Hybrids have become an increasingly tempting proposition for UK buyers in recent years... and months.

While always considered a stepping stone from ownership of a traditional petrol or diesel car before opting to go full electric, they tend to offer the best of both worlds with less compromise than an EV.

While they tend to be efficient and green, you also don't need to worry about running out of battery thanks to the petrol engine under the bonnet.

And hybrids have become more attractive since this year after Labour gave new models a five-year stay of execution from the 2030 ban on sales of petrol and diesel cars.

These vehicles will remain on sale until 2035, providing Britons with the opportunity to keep filling up with fuel until the middle of next decade.

Customers have a wide variety of options for both conventional 'self-charging' hybrids (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

While the former have smaller batteries and very limited electric-only ranges, some PHEVs can go for up to 90 miles using only kilowatts.

But while both also offer tax savings for company cars, PHEVs from 2028 will be stung by Rachel Reeves' new eVED pay-per-mile scheme, which will see owners incur costs of 1.5p for every mile they cover.

This levy will be on top of fuel duties PHEV drivers already pay when they fill up with petrol, meaning a double tax sting.

As such, PHEVs are likely to become less popular in the coming years, while HEV demand should remain relatively strong. 

But which examples on sale - both new and used - are the most, and least, reliable? 

What Car? has furnished us with the results from its latest Car Reliability Survey, so we can tell you which hybrids are most dependable.

The poll covers models up to five years old and owners are told to report on any issues their vehicles have suffered in the last 24 months.

Here's a list of the 10 you can count on most, and three that have slightly more dubious track records... 

MOST RELIABLE HYBRIDS

10. Toyota C-HR (2023-present) - 95.4%

Most common faults: 12-volt battery 16%, bodywork 4%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 50% one day or less, 45% one day to a week

Customers in the market for a futuristic-looking, comfortable and efficient small crossover, then the C-HR will tick the box.

It's available with the choice of a conventional HEV or a PHEV, with the data gathered by What Car? from owners covering both versions.

With a fault rate of 24 per cent, the C-HR is more prone to problems than other Toyota models, which are more reflective of the brand's bulletproof reliability. However, most issues were minor and were put right in a day or less. 

Financially, owners were not impacted; Toyota's long warranty covered the cost of all parts and labour to put things right for all models that suffered issues 

9. Toyota Corolla (2018-present) - 96.5%

Most common faults: 12-volt battery 8%, non-engine electrics 3%, interior trim 2%

Average repair cost: 91% £0, 9% £51-£200

Typical time off road: 63% one day or less, 33% more than a week

The Toyota Corolla is officially the world's best-selling car - and for good reason too.

More than 50 million have been sold since it first arrived in the 1960s, and reliability has been in its DNA since the beginning. This latest version - built in Burnaston, Derbyshire, is a brilliant family car: comfortable, well made, well equipped and remarkably frugal in real-world driving.

While 15 per cent of owners had endured a problem in the last couple of years, two thirds of them were in and out of the garage within 24 hours. 

The 12-volt battery accounted for most issues, and as it's a consumable, it's not a surprise that some owners had to pay for replacements. 

8. Honda Jazz (2020-present) - 96.9%

Most common faults: bodywork 4%, air-con 3%, 12-volt battery 3%, non-engine electrics 3%, brakes 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 63% one day or less, 30% one day to a week

A perennial favourite among senior drivers, the Jazz has always been a practical purchase, especially due to its hardened reliability record.

The latest model - sold since 2020 - is exclusively hybrid powered. And that's no bad thing because it means this compact - but versatile - supermini is super fuel efficient as well as comfortable and deceptively roomy.

Although owners told What Car? that 16 per cent of their Jazz's had problems, only 9 per cent were off the road because of them, and nearly two-thirds were put right in a day or less. Best of all, Honda took care of all the bills under warranty.

7. Honda Civic (2022-present) - 97.3%

Most common faults: steering 10%, hybrid battery pack 2%, bodywork 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 44% one day or less, 44% more than a week

Like the latest Honda Jazz, the Civic is now only sold as an e:HEV conventional hybrid. This means it's a conventional family hatchback with average fuel economy in the region of 60mpg. 

And not only will it save you on fuel bills, there won't be any major garage receipts to cover either, according to owners.

Only 13 per cent of the examples reported on in the latest annual survey had gone wrong in the last 24 months, and 90 per cent of those could still be driven. All remedial work was done for free, but 44 per cent of cars had to spend more than a week in the workshop.

6. Lexus RX (2016-2022) - 97.9%

Most common faults: bodywork 7%, air-con 4%, non-engine electrics 4%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 100% one day or less

Despite first hitting the market a decade ago and going out of production in 2022, the previous generation Lexus RX is still proving a very dependable second-hand choice. 

While most luxury SUVs come with the caveat of expensive running costs, the RX is relatively frugal and costs little to nothing in repair bills, owners told What Car?.

Most of the models drivers have are now outside their Lexus warranty period, yet just 7 per cent of drivers said their car has suffered an issue. And all problems were put right in a day or less, and at no cost to the owners. 

So, not only is it reliable but also beautifully refined, with a well-appointed interior, incredibly comfortable seats and punchy performance. 

5. Lexus UX hybrid (2019-present) - 98.0%

Most common faults: infotainment/sat-nav system 7%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 25% one day to a week, 75% more than a week

While the UX is also sold as a pure EV, this is data only applicable to the conventional hybrid powertrain.

Only 7 per cent of the UXs reported on had any issues, and the infotainment system was the only area of concern. 

While the problems didn't stop any cars from being driven, they were slow to fix - three-quarters of affected cars were in the workshop for more than a week. 

On a positive note, no owners had to contribute to any repair costs, which were all covered under warranty.

4. Hyundai Kona hybrid (2019-present) - 98.7%

Most common faults: bodywork 3%, non-engine electrics 3%

Average repair cost: 100% £0

Typical time off road: 33% less than one day, 33% one day to a week, 33% more than a week

While this list of most reliable hybrids is dominated by Japanese brands, the Korean car makers are also making robust electrified cars too, it appears.

Although the Hyundai Kona is available as a petrol, hybrid or electric model, the hybrid is the best choice for a number of reasons: it has better fuel economy than the petrol, and it's cheaper for both road tax and company car tax. 

The other big factor is dependability: only 8 per cent of hybrid Konas reported on in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey had any faults, compared with 18 per cent of petrol examples and 24 per cent of EVs.

The bodywork and various electrical systems were the main bugbears of owners, but these faults didn't prevent cars from being driven. A third of issues were put right in a day or less, and only a third took more than seven days to resolve. Even though some cars would have been outside of Hyundai's five-year new car warranty, all work was done for free.

3. Toyota RAV4 hybrid (2019-2025) - 98.4%

Most common faults: 12-volt battery 4%, hybrid battery pack 1%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 60% one day or less, 40% one day to a week

Although the hybrid version of the RAV4 was discontinued at the start of 2025, it remains an excellent second-hand buy - mostly because it is nigh-on rock solid when it comes to dependability.

It has punchy acceleration, a smart interior and a lofty driving position. And although it doesn't ever drive on pure electric power alone like its PHEV sibling, economy is pretty good at around 50mpg.

The RAV4 hybrid suffered few faults, What Car? was told. Just 5 per cent of owners said theirs had gone. However, those issues rendered three in five cars undriveable, meaning more hassle for owners to get them fixed. The good news is that Toyota warranties covered all the necessary parts and labour.

2. Kia Niro PHEV (2022-present) - 99.0%

Most common faults: brakes 1%, non-engine electrics 1%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 25% less than one day, 25% one day to a week, 50% more than a week

The second Korean model to make the order of most reliable hybrids is the Kia Niro PHEV.

Just 6 per cent of owners said their cars went wrong. Unfortunately, half of repairs took over a week, leaving their drivers either lacking a vehicle or using a courtesy car in the meantime.

All current Niro PHEVs with faults could still be driven, though. And Kia's market-leading warranty covered the cost of putting things right for all owners.

1. Toyota RAV4 PHEV (2019-present) - 99.2%

Most common faults: infotainment /sat-nav system 6%,12-volt battery 3%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 33% one day to a week

It will come as little surprise that a Toyota has topped the charts for hybrid reliability. According to What Car?, the out-and-out most dependable model is the RAV4 PHEV.

The 12-volt battery and infotainment system were the only areas to cause upset among the 12% of owners who told us their car had suffered a reliability issue.

Most faults were minor, though, and 60 per cent of cars were put right in a day or less, with the rest rectified in less than a week. 

Best of all, Toyota covered the cost of all work required, so no owners were left out of pocket.

LEAST RELIABLE HYBRIDS

To help inform your hybrid buying decision, we have also listed the three models up to five years old that score the lowest reliability ratings in What Car?'s latest poll.

It's important to note, however, that the three motors with the worst scores all perform adequately, so they shouldn't be discounted entirely over concerns about dependability.

3. Nissan Juke hybrid (2022-present) - 89.0%

Most common faults: engine 9%, 12-volt battery 5%, hybrid battery pack 5%, engine electrics 5%, gearbox 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 25% one day or less, 63% more than a week

Hybrid versions of the Juke suffered slightly fewer faults (23 per cent) than their petrol brethren, and Nissan covered the cost of all repairs, which is positive to mention. 

For buyers considering these models on the second-hand market, it's engine and battery woes that are most prevalent, and there were also reports of difficulties with the gearbox and infotainment system. So, check all these areas before purchasing.

Repair times can be long too; 63 per cent of afflicted Juke hybrids were in the workshop for more than a week. However, a quarter of those reported on were fixed in a day or less.

2. BMW 330e (2016-2020) - 87.6%

Most common faults: hybrid battery pack 8%, engine/motor electrics 4%, gearbox 4%, bodywork 2%, electric motor 2%, exhaust 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%, suspension 2%

Average repair cost: 75% £0, 19% more than £1,500

Typical time off road: 32% one day to a week, 52% more than a week

The plug-in hybrid version of the previous-generation BMW 3 Series is the best choice as a company car because it has all the qualities of its petrol and diesel siblings and it's cheaper for road tax and company car tax. It's economical too, because it's able to do up to 62 miles on pure electric power.

However, there are a variety of issues that drivers say have reared their ugly heads in recent months. Owners told us that 26 per cent of their 330es had gone wrong, and half of those cars were in the workshop for more than a week. 

More worrying is the fact that 19 per cent of owners were left with bill totalling more than £1,500 due to the vehicles being out of warranty - and only 75 per cent of remedial work was covered by BMW.

1. Skoda Superb PHEV (2020-present) - 86.1%

Most common faults: infotainment system/sat-nav 33%, air-con 7%, bodywork 7%, exhaust 7%, fuel system 7%, gearbox 7%

Average repair cost: £0

Typical time off road: 46% one day or less, 46% more than a week

Bottom of the hybrid pile for dependability is the super-practical Skoda Superb PHEV.

Problems with the infotainment system blighted the ownership experience for a third of Superb hybrid owners. 

Overall, three in five cars reported on had encountered a problem, making the car far less robust than previous generation petrol and diesel Superbs.

Although no owners faced any repair bills, nearly half had to wait more than a week to get their car back. That said, only 8 per cent of cars were rendered undriveable by their faults, meaning the issues are rarely major.