Top Hybrid Car Brands Revolutionizing the Road

As the automotive industry continues to evolve, hybrid cars have positioned themselves as an increasingly popular choice for eco-conscious consumers. These vehicles not only offer enhanced fuel efficiency but also reduce the carbon footprint, making them a sensible choice for those looking to balance performance with environmental responsibility. Consumers now have a plethora of options when selecting a hybrid vehicle, with several brands standing out for their innovation, reliability, and sustainability efforts. To discover the best brands making waves in the hybrid car market, read on below.

Illustration of hybrid cars

Best brands of hybrid cars in 2025

Toyota

Toyota stands as a leader in the hybrid vehicle market, having sold 3.6 million hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) globally in the 2023-24 fiscal year, a remarkable 32.1% increase from the previous year. This significant growth contributed to Toyota's record profit of Y=5.3 trillion ($34 billion) for the same period. In the U.S., Toyota's electrified vehicle sales, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and pure electrics, accounted for 48.4% of total sales volume in September 2024, with year-to-date electrified sales up by 56.0%. Toyota's extensive lineup includes models like the Prius, RAV4 Hybrid, and Camry Hybrid, offering a range of fuel-efficient options. The company plans to increase HEV sales by 24.5% to 4.5 million units in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Discover more about Toyota's hybrid vehicle offerings.

Honda

Honda has established itself as a leading producer of hybrid cars, with significant milestones in recent years. In 2023, Honda's hybrid-electric vehicles set an all-time sales record, with the CR-V hybrid being the best-selling hybrid model in the U.S., selling 197,317 units, and the Accord hybrid sedan leading as the most popular hybrid car with 96,323 units sold. These models combined for 293,640 units, representing over one-quarter of total Honda brand sales. Honda's electrified vehicles now top the one million mark, and the company aims for 100% electrified vehicle sales by 2040. Honda's market share in the North American car market was approximately 8.5% in 2023, with a projected increase to around 9% in 2024 due to growing demand for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Ford

Ford has solidified its position as a leading producer of hybrid vehicles, with a significant increase in hybrid sales in 2024. In the first quarter, Ford's hybrid sales rose by 42% to 38,421 vehicles, marking the company's best-ever quarterly hybrid sales record. The Maverick Hybrid was the top-selling hybrid truck in the U.S., with sales up 77% to 19,660 units. By the second quarter, Ford's hybrid sales continued to grow, increasing by 56% to 53,822 vehicles, driven by strong sales of the Maverick and F-150 Hybrid models. This growth underscores Ford's commitment to offering a diverse range of efficient and capable hybrid vehicles. For more details, visit Ford's press release on their record-breaking hybrid sales.

Hyundai

Hyundai has emerged as a significant player in the hybrid and electric vehicle market, with notable achievements such as capturing a 10% market share in the U.S. EV market from January to July 2023, placing it second behind Tesla. The company's success is driven by its Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which has fueled strong sales of models like the Hyundai IONIQ 5, with 18,728 units sold in the same period. Hyundai's hybrid models, such as the Tucson Hybrid and Santa Fe Hybrid, also contribute to its market presence, offering up to 36 MPG on highways. In the second quarter of 2024, hybrid sales accounted for 9.6% of the total light-duty market, reflecting a growing trend in hybrid vehicle adoption. Hyundai's commitment to innovation and expanding its EV offerings positions it as a major competitor in the global electric vehicle industry. For more details, check out their U.S. EV market share performance.

Lexus

Lexus stands as a leading producer of hybrid cars, with the Lexus RX Hybrid being the best-selling model in its electrified lineup, having sold 32,965 units in 2023 and 20,287 units by June 2024. The brand's electrified vehicles accounted for 47% of its global sales in 2023, with a significant increase in sales across regions, including a 46% rise in Europe and a 24% increase in North America. Lexus achieved record global sales of 824,258 new cars in 2023, a 32% increase from the previous year. The RX Hybrid's success underscores Lexus's continued dominance in the hybrid vehicle market, with models like the NX Hybrid and ES Hybrid also showing strong sales. Lexus's commitment to electrification is evident in its diverse range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles.

Kia

Kia has emerged as a leading producer of hybrid cars, contributing significantly to the growing demand for eco-friendly vehicles. In the first quarter of 2024, hybrids and plug-in hybrids accounted for a record 11% of U.S. car sales, with Kia's models such as the Kia Niro EV, Kia EV6, Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, and Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid playing a crucial role. Kia's hybrid sales have been bolstered by strong owner loyalty, with 42% of hybrid owners returning to purchase another hybrid or plug-in hybrid in Q1 2024. The company's commitment to innovation is evident in its expanding portfolio of eco-friendly vehicles, which included 210,463 such vehicles sold in the 2021 fiscal year, comprising 117,162 HEVs, 39,208 PHEVs, and 54,093 EVs. Kia's success in the hybrid market is further underscored by its tie with BMW as the 2nd most awarded brand by J.D. Power in 2022. For more information, you can visit their official Kia website.

Subaru

Subaru is poised to become a significant player in the hybrid car market with the upcoming launch of the 2025 Forester Hybrid, leveraging Toyota's extensive hybrid technology to enhance its offerings. This move is timely, given that hybrid vehicles are experiencing higher turn rates and lower days-to-move timeframes, with a strong Inventory Efficiency Index score of 137 indicating sustained demand. Subaru's hybrid models, such as the Forester Hybrid, combine the brand's renowned Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system with eco-conscious engineering, promising improved efficiency and reduced emissions. By 2028, hybrid cars are projected to make up 4% of Subaru's sales, up from 2.75% in 2024, reflecting the brand's commitment to sustainable driving. This shift aligns with Subaru's goal to have 50% of its global sales consist of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2030. For more detailed information on Subaru's hybrid offerings, you can visit their Subaru Hybrid Guide.

Volvo

Volvo has established itself as a leading producer of hybrid and electric vehicles, achieving significant milestones such as a new global sales record in 2023 by selling 708,716 cars, marking a 15% increase from 2022. Their Recharge cars, including fully electric and plug-in hybrids, accounted for 59% of sales in Europe and 28% in the US, with a notable 70% increase in fully electric car sales in 2023. Volvo's electrified models now comprise 21% of their global sales volume, and they have seen an impressive 16% gross margin on EVs, up from 7% the previous year. The brand's commitment to electrification is evident, with every vehicle in their lineup now being either a mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric. This transition has been propelled by the success of models like the Volvo C40 Recharge and the upcoming EX30 and EX90. For more detailed insights, visit Volvo's sales statistics.

BMW

The BMW brand has established itself as a leading producer of hybrid and fully-electric vehicles, with significant growth in BEV sales, such as a 22.6% increase to 266,151 fully-electric vehicles in the first nine months of 2024. In the same period, the BMW Group delivered a total of 294,054 BEVs, marking a 19.1% increase. The brand also saw a 34.1% increase in BEV sales in the first half of 2024, with 179,557 units delivered. BMW's electric vehicles now account for a substantial portion of their sales, with electric models making up around 14.7% of all car sales in 2023. The company's commitment to electromobility is evident in its strong product lineup and market performance. For more information on their plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, visit their website.

Nissan

Nissan, although not as dominant in the hybrid market as some other brands, has made significant strides in offering hybrid and electric vehicles. In the final quarter of 2023, Nissan's hybrid and electric sales showed some growth, with the brand's newest EV entrant seeing an increase in sales, though the Leaf experienced a significant drop. Nissan's market share in the U.S. was 4.8% for the full calendar year 2023, with plans to retail 756,000 vehicles in the next fiscal year for a 6.1% retail market share. The brand's hybrid offerings, such as the Pathfinder Hybrid, have contributed to this mix, though they faced declines in some models. Nissan's commitment to electrification is evident in their plans and sales performance. For a detailed analysis of Nissan's quarterly U.S. market performance, visit Cox Automotive's market insights.