10 Of The Most Reliable Hybrid Cars

The last few years have seen buyers get access to a wider range of powertrain options than ever before. The number of great electric cars on offer continues to increase, and hybrids continue to become increasingly ubiquitous options in dealerships alongside regular gas-powered cars. With those added options comes added complexity for buyers, and inevitably, more questions. Chief among them, is an electrified car going to be just as reliable as a solely gas-powered one?

The answer, quite simply, is yes; the best hybrids can last up to a few hundred thousand miles without issue if looked after correctly, and sport reliability ratings are equivalent to that of the best pure combustion cars. Hybrids are now available across almost every segment of the car market, and perhaps unsurprisingly, there are a few manufacturers whose names consistently crop up at the top of the reliability charts. Many also offer plug-in hybrid variants of their bestselling models, but for the purposes of this article, we're only focusing on mild and full hybrids (cars that can't be plugged into a charger).

From sleek sedans to family-hauling SUVs, here's a quick roundup of some of the most reliable hybrids on the market in 2023, plus a few choice used picks that should remain just as dependable as a new car.

Anyone looking for a car that combines competitive levels of equipment, practicality, and reliability into one package should find it hard to go wrong with the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. It's a car that ticks all the right boxes for many new car buyers, even if, during our time with the car, we struggled to find anything exciting about it. As an everyday grocery-getter or commuter car, it's a great option –- buyers in colder areas will certainly appreciate the standard all-wheel drive, and drivers doing higher mileage will benefit from the car's class-leading economy.

Toyota is also consistently ranked among the best automakers for reliability, topping owner surveys year after year. Although the Corolla Cross Hybrid is a relatively new model, there's no indication that it will be any different from the rest of the brand's lineup when it comes to racking up the miles without complaining. As reliable, efficient, and practical as it might be on paper, however, buyers looking to extract any driving joy out of their daily commute will be better served elsewhere.

While it was once the case that Japanese automakers unquestionably ruled the roost on reliability, South Korean sister brands Kia and Hyundai have made great strides in recent years and have rapidly climbed the tables. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is one of the brand's best hybrid models in that regard, achieving a "great" "quality & reliability" rating from JD Power for the 2023 model year. We reviewed the Sonata Hybrid at launch in 2021 and found it to be generously equipped for the price, even if its handling left a little to be desired.

The critically acclaimed solar roof on the Limited trim tester car was replaced for 2023 with a panoramic sunroof, but it's not as if the panels had much effect on the car's all-electric range anyway. Hyundai estimated the roof added only a few hundred miles of range per year, and potentially added another electrical element to go wrong later down the line. So, for those looking for the most hassle-free, affordable Sonata Hybrid trim, the 2023 model is a better option than previous years, even if it misses out on the car's biggest party trick.

Kia was crowned the most reliable mass-market brand by JD Power for 2023, and the 2023 Sportage Hybrid sums up that mass-market appeal perfectly. It's attractively priced compared to what else is in the segment, especially in the lower half of the trim range, yet it's well-equipped and spacious inside. It's also very economical, with our reviewer finding the 38 miles per gallon EPA estimate to be achievable with normal driving. That's not always the case with hybrids, which sometimes require an extremely conservative driving style to get anywhere near the official numbers, so it's nice to see that Kia is not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes here.

The interior of the Sportage Hybrid is standard affordable crossover fare, with faux leather upholstery, a decent infotainment system, and more legroom than most rivals can offer. Like many of the other top-rated hybrids, the Sportage won't win any prizes for originality, but the car's sensibilities make it a top choice for anyone looking for a crossover that won't break the bank in regards to either maintenance or fuel.

The Prius has been given a makeover for the 2023 model year, with new exterior styling. The styling, seemingly for the first time ever, accounts for form as well as function. It's undoubtedly a significant improvement over the outgoing vehicle, and might even tempt some efficiency-conscious buyers who were previously on the fence about being seen in one. However, the freshly revamped car doesn't stray too far from its roots in terms of the driving experience. It's still reassuringly adequate –- that is, brisk enough that highway driving shouldn't be a concern, but with virtually zero concessions made to improve driver enjoyment.

The new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is also far from perfect, with our reviewer noting that it sounded whiny under hard acceleration. Nonetheless, we felt that the new Prius was markedly better to drive than older generations, making better use of its torquey all-electric drive modes at low speeds. Efficiency is also as strong as ever, although, in our own mixed driving, we couldn't quite match the EPA's official estimates. As for reliability –- it's a Prius; a car that's long been popular with high-mileage commuters and taxi drivers (and for good reason). To date, there's been nothing to suggest that the latest Prius will be any less reliable than its predecessors, which are famously able to rack up hundreds of thousands of miles without missing a beat.

Although it's no longer in production, the Toyota Prius' upmarket cousin remains one of the most reliable hybrids on the used market. In fact, it's one of the most reliable Lexus cars ever built, no mean feat considering that Lexus is arguably one of the most dependable luxury car manufacturers on the market. Production of the car was discontinued in the U.S. after 2017, but there are still plenty of examples on the used market in great condition.

The CT 200h shared its hybrid powertrain with the Prius, which means it's not one of the most athletic cars in its segment. It is, however, one of the most efficient, and sports a suite of interior niceties that make it a pleasant place to spend time. Like any used car, it's always worth looking for examples with full service history and lower mileage, but given Lexus' strong reputation for reliability, don't be too put off by a used example with higher-than-average numbers on the odometer.

Sales of sedans keep falling in America, but the likes of the Toyota Camry Hybrid prove that there are still plenty of competitive options out there for now. We crowned it one of the best hybrids on sale in 2023 thanks to its winning mix of affordability, space, and efficiency. The latter of those is a particular highlight — in its most fuel-sipping form, the Camry Hybrid delivers an EPA-estimated 52 mpg combined, better than almost anything else in its class.

Like many of Toyota's other models, the Camry Hybrid comes well equipped as standard, with all trims getting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, alongside Toyota's Safety Sense driver assistance tech. The current generation of the car has been on sale for a few years now, gaining consistently high-reliability ratings across previous model years. Consumer Reports predicts it should continue to remain more reliable than most of its rivals for 2023, which is no surprise given Toyota's reputation for consistently high build quality.

Another automaker with a strong reputation for reliability is Honda, and ratings for the 2023 CR-V live up to those expectations. The latest generation of the CR-V doesn't mess with the formula that made it a bestseller, delivering plenty of interior space, a refined ride for the segment, and more conservative styling than some of its competitors. It's also quite efficient, although its 37 mpg combined rating falls a little short of the best in class.

The car is also let down slightly by its Honda Sensing safety tech system, which we found triggered alerts at an annoyingly frequent rate even when driving down open roads. Other than that though, the 2023 CR-V is more of the same from Honda, but in a good way. It's sensible, practical, and affordable, plus current data indicates ownership should remain hassle-free even at mileage figures where rivals might start to cause trouble.

The RX 450h is an exceptionally reliable Lexus and was one of the key models that helped popularize the luxury SUV segment over two decades ago. The 2021 model year was the last of the fourth-generation RX, and it's estimated to last more than 300,000 miles with proper servicing. It's plush inside, as any Lexus should be, and the cabin is both smooth and quiet at any speed. However, there were a few issues that stood out on our tester car, most notably the clunky infotainment system, which felt completely out of place on a luxury vehicle in 2021.

The standard equipment list was also a little stingy compared to similarly priced rivals, and the efficiency figures seemed very optimistic — our reviewer saw significantly lower figures than the official 30 mpg combined estimate. However, for all its missteps, the 2021 RX 450h claims one key advantage over other luxury SUVs, and that's simply that with its very strong reliability ratings, it should outlast them all.

One of the many casualties of America's declining appetite for sedans was the Ford Fusion, which was discontinued after the 2020 model year. There are rumors that a new, crossover successor is in the works, but for now, the Fusion remains only available to buy on the used market. The 2020 model is a great used pick, with very strong reliability ratings and a fuel-sipping Hybrid version available. The Fusion Hybrid benefited from high levels of tech as standard, and plenty of space both for passengers and luggage.

Ironically, as a fuel-sipping hybrid, it wasn't a standout at all -– its economy figures were middle of the road for the segment. But, its comparatively athletic handling made it a top choice for drivers looking for something a little more exciting to drive than the equivalent Toyota or Honda. It was affordable to buy new and remains affordable to buy today. Plus, with reasonable maintenance costs, it shouldn't cost much to keep on the road either.

The 2023 Highlander Hybrid is a family hauler that promises to cut fuel costs over the regular gas-powered Highlander, but doesn't do much else to differentiate itself apart from that. It sports a 2.5L four-cylinder engine backed up by a choice of two or three electric motors, and sports roughly the same power output as its purely combustion-engined sibling. All the key points of appeal from the regular Highlander are carried over: There's plenty of space for a large family, a range of trims that stretch from mundane to near-luxury, and Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of driver assistance tech for extra peace of mind.

The Highlander Hybrid also boasts class-leading reliability scores, with iSeeCars giving the 2023 model a 9.3/10 rating. That should mean many years of trouble-free driving, which in turn helps keep the car's resale value strong too. The one big criticism we made of the car is that it's not particularly memorable in any aspect, be that its design, or its driving dynamics. However, the tradeoff for that conservatism is Toyota's top-notch build quality, and that's enough to seal the deal for many buyers.