With the hip-pocket nerve of Aussie consumers increasingly sensitive to fuel price spikes, fuel-saving Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) are coming into their own. Here’s our pick of the best affordable hybrids.
Haval Jolion Hybrid Ultra
Haval is the SUV-focused offshoot of GWM (formerly Great Wall Motors), with the Jolion competing in the Small SUV class against the likes of the MG ZS and Hyundai Kona.
The Chinese-made SUV enjoys a handy price advantage over its Japanese and Korean rivals, with prices starting at $26,990 drive-away for the base petrol model, rising through five variants to top out at the Jolion Hybrid Ultra at $38,990 drive-away.
At this price buyers can afford to spoil themselves with the Ultra, but there are less-expensive hybrid variants including the Premium ($32,990) and Lux ($35,990).
Recent design changes have clearly differentiated petrol from hybrid variants, with the latter boasting sleek new bodywork that adds to its appeal.
The 1.5-litre hybrid sends its 139kW/375Nm to the front wheels, delivering fuel consumption of 5.1L/100km which is better than the petrol engine, but no match for rivals like the Kona.
Likewise, the Jolion’s dynamics and its driver assistance systems lack polish compared to established rivals, but it compensates with its keen pricing generous standard equipment and long warranty.
Price: $38,990 (drive-away)
Engine: 1.5-litre hybrid four-cylinder petrol engine (70kW/125Nm), electric motor (115kW/250Nm) (combined 140kW/375Nm)
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Fuel consumption: 5.1L/100km (118gCO2/km)
ANCAP safety rating: Five stars (2022)
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited km vehicle; eight years/unlimited km battery
MG MG3 Hybrid+ Excite
MG Motor's recently released third-generation MG3 hatch introduces a hybrid variant for the first time, along with a raft of styling, technical and features enhancements.
Pricing for Australia’s best-selling small car starts at $23,990, rising to $29,990 for the top-of-the-line hybrid model.
Boasting a new platform, new interior and exterior design, plus improvements to performance and fuel economy, the MG3 is available in four model grades, comprising two petrol and two petrol-hybrids.
Pricing for the hybrids starts at $27,990 (MRLP) for the Hybrid+ Excite, and tops out with the Hybrid+ Essence costing $29,990 (MRLP).
Power comes from a 1.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol-hybrid delivering combined-cycle fuel consumption of 4.3L/100km.
The engine requires 95RON to produce its 75kW/128Nm, and with a 100kW electric motor and 1.83kWh battery delivers combined outputs of 155kW and 0-100km/h acceleration in 8.0 seconds.
Standard features of the Hybrid+ Excite include halogen headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 10.25-inch infotainment display.
Price: $27,990 (MRLP)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (75kW/128Nm), electric motor (100kW/250Nm), 1.83kWh battery (combined 155kW)
Transmission: Three-speed hybrid automatic
Fuel consumption: 4.3L/100km (100gCO2/km)
ANCAP safety rating: Not rated
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited km
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (75kW/128Nm), electric motor (100kW/250Nm), 1.83kWh battery (combined 155kW)
Transmission: Three-speed hybrid automatic
Fuel consumption: 4.3L/100km (100gCO2/km)
ANCAP safety rating: Not rated
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited km
Price: $31,960 (MRLP)
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine (67kW/120Nm), front motor generator (59kW/141Nm), 4.3Ahr lithium-ion battery (combined 85kW)
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Fuel consumption: 3.3L/100km (76gCO2/km)
ANCAP safety rating: Five stars (2020)
Warrranty: Five years/unlimited km
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine (67kW/120Nm), front motor generator (59kW/141Nm), 4.3Ahr lithium-ion battery (combined 85kW)
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Fuel consumption: 3.3L/100km (76gCO2/km)
ANCAP safety rating: Five stars (2020)
Warrranty: Five years/unlimited km
Toyota Yaris SX Hybrid
There aren't many categories where Toyota competes that its lead contender doesn’t hold a step on the sales podium, but in the light car class the diminutive Yaris is outsold by MG’s MG3, Suzuki’s Swift and the Mazda2.
Sales aren’t necessarily a barometer of quality, however, and the Yaris is a top-notch small car wearing a slightly higher price tag in a fiercely price-sensitive segment.
Part of the reason for this is the Yaris is among a growing number of Toyota passenger models available exclusively as a hybrid.
In this case that means a 67kW/120Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine combined with a 59kW/141Nm front motor generator and 4.3Ahr lithium-ion battery to produce a maximum combined power output of 85kW.
In concert with the four-door hatch’s 1,085kg kerb weight and CVT automatic the Yaris sips a miserly 3.3L/100km.
Recommended retail pricing starts at $28,500 for the Ascent Sport, rising to $34,530 for the ZR Hybrid, with the mid-spec $31,960 Yaris SX hitting the sweet spot in terms of price and features.
Standard kit includes 15-inch alloy wheels, smart key entry and start, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen display.
Toyota Yaris Cross GXL Hybrid AWD
Launched in 2021, the Yaris Cross was Toyota’s first foray into the light SUV segment and the first in its class to offer a hybrid powertrain.
What started out as a petrol and petrol-hybrid range was earlier this year trimmed to hybrid-only, divided into 2WD and AWD in GX, GXL, and Urban grades, plus the 2WD Yaris GR Sport.
Prices start at $30,900 (MRLP) for the GX FWD and rise to $39,880 for the Urban AWD.
Underpinning the Yaris Cross is the Yaris hatch platform, albeit with a widened track, stretched wheelbase and 20mm higher ride height.
The AWD models boast switchable drive modes including Normal, Snow and Trail, plus a hill descent control system.
They also get a more sophisticated two-link double-wishbone rear suspension versus the torsion-beam of the 2WD models.
The drivetrain features a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, a pair of electric motor generators, plus an electric motor at the rear axle.
Peak combined outputs of 85kW/120Nm are identical between 2WD and AWD models, but AWD fuel consumption is 4.0L/100km versus 3.8L/100km for the 2WD.
Price: $36,950
Engine: 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle three-cylinder petrol engine, (67kW/120Nm), front motor generator (59kW/141Nm), rear (59kW/141Nm), 4.3Ahr lithium-ion battery (combined 85kW)
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Fuel consumption: 4.0L/100km (90g/km CO2)
ANCAP safety rating: Five stars (2021)
Warrranty: Five years/unlimited km
Engine: 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle three-cylinder petrol engine, (67kW/120Nm), front motor generator (59kW/141Nm), rear (59kW/141Nm), 4.3Ahr lithium-ion battery (combined 85kW)
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Fuel consumption: 4.0L/100km (90g/km CO2)
ANCAP safety rating: Five stars (2021)
Warrranty: Five years/unlimited km
Price: $35,260 (MRLP)
Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (72kW/142Nm), front motor generator (70kW/185Nm), 4.3Ahr lithium-ion battery (combined 103kW)
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Fuel consumption: 5.1L/100km (118gCO2/km)
ANCAP safety rating: Five stars (2018)
Warranty: Five years/unlimited km
Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (72kW/142Nm), front motor generator (70kW/185Nm), 4.3Ahr lithium-ion battery (combined 103kW)
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Fuel consumption: 5.1L/100km (118gCO2/km)
ANCAP safety rating: Five stars (2018)
Warranty: Five years/unlimited km
Toyota Corolla SX Hybrid Hatch
It should come as no surprise that Toyota dominates this list of affordable hybrids, given the Japanese car maker started down the hybrid path more than two decades ago.
Like other Toyota passenger models, the Corolla has moved to a hybrid-only strategy for both hatch and sedan.
A November 2022 update introduced Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid technology, which mates a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol with a newly developed high-output motor generator, power control unit and downsized hybrid transaxle.
The changes boosted power over the previous setup by 13kW to a handy 103kW with other updates including standard blind-spot monitoring, updated active cruise control, a new multimedia system with 8.0-inch touchscreen, and the introduction of Toyota Connected Services.
Available in Ascent Sport, SX and ZR model grades in both body styles and with prices ranging between $32,110 and $40,260, we’re partial to the SX hybrid hatch for its combination of looks, value and features.
The latter includes 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, rain-sensing wipers, and parking sensors front and rear.
Hyundai Kona Hybrid
Hyundai Kona’s has been a popular small SUV staple since the first-generation model launched here in 2019, with the second-generation launched in 2023 featuring turbocharged and atmospheric petrol four-cylinder engines, as well as hybrid-electric (HEV) and battery-electric (BEV) models.
The hybrid utilises a 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder delivering 77kW/144Nm, plus an additional 32kW/170Nm from the electric drive motor, for combined system outputs of 104kW/265Nm.
Drive goes to the front hoops via a six-speed dual clutch with e-motor, a combination that ensures more engaging driving dynamics than the usual CVT.
It comes in two grades including the entry-level Kona Hybrid ($36,000), and top-grade Kona Premium Hybrid ($43,500), representing a premium of $4,000 over a comparable 2.0-litre petrol.
The payoff is a thriftier 3.9L/100km combined cycle fuel consumption and identical peak torque to the turbo model.
The Kona Hybrid delivers quality driving dynamics thanks to multilink rear suspension and Hyundai's electric dynamic torque vectoring control system (e-DTVC).
Price: $36,000 (MRLP)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (77kW/144Nm), electric motor (32kW/170Nm), 1.32kWh battery, (combined 104kW/265Nm)
Transmission: Six-speed dual clutch
Fuel consumption: 3.9L/100km (89g/km CO2)
ANCAP safety rating: Four stars (2023)
Warrranty: Five years/unlimited km
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (77kW/144Nm), electric motor (32kW/170Nm), 1.32kWh battery, (combined 104kW/265Nm)
Transmission: Six-speed dual clutch
Fuel consumption: 3.9L/100km (89g/km CO2)
ANCAP safety rating: Four stars (2023)
Warrranty: Five years/unlimited km