Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
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These are the best hybrid cars (the best hybrid SUVs and are listed separately) for the 2023 model year. They are listed from highest to lowest mpg combined rating, according to official EPA estimates.
This list includes only traditional hybrids for all non-luxury sedans. Unlike their plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cousins, standard hybrids don’t require plugging in to recharge the battery and to achieve their best fuel economy. Like a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle, simply fill them with gasoline and let the hybrid system do the work.
The affordable Hyundai Ioniq hybrid and the distinctive Honda Insight hybrid called it quits, but 2023 brought a redesigned and more powerful Toyota Prius and a new hybrid from Toyota with the Crown, to replace the discontinued Avalon . Hyundai and Honda are reinforcing their lineups with a host of upcoming fully electrified products, but still offer some hybrid options.
Traditional hybrids, like the original Prius, give reluctant EV and plug-in hybrid converts an alternative that doesn’t require a charging cable. They offer drivers economical and more environmentally conscious transportation. While hybrid SUVs are more in favor, plenty of traditional hybrid sedans can deliver significantly lower fuel consumption, often at a price just incrementally higher than their standard non-hybrid counterparts.
With the Hyundai Ioniq hybrid no longer dominating the top spot, the original hybrid Prius takes back its rightful slot. It’s good timing with its 2023 redesign that gives it more oomph, but just as much efficiency. It was a complete redesign for the fifth generation of the hybrid hatchback. One of the only things Toyota kept in the redo were the Prius name and fabulous fuel economy. It gets 60% more power, improved handling and ride quality and a thoroughly modern interior to go along with its sleek and sporty exterior. It’s now available in three trim levels with the LE with standard front-wheel drive as the new base model. Although its redesign lowered the roofline and chopped more than an inch from interior headroom, at 181.1 inches in length, the 2023 Prius has grown by 1.1 inches and has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor. That means more legroom. The LE with front drive will deliver up to 57 mpg in combined city and highway driving (that’s 56 mpg city and 57 mpg highway). AWD drops the LE to 54 mpg in all categories.
The 2023 Elantra looks like it did the year before and that means the same 140-horsepower hybrid powertrain with front-wheel drive for this popular compact sedan. Clearly no contender for the horsepower sweepstakes, it at least has enough power to keep up with traffic while saving on fuel costs. Keeping things simple, just two trims are on offer for 2023: the base Blue ($25,445), EPA-rated at a commendable 54 mpg combined, 53 city and 56 highway, and the Limited ($30,045) that slips to 50, 49 and 52 mpg in the same metrics despite using the identical powertrain.
The Camry hybrid is the marquee trim, delivering as much as 53 mpg in the base LE trim. The full trim lineup up for the hybrid is as follows: LE, XLE, SE, SE Nightshade and XSE. It trails competitors in trunk space but still holds sufficient amounts of groceries or luggage, and its cabin is roomy and comfortable. It gets top marks in crash testing and comes standard with many driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning with steering assist. The hybrid’s 2.5-liter engine makes 176 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque on its own, but the combined gas-electric system makes a combined 208 horsepower. The gas engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid employs an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Camry Hybrid LE is the fuel efficiency leader with EPA ratings of 52 mpg combined, 51 mpg city and 53 highway. In the other four trims, it’s rated for 46 combined, 44 city and 47 highway.
The most efficient Hyundai Sonata model is the hybrid Blue series and it doesn’t suffer from inflated hybrid pricing. The 2023 Blue is EPA-rated for 52 mpg combined. The SEL and the Limited both suffer slightly on fuel economy, returning 47 mpg. It’s not the best-driving car in its class, but it remains a stylish midsize sedan with available high-tech features that are a class above and offers solid value, made more so by its extended warranty and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.
The Corolla built its reputation by offering thrifty reliable transportation and the hybrid version takes that ethos one step further. Refreshed for 2023, a more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder is now standard across the lineup, except for the hybrid sedan which still has the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 134 net combined system horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid front-wheel drive returns 47 mpg combined, 50 city and 43 highway, while the new AWD version is EPA rated for 44, 47 and 41 mpg in the same measures. Standard Toyota Safety-Sense 2.0 and 10 airbags ensure it’s as safe as it is a bargain. It’s a less engaging option than the gas engine, but it does improve your fuel economy.
Even if the Honda Insight is a goner, Honda still has a sedan-shaped hybrid up its sleeve. The base 2023 Accord hybrid emerges better than ever after a redesign that made it more powerful and much more fuel-efficient. Hybrids get a modest 2 horsepower boost over last year. It also grew: It’s almost full-size now. Across the lineup, the redesigned Accord gets a completely new look with a fastback roofline, structural improvements Honda says result in a stiffer body and suspension upgrades they claim improve ride and handling. The standard hybrid returns up to 48 mpg combined (from 51 city and 44 highway). The hybrid is slightly faster than its rivals but also isn’t necessarily “exciting.” As before there are lots of safety features and the trademark quality feel, but this Accord is a little less exciting than the previous one.
The 2023 Lexus ES is a solid all-around performer with predictable handling, a quiet cabin and competitive fuel efficiency, particularly from the 300h hybrid model. The 2023 ES hybrid costs slightly more than the regular version, but only by just over $1,000. Trims include the Luxury and Ultra Luxury grades and the F Sport Design and F Sport Handling options. The 300h hybrid option pairs the four-cylinder with a capable electric motor for a combined total of 215 hp. The ES’ typical handling is focused on delivering a comfortable ride above all else. As expected, the 300h is the efficiency champ, returning 44 mpg in combined and highway driving and 43 mpg in the city. Those numbers obliterate the regular version’s base 28 mpg combined.
The Toyota Crown is technically new this year, even if the name is recycled from yesteryear. The all-new 2023 Crown replaces the large Avalon in Toyota’s domestic lineup and is considered a sedan despite its almost coupe-like fastback profile. There are three available trim levels, XLE, Limited and Platinum, and all come standard with an all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain. The base configuration provides exceptional fuel efficiency, particularly for a vehicle this size. The XLE and Limited with the traditional Toyota Hybrid system are rated at 41 mpg combined, a number many much smaller and lighter vehicles would struggle to achieve. Stepping up to the more exhilarating Hybrid Max configuration delivers an impressive 30 mpg combined.
Despite decades of improvements, traditional internal combustion automobile engines are a product of compromise. Combining an internal combustion engine with an electric motor—or two, or three as some of the latest hybrids do—allows engineers to volley between power sources for significantly improved efficiency across the board.
Hybrid vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine that works in concert with an electric motor. Most vehicles operate on its electric motor at low speeds or in city traffic, but switch to gasoline or combined operation when power is needed or at higher speeds. In contrast to pure gas or diesel vehicles, which operate most efficiently on the highway at high speed, hybrids return their best mileage around town, where they can take full advantage of the electric assistance.
The relationship between the three main components (gasoline engine, electric motor and battery) is precisely controlled by software and attendant hardware that makes sure the battery stays charged, usually when the gasoline engine is operating in a low-demand situation like cruising on the highway at a steady speed. Hybrids also use regenerative braking, a process that returns charge to the battery under braking or in some instances coasting. This is particularly significant, as traditional vehicles “throw away” large amounts of energy during braking in the form of heat.
A traditional hybrid like the ones in this list requires no external charging or special operating procedures; just fill your car with gas as usual.
The primary advantage of a hybrid car is improved fuel economy and reduced emissions. For instance, low-speed stop-and-go traffic can be particularly inefficient with a gasoline engine; a hybrid utilizes the electric motor(s) in these situations to increase efficiency dramatically. Plus, electric motors make all of their available torque from 1 rpm and up, which is ideal for stop-and-go traffic; gasoline engines require revving to produce maximum torque. When needed, the system can also operate the electric motors and gasoline engine simultaneously for maximum output and acceleration when merging or getting up to speed.
Series-parallel hybrid cars like the ones on this list offer considerably better gas mileage than any gas-only cars, and they also tend to run on regular-grade gas, rather than premium. In the long run, that adds up to significant fuel savings, typically at no additional maintenance cost versus a less-complex gas or diesel-powered car. They’re generally quieter than gas or diesel vehicles as well.
Most hybrids have come down in price over the last few years, but many still demand a small premium over the cost of their non-hybrid counterparts. Hybrids are also heavier due to the battery pack and additional hardware, but the improved fuel economy negates the additional weight in all but a few very specialized instances.
Another downside? Not as much choice. There are also tradeoffs in performance and require a higher trim level, which again means more cash upfront.
Battery lifespan and replacement cost remain the chief concerns of buyers considering a hybrid automobile. Unfortunately, most hybrid vehicle manufacturers use specific technology, components and suppliers so there is no universal answer. Most experts agree that the average hybrid battery should last approximately 80,000 to 150,000 miles. Bear in mind that hybrid batteries in the U.S. are legally required to warrant them for a minimum of 8 years or 100,000. Some manufacturers have taken this a step further and offer a 10-year and 150,000-mile warranty.
That said, forums and owners’ clubs have many members touting over 200,000 miles on the original battery pack. Replacement battery prices for popular models have improved dramatically over the last few years, and used and refurbished options are also available.
We selected cars (based on size) that have an available hybrid powertrain as an option on one or more of its trims and are priced under $50,000. We also looked at the overall vehicle ranking by Forbes Wheels staff. The hybrids are ordered from highest to lowest EPA-rated mpg in combined driving on base hybrid models.
For 2023, our ratings categories are:
Overall: 100 points
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