of a powerful turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor makes the Countryman Plug-in Hybrid very quick, so it’s fun as well as frugal. You get the reassurance of four-wheel drive, too, while the official figures suggest you can look forward to about 30 miles of pure-electric power from a fully charged battery.

If there’s one SUV that can rival the Countryman in terms of the way it drives, it’s the Ford Kuga. It’s smooth and comfortable, yet also responsive and fun. The Ford is also roomy, well-equipped and good value for money. It’s also available as a full-hybrid as well as a plug-in, so you can choose a version that works for you.

The plug-in hybrid is capable of travelling up to 41 miles with a fully charged battery, according to official figures. It can be charged in just 3.5 hours when using a ‘wallbox’ charger, or about six hours using a domestic plug socket. The more affordable full-hybrid model gives more than 50mpg, according to official figures, with CO2 emissions of 125g/km.

Like the Kia Niro, the latest Hyundai Tucson (on sale new since 2021) is another SUV that’s available as a plug-in or as a full-hybrid. Choose the plug-in hybrid version and, according to official figures, you can look forward to 38 miles of electric range with a fully charged battery, with CO2 emissions of 31g/km. Like all plug-in hybrids, it’s an appealing option if you have access to an electric charging point at home or at work.

If not, the full-hybrid can give you an official fuel economy of 49mpg without the need to charge the battery or carry any charging leads. In both cases, the Tucson offers excellent value for money, with a long list of equipment fitted as standard, a large boot (616 litres in the hybrid and 558 litres in the plug-in hybrid), and the reassurance of a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

The Lexus RX is the real trailblazer of this list. While the other SUVs on this list have only begun offering hybrid power options quite recently Lexus – Toyota’s premium brand – has been doing it for years.

Like a few others on this list, this hybrid is of the self-charging variety rather than being a plug-in, so it won’t travel anywhere near as far on electric-only power or tempt you with such dazzling official fuel economy. It does mean that you can enjoy its hybrid benefits if you don’t have a driveway or a garage, however, and it’s also a very comfortable car to drive.

You also get a lot of equipment for your money and bags of interior space, especially if you opt for the ‘L’ model which is longer and has seven seats rather than five. On top of all that is Lexus’ legendary reputation for reliability.

The Honda CR-V is everything that you'd want a family SUV to be, with a huge interior, a big boot and a hard-wearing feel throughout. It’s comfortable and feels reassuringly solid on the road, too.

Its powerful yet efficient hybrid system is a great fit, because its 2.0-litre petrol engine and two electric motors combine to give you strong, smooth progress. While the fuel efficiency figures of this self-charging hybrid aren’t as impressive as they are for the plug-in hybrids on this list, the benefits are still clear compared with conventional combustion-engined cars.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (on sale new from 2013 to 2021) was one of the first plug-in hybrid cars to go on sale in the UK and it was the best-selling car of its kind for many years. That means there are lots of used examples to choose from.

While the interior is showing its age a little, the Outlander has an appealingly rugged, no-nonsense feel throughout. It’s spacious, too, with a large boot and enough headroom and legroom for five adults to travel in comfort.

All versions use a combination of petrol engine and two electric motors but in 2018 a new 2.4-litre petrol engine replaced the previous 2.0-litre version, giving slightly better performance. 

Of all Audi’s SUV models, the Q5 is arguably the best all-rounder – it excels in just about every area. Its interior is one of the best of any mid-size SUV, with a sharp design, top-quality materials and a premium feel throughout. It’s also hugely practical, with enough space for five people, although it’s worth noting that the boot of the plug-in hybrid model (called TFSI e) is 95 litres smaller than in standard Audi Q5 models.. Still, 465 litres of space is enough for three large suitcases or a pushchair.

Whether you go for the entry-level 50 TFSI e or the more powerful 55 TFSI e, you get an official 26 miles of pure-electric range if the battery’s fully charged, along with the reassurance of four-wheel drive.

There are lots of used hybrid SUVs to choose from at Cazoo. Simply use the search function to find one you love then buy or finance it online. You can choose to have it delivered to your door, or you can collect it from your nearest Cazoo Customer Centre.

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