In 1997, the Toyota Prius catapulted the automotive world down a road of increased driving range and reduced fuel consumption, but you had to pay the price to get that. Today, itâs rare to have a hybrid vehicle that canât go at least 500 miles, and there are all kinds of hybrids from all companies at a variety of prices.
Hybrid powertrains are quickly becoming the norm for vehicle propulsion, and the unaided internal combustion engine may soon become a thing of the past. As economies of scale take over in powertrain system production, overall vehicle prices are dropping to the point that only inflation factors into price increases.
Todayâs Prius is still the face of the hybrid class, and itâs taken on iconic status that has elevated it to the status of generic segment branding, such as Jeep did for off-road sport utilities, and Kleenex did for facial tissues. But, the Prius is no longer the leader when it comes to pricing, and has nearly dropped out of the top 10 least expensive hybrid vehicles. If you're on the lookout for an inexpensive new hybrid vehicle you can buy that offers over 500 miles of range, these are your best bets.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds and the EPA.
The ten least expensive hybrid vehicles that offer at least 500 miles of driving range are presented in ascending order, according to their posted MSRPs.
The Toyota Corolla is a competitive car when it comes to efficiency, but it's outdone by its hybrid version, giving you significant gas savings.
How do you improve one of the top sellers in automotive history? In the case of the Toyota Corolla, you grant it the ability to go over 550 miles on a fill-up. Introduced in 1966, Toyota welcomed a hybrid version of the Corolla in 2020, making it even more practical, while retaining its low price-point, keeping it one of the most value-packed cars on the planet.
Engine | 1.8-liter inline-4 |
Motors | 2 synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | Continuously variable |
Horsepower | 138 hp @ 5,200 rpm |
Torque | 105 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 50 mpg |
The Corolla Hybrid is the least expensive hybrid on the market, with a 500-mile range, featuring a combination of one of Toyotaâs most efficient small engines and a couple of electric motors to offer Corolla the boost to allow it to keep up with traffic, while using little gasoline.
In 2022, Ford brought back the Maverick nameplate but affixed it to a compact pickup. The initial offerings used two powertrains â the base front-wheel-drive version used a hybrid 2.5-liter four-cylinder that made the Ford Maverick the least expensive American hybrid. Thatâs been moved up in the model range and a 2.0 Ecoboost âfourâ is now the base engine.
Engine | 2.5-liter inline-4 |
Motor | Synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | Continuously-variable |
Horsepower | 191 hp @ 5,600 rpm |
Torque | 155 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 37 mpg |
A refreshed 2025 Ford Maverick Hybrid is coming, which will pair an optional all-wheel drivetrain to the hybrid powertrain, but for now, the Maverick Hybrid is only available in front-wheel drive. Available at any trim level, itâs not a powerful option for a pickup, but will suit customers who want a pickup that can skimp on fuel.
The Hyundai Elantra epitomizes the historical transformation of Hyundai from a cheap alternative to Japanese vehicles to a market leader in design and engineering. The Elantra joined the Hyundai stable in 1990 and is now one of the premier compacts on the market, and a sophisticated hybrid that represents one of the best values in any segment.
Engine | 1.6-liter inline-4 |
Motor | Synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | 6-speed dual clutch automatic |
Horsepower | 139 hp @ 5.700 rpm |
Torque | 195 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 54 mpg |
The combined horsepower of the Elantra Hybrid Blue powertrain is not earth-shaking, but the torque instantaneously provided by the electric assist helps move the hybrid compact sedan off the line smartly. Though the tiny engine doesnât sustain acceleration, it returns better fuel economy and range than both the Corolla and the Civic.
The Kia Niro Hybrid is the perfect blend of efficiency and sustainability, all wrapped up in a sleek and stylish package.
The 2024 Kia Niro is all about eco-consciousness, and is a great example of how far hybrids have evolved style-wise from the quirkiness of the original Toyota Prius. Introduced in 2016, the Niro was Kia's first all-original hybrid, blending crossover versatility with hybrid efficiency, and today fields an extensive hybrid line-up.
Engine | 1.6-liter inline-4 |
Motor | Synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | 6-speed dual clutch automatic |
Horsepower | 139 hp @ 5.700 rpm |
Torque | 195 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 53 mpg |
Under the hood, the 2024 Niro Hybrid uses the same hybrid powertrain as the Elantra you read about above, showing the versatility of the system in powering two vastly different vehicles. Although minimally less efficient than Elantra, the Niro Hybrid is the least expensive crossover on the market, excelling in around-town errand running.
Since its beginnings in 1988, the Hyundai Sonata has been representative of the Korean makerâs commitment to the American market, with localized production and a cost-effective vehicle that would grow to become one of the segment leaders. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid came along in 2011 to further goals of growth and sustainability.
Engine | 2.0-liter inline-4 |
Motor | Synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 192 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
Torque | 151 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 52 mpg |
The Hyundai Sonata Hybridâs powertrain is a marvel of engineering and matches up almost exactly with the Toyota Prius, which is not at all a bad thing, though it falls short of the performance of the Toyota Camry (but outdoes it on the economy). It does have the advantage over the others with its 6-speed automatic transmission to better utilize power outputs.
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You canât have any discussion about hybrids without including the Toyota Prius, the car that started the mass-produced hybrid movement back in 1997. Although initially ridiculed for looking quite odd, it nonetheless delivered over 500 miles of range, which was unheard of at the time, especially from a 1.5-liter engine.
Engine | 2.0-liter inline-4 |
Motor | Synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | Continuously-variable |
Horsepower | 194 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
Torque | 139 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 52 mpg |
The Prius launched the hybrid movement and continues to shape it. Itâs still the yardstick against which others measure themselves, and its range and efficiency are still heads above the increasingly crowded field. And, then thereâs the experience that it lends to its stablemates, helping Toyota deliver increasingly efficient hybrid powertrains to its global brands.
Toyota is building the 2025 Camry Hybrid to be the ideal eco-conscious option, whether for cruising down the highway or just navigating city streets.
When Toyota inserted the Camry into the mid-sized market back in the 1980s, it wanted to prove that smaller sedans could have an impact in North America, swaying buyer perceptions about family sedans. The Toyota Camry has become one of the perennial best sellers in North America and for 2025, Toyota has decided to only offer it with a hybrid powertrain.
Engine | 2.5-liter inline-4 |
Motors | 2 or 3 synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | Continuously-variable |
Horsepower | 225-232 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
Torque | 163 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm + 153 lb-ft from motors |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive, All-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 46-51 mpg |
The Toyota hybrid synergy system has come a long way since its introduction in the Prius in 1997, and today is arguably the best in the world, with its flexibility to adapt to various vehicles in Toyota and Lexus showrooms, and outside the company. Toyota is making it the only powertrain to power the incoming 2025 Camry, primarily to hold on to its ICE.
The Kia Sportage is not a new vehicle, actually beating the Toyota RAV4 to production in 1993, though not to market, starting deliveries in 1995. Early Sportages were compact and rugged, and over the decades, the Sportage has developed into a stylish, refined crossover with a reputation for reliability and value. The Sportage Hybrid debuted in 2023.
Engine | 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 |
Motor | Synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 227 hp @ 5.500 rpm |
Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 38-43 mpg |
Under the hood, the Sportage Hybrid houses a turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine used in other Hyundai/Kia compact hybrids. In this iteration, it makes the top horsepower in its class while still offering decent economy (though lower than competitors). Sportage is one of the most valuable crossovers around, and the least expensive hybrid SUV that combines AWD and a 500-mile range.
The Honda Civic Hybrid was introduced in 2003, as the first mainstream car to be hybridized (to that point, hybrids had been unique models, like the Prius and Hondaâs own Insight). It was also the first car certified by CARB as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicle.
Engine | 2.0-liter inline-4 |
Motors | 2 synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | Continuously-variable |
Horsepower | 181 hp @ 6,200 rpm |
Torque | 232 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm |
Driveline | Front-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 44 mpg |
The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is widely praised for its ride and handling, which is uncommon for a small car, especially a sport compact, but has been a common Civic characteristic for several generations. The 2025 Honda Civic Hybridâs ample power and better-than-expected fuel economy are great reasons for considering this hybrid, and the Civic name helps too.
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid goes head to head with its more expensive, plug-in variant sibling, the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime.
The Toyota RAV4 was the first to do a lot of things â it started the compact SUV segment in 1994, it laid the groundwork for hybrid AWD powertrains in 2016, and before that, it even helped other companies' SUVs get hybridization. As it leads the charge to SUV electrification, itâs recognized as the most reliable Japanese PHEV SUV.
Engine | 2.5-liter inline-4 |
Motors | 3 synchronous permanent-magnet |
Transmission | Continuously-variable |
Horsepower | 219 hp @ 5,300 rpm |
Torque | 221 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm |
Driveline | All-wheel drive |
EPA Efficiency (Combined) | 39 mpg |
Although it pioneered the pavement-particular compact SUV, the Toyota RAV4 is well known for its off-road worthiness, and has earned widespread praise for its combination of a hybrid powertrain, off-road ability, and affordability, thanks to a healthy eight inches of ground clearance, and ample low-end torque to get it up fairly steep inclines.