Top Cheapest Hybrids in 2025: Fuel Efficiency and Affordability Combined

Looking for a budget-friendly car that doesn’t compromise on quality and offers lower running costs than standard gasoline vehicles? The most affordable option is often a hybrid, and it’s hardly surprising that Toyota leads the way. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid, boasting a combined fuel economy of 50 mpg, is estimated by the EPA to save you around $3,250 in fuel expenses over five years compared to a non-hybrid Corolla, which still achieves an efficient 35 mpg combined. Remarkably, it’s also about $5,000 cheaper than the Prius.

While Toyota has long been recognized as the dominant force in hybrid technology, with over 25 years of experience in the North American hybrid market, other automakers have broadened their range of affordable hybrids. These now extend from compact sedans to versatile hatchbacks and even robust pickup trucks. When we talk about “inexpensive,” we’re focusing on vehicles priced under $30,000, including destination fees.

In the 2025 market, only one new car is available for under $20,000: the Nissan Versa at $18,330. While its future might be uncertain, there are still a solid number of new cars priced under $25,000. Interestingly, the Corolla Hybrid stands out by appearing on both lists of affordable vehicles.

These hybrid models not only offer reduced ownership costs compared to their gasoline-only counterparts, but they also come standard with crucial safety features. Expect to find automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and active lane control across these models.

Here’s a detailed overview of the Cheapest Hybrids available, comparing their size, fuel efficiency, features, and overall value. All prices mentioned include the mandatory destination charge.

2025 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Sedan ($24,760)

Fuel Economy: The EPA fuel economy ratings for the Corolla Hybrid LE and XLE trims are 53 mpg city, 46 mpg highway, and 50 mpg combined. The all-wheel-drive variant achieves 51 mpg city, 44 mpg highway, and 48 mpg combined. The SE trim, equipped with larger wheels, is rated at 50/43/47 mpg.
Price Range and Trims: The Corolla Hybrid is available in LE (starting at $24,760), SE ($27,200), and XLE ($29,125) trims.
Powertrain: It features a 138-horsepower 1.8-liter inline-4 engine paired with two electric motors and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available for an additional $1,400 (not offered on the XLE trim), adding a third motor to power the rear axle.
Passenger and Cargo Space: It accommodates five passengers, although rear legroom is somewhat limited at under 35 inches. The trunk provides 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The rear seats can be folded down, but they do not fold completely flat due to the battery pack located beneath the rear seat.
Standard Standout Features: Following the Toyota Prius redesign in 2023, the Corolla Hybrid has become Toyota’s entry-level hybrid model. Despite this positioning, it is well-equipped with features like adaptive cruise control and an 8.0-inch touchscreen that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The availability of AWD is also a unique feature in this vehicle class.

2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid ($26,250)

Fuel Economy: The base Elantra Hybrid Blue model is EPA-rated at 51 mpg city, 58 mpg highway, and 54 mpg combined. Other Elantra Hybrid trims with larger wheels are rated at 49/52/50 mpg.
Price Range and Trims: The Elantra Hybrid is offered in Blue ($26,250), SEL Sport ($28,225), and Limited ($30,600) trims.
Powertrain: It utilizes a 139-horsepower 1.6-liter inline-4 engine combined with an electric motor, driving the front wheels.
Passenger and Cargo Space: It offers good rear seat space for its class, with 38.0 inches of rear legroom, and a trunk capacity of 14.2 cubic feet.
Standard Standout Features: Hyundai provides an extensive 5-year/60,000-mile warranty, which includes three years of scheduled maintenance. It also features a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.3-inch touchscreen (requiring wired smartphone connectivity).

2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid Pickup Truck ($27,890)

Fuel Economy: The Maverick Hybrid achieves 42 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined, significantly better than the gas model’s 23/30/26 mpg.
Price Range and Trims: The Maverick Hybrid is available in XL ($27,890), XLT ($30,390), and Lariat ($38,330) trims. Gas-only models are also available in Tremor and Lobo trims.
Powertrain: The hybrid system combines a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine and an electric motor to produce 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive as an option for gas-only models.
Passenger and Cargo Space: It seats five passengers, though rear legroom is limited to 35 inches. It features ample interior storage and a 4.5-foot bed.
Standard Standout Features: Key features include a 37 mpg combined fuel economy, 17-inch steel wheels, a 4.5-foot bed, a 13.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and cruise control.

2025 Kia Niro Hatchback ($28,365)

Fuel Economy: The base Niro LX with 16-inch wheels is EPA-rated at 53 mpg city, 54 mpg highway, and 53 mpg combined. Better-equipped models achieve 53/45/49 mpg.
Price Range and Trims: The 2025 Niro Hybrid LX starts at $28,365 and also comes in EX ($31,165), EX Touring ($33,465), SX ($34,365), and SX Touring ($35,390) trims. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants are also available.
Powertrain: The Niro Hybrid uses a 139-horsepower 1.6-liter inline-4 engine with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission and an integrated electric motor. It is front-wheel drive only.
Passenger and Cargo Space: This hatchback offers more versatility for passengers and cargo than compact sedans. The 60:40 split-folding rear seats expand cargo space from 22.8 to 63.7 cubic feet.
Standard Standout Features: It includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile warranty.

2025 Toyota Prius Hatchback ($29,485)

Fuel Economy: EPA-rated at 57 mpg combined, or 54 mpg combined with AWD. Top XLE and Limited trims are rated at 52 or 49 mpg combined with AWD. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid offers 45 miles of electric range and 52 mpg after battery depletion.
Price Range and Trims: The Prius is available in LE ($29,485), XLE ($32,930), and Limited ($36,495) trims. All-wheel drive is an additional $1,400.
Powertrain: It features a 194-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with two electric motors and front-wheel drive, or optional all-wheel drive with a third motor for a total output of 196 hp.
Passenger and Cargo Space: The redesigned Prius, while stylish, is more compact than the Corolla, with limited headroom both front and rear. The hatchback area offers up to 23.8 cubic feet of space.
Standard Standout Features: Known for its striking new design and exceptional 57 mpg fuel economy, the Prius also offers available AWD and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Toyota Prius PHEV starts at $34,410.

2025 Toyota Camry Sedan ($29,495)

Fuel Economy: The 2025 Toyota Camry is exclusively hybrid across all trims. The LE trim is rated at 53 mpg city, 50 mpg highway, and 51 mpg combined. All-wheel drive versions achieve 51/49/50 mpg. SE and XLE models are rated at 47 mpg combined, or 46 mpg combined with AWD. The XSE trim with larger wheels achieves 44 mpg combined.
Price Range and Trims: The Camry is available in LE ($29,495), SE ($31,795), XLE ($34,495), and XSE ($35,695) trims. Adding all-wheel drive costs $1,525 on any model.
Powertrain: It uses a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine and two motors, producing 225 horsepower with front-wheel drive. The AWD model’s additional motor increases output to 232 hp.
Passenger and Cargo Space: Approaching full-size sedan dimensions, the Camry Hybrid offers generous rear legroom at 38.0 inches, though rear headroom might be tight for taller occupants. The trunk capacity is 15.1 cubic feet.
Standard Standout Features: The Camry is unique in its class as a standard hybrid sedan with available AWD ($1,525).

2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Crossover ($29,745)

Fuel Economy: The EPA rates the Corolla Cross Hybrid at 45 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 42 mpg combined. All-wheel drive is standard.
Price Range and Trims: The Corolla Cross Hybrid comes in Hybrid S ($29,745), SE ($31,065), Nightshade ($31,990), and XSE ($32,930) trims.
Powertrain: It features a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with three electric motors and standard all-wheel drive, producing 196 hp and 152 lb-ft of torque. A 150-hp gas-only 2.0-liter inline-4 version is also available.
Passenger and Cargo Space: Smaller than the RAV4, the Corolla Cross functions like a large hatchback, comfortably seating four (though officially five), with 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 61.8 cubic feet with rear seats folded.
Standard Standout Features: It is well-equipped with standard safety features including adaptive cruise control, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan ($29,845) and Hatchback ($31,045)

Fuel Economy: The regular Civic achieves 32/41/36 mpg, while the new 2025 hybrid model is rated at 50 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, and 49 mpg combined. The Civic Hybrid hatchback is rated at 48 mpg combined.
Price Range and Trims: The Honda Civic Hybrid sedan is available in Sport Hybrid ($29,845) and Sport Hybrid Touring ($32,845) trims. The hatchback version is $1,200 more.
Powertrain: Honda combines a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine with two electric motors to produce 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque in hybrid models. They are front-wheel drive only.
Passenger and Cargo Space: The Civic Hybrid offers a spacious interior, with 37.4 inches of rear legroom, exceeding some small crossovers. It comfortably seats four, or five when needed. The sedan trunk offers 14.8 cubic feet, while the hatchback expands to 24.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats.
Standard Standout Features: The base Civic Hybrid includes adaptive cruise control, a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid ($29,965)

Fuel Economy: The front-wheel-drive Sportage Hybrid is EPA-rated at 42/44/43 mpg, better than the Honda CR-V. Adding all-wheel drive for $1,400 reduces fuel economy to 38 mpg combined, which is slightly less than the standard AWD RAV4 Hybrid but better than the AWD CR-V by 1 mpg.
Price Range and Trims: The Kia Sportage Hybrid crossover is available in LX ($29,965), EX ($33,765), and SX Prestige ($38,965) trims.
Powertrain: It features a 1.6-liter turbo-4 engine paired with an electric motor and a 6-speed automatic transmission, delivering a combined output of 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
Passenger and Cargo Space: The Sportage Hybrid boasts over 41 inches of rear legroom and 73.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the 60:40 split-rear seats folded. The battery placement under the cargo floor only slightly reduces cargo space by 1.4 cubic feet.
Standard Standout Features: The Kia Sportage, refreshed for 2026, will feature a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The powertrain is slightly upgraded to 231 hp, with fuel economy expected to remain consistent despite potential price increases.