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10 best self-charging hybrids in 2024

Hybrid cars have been popular for over 20 years with those keen to minimise the impact of their motoring on the planet. In this piece, we’ll look at the best self-charging hybrids currently on sale and answer some of the most popular questions about self-charging hybrid technology.

Honda Civic
2024
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended

1. Honda Civic

9/10
Honda Civic review
Renault Clio

2. Renault Clio

9/10
Renault Clio review
Kia Niro

3. Kia Niro

8/10
Kia Niro review
Battery range up to 40 miles
Toyota Corolla

4. Toyota Corolla

8/10
Toyota Corolla review
Nissan Qashqai e-POWER

5. Nissan Qashqai e-Power

8/10
Nissan Qashqai e-POWER review
Lexus NX Hybrid

6. Lexus NX

8/10
Lexus NX Hybrid review
Toyota Yaris Hybrid

7. Toyota Yaris Hybrid

7/10
Toyota Yaris Hybrid review
Ford Kuga

8. Ford Kuga

7/10
Ford Kuga review
Battery range up to 35 miles
Hyundai Tucson

9. Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

7/10
Hyundai Tucson review
Ford S-Max

10. Ford S-Max

7/10
Ford S-Max review

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Advice about self-charging hybrid cars

Self-charging hybrid FAQs

Self-charging hybrids have a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, with the motor driven by a small onboard battery. The engine recharges the battery and recovers energy that would otherwise be lost from the engine or while braking. All the different types of hybrid and electric engines do this, but the battery in a plug-in hybrid or fully electric model also needs to be topped up from mains electricity, in order to fully recharge larger battery packs. Self-charging hybrids, however, don’t need to be plugged in to the mains – but this means that they have a much shorter electric-only range than a plug-in hybrid - generally very short distances of up to a mile at best.

A self-charging hybrid car has a petrol engine and an electric motor, and drives like a conventional automatic car. The hybrid technology selects the best power source at all times, switching between petrol or electric modes, based on the driving situation. A self-charging hybrid system also charges the electric battery while you’re driving, when you stop or slow down, the regenerative braking system recovering even more energy.

Plenty of people object to the term self-charging hybrid, and many others complain that these cars don’t take a big enough step towards the goal of full electrification. Compared with plug-in hybrids they have no big on-paper electric-only driving range figures to point to.

However, they can still deliver dramatically impressive fuel economy without the need to be plugged into an electric car charger, which makes them a very fuss-free way to reduce your running costs. Especially as they cost less than plug-in hybrid tech at the equivalent level.

All hybrid systems will save you money on fuel costs, but how much you save is dependant on where and how you drive. In test conditions though, petrol hybrids and diesels are the best types of car for saving fuel – which means if you want a petrol car, a self-charging hybrid will generally be the most economical option.

Whether a self-charging or a plug-in hybrid is the better choice for you depends on your personal driving needs and preferences. For example, if most of your journeys are short and are mostly within urban areas, a self-charging hybrid may be good for your needs. However, if you drive longer distances or on motorways regularly, a plug-in hybrid may be more suitable for you.

Access to a home charger or a public charging network could mean that a plug-in hybrid may be more convenient and cost-effective for you. If it’s not convenient to charge a car, or don’t want the hassle of plugging a car in, a self-charging hybrid will be more practical for you.

Finally, if you’re concerned about your carbon emissions and saving money on fuel and tax, a plug-in hybrid is the better option.