What Are the Best 2024 Hybrids for the Money?
As demand for electric vehicles continues to fluctuate, hybrids are having a popularity moment. According to a recent AAA survey, only 18% of U.S. adults say they would be “very likely” or “likely” to buy a new or used EV, compared with 31% saying they would be “very likely” or “likely” to buy a hybrid. Currently, there are a lot of hybrid vehicle choices on the market, with more coming. Which ones meet their mission best?
Related: So You Want to Buy a Hybrid Car: 6 Things to Know
To determine if a hybrid vehicle’s added expense is worth the cash for buyers, we devised an efficiency-cost rating, which is simply the EPA’s combined mpg rating divided by the base price (MSRP plus destination charge). We then multiply that result by 1,000. A high mpg rating and low price provide a high efficiency-cost rating. The higher the score, the better it is.
This list is composed of model-year 2024 hybrids without a plug, and we don’t account for vehicle equipment levels, quality judgments, cost of car ownership or any variances from EPA mileage estimates. The goal here is to pay the least for the most mileage, barring all other considerations. Check out our list organized by vehicle class.
Compact Car
2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Price: $24,595
Gas mileage (city/highway/combined mpg): 53/46/50 mpg
Efficiency-cost rating: 2.03
The 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid tops the list as a practical, affordable and efficient compact sedan. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, which starts higher in price but has a 54 mpg combined rating, is a close second. Both models will have some stiff competition next year, however, as Honda is adding a hybrid version of the Civic to its lineup for 2025.
Mid-Size Sedan
2024 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Price: $29,950
Gas mileage: 51/53/52 mpg
Efficiency-cost rating: 1.74
The 2024 Toyota Camry is a five-seat mid-size sedan with a sterling reputation for reliability, value and safety. It’s also great on gas, whether it’s equipped with the base 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or an optional 208-hp hybrid four-cylinder powertrain; for 2025, the Camry will be available only as a hybrid. In second place, the 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid sedan has a higher base price and a lower combined mpg rating.
Hatchback
2024 Toyota Prius
Price: $29,045
Gas mileage: 57/56/57 mpg
Efficiency-cost rating: 1.96
Toyota’s five-seat hybrid hatchback has long been a standard bearer when it comes to excellent fuel efficiency for the money. In second place, with a score of 1.87, is the 2024 Kia Niro Hybrid, which looks like an SUV but does not come with all-wheel drive, so it does not fit our definition. The Niro starts a little lower than the Prius but also gets a lower combined fuel economy rating (53 mpg).
Full-Size Sedan
2024 Toyota Crown
Price: $41,445
Gas mileage: 42/41/41 mpg
Efficiency-cost rating: 0.99
Toyota debuted the Crown, its all-new flagship hybrid sedan, for the 2023 model year. It comes with two hybrid powertrains: one that prioritizes fuel efficiency and the other that leans more into horsepower. As far as competition, the Crown has the class to itself, as other full-size hybrid sedans hail from luxury automakers.
Pickup Truck
2024 Ford Maverick
Price: $27,015
Gas mileage: 42/33/37 mpg
Efficiency-cost rating: 1.37
Ford’s compact Maverick pickup truck tops the list because of its blend of efficiency, utility and affordability. Few trucks currently offer a hybrid engine, so competition is slim. Ford’s larger F-150 hybrid is much more expensive and rated lower at 22/24/23 mpg.
Subcompact SUV
2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Price: $29,570
Gas mileage: 45/38/42 mpg
Efficiency-cost rating: 1.42
The 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid tops the list for subcompact SUVs, and it’s no surprise, since it’s based on the Corolla sedan that started this list in the compact-car segment.
Compact SUV
2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid
Price: $29,965
Gas mileage: 42/44/43 mpg
Efficiency-cost rating: 1.44
Kia’s compact Sportage SUV comes in a few flavors, including as a plug-in hybrid for those looking to boost their fuel economy even more. It has some competition in the compact SUV class and competes against the likes of the more expensive Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (39 mpg combined) and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid (38 mpg combined).
Mid-Size SUV
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
Price: $38,345
Gas mileage: 36/35/36 mpg (manufacturer-estimated)
Efficiency-cost rating: 0.94
Hyundai redesigned its three-row mid-size Santa Fe SUV for 2024 with more rugged styling, a more versatile cabin and a hybrid variant that delivers much better fuel economy than the gas version. A very close second is the 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid, which starts a bit higher at $40,065 and gets an EPA-estimated 39/35/37 city/highway/combined mpg for an efficiency-cost rating of 0.92.
Minivan
2024 Toyota Sienna
Price: $39,080
Gas mileage: 36/36/36 mpg
Efficiency-cost rating: 0.92
Currently, electrified minivan choices are slim. The 2024 Toyota Sienna comes only as a hybrid. The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica comes as a hybrid, but it has a plug. For 2025, competition increases with the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid.
More From Cars.com:
- What’s the Difference Between a Hybrid and a Plug-In Hybrid?
- Should I Buy an Electric Car or Plug-In Hybrid?
- Are Hybrid Cars More Expensive to Maintain or Repair Than a Gas Car?
- How Long Do Hybrid Batteries Last?
- Find Your Next Car
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