In the old days, choosing an SUV meant putting up with big fuel bills.
Now, thanks to modern hybrid technology, there are plenty of practical models on sale with sky-high mpg figures.
Here are 10 of our favourite self-charging-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid SUV models. Every one comes with an automatic gearbox and are available to buy as used cars from Motorpoint with thousands off the original list price.
- Toyota RAV4
- Toyota Yaris Cross
- Nissan X-Trail
- Kia Sportage
- Ford Kuga
- Dacia Jogger
- Mazda MX-30
- Cupra Formentor
- Volvo XC90
- Peugeot 3008
Toyota RAV4 – overall best hybrid SUV
- Excellent reliability and long 10-year service-activated warranty
- Smooth and economical hybrid engines
- Rugged, ergonomic dashboard design
Old Toyota RAV4s were practical and robust but struggled to shake their slightly dull image. The latest model, however, is a revelation with confident, chunky styling and an attractive cabin. None of the faultless functionality the RAV4 built its reputation on has been compromised either, so it's still a fantastic choice for families with lots of passenger and cargo space. Toyota's 2.5-litre self-charging hybrid setup is far punchier than the slightly wheezy engines you found in older RAV4s, and returns strong economy without needing to be plugged in.
Browse used Toyota RAV4 cars or read our Toyota RAV4 review
Toyota Yaris Cross – best small hybrid SUV
- Good practicality for its size
- Easy to drive
- Long 10-year service-activated warranty
Toyota makes a second appearance on this list – no wonder as the brand was one of the original hybrid pioneers. The Yaris Cross shares a name with the dinky Yaris hatch but it's substantially more spacious thanks to its fairly tall SUV body. That means you can realistically use the Yaris Cross as a small family car, with space for a child seat on the second row and just enough boot space for a pushchair. It's still small on the outside, however, and the standard-fit reversing camera makes it easy to squeeze the 4.2-metre-long Yaris Cross into tight spaces. You can average around 60mpg if you drive gently.
Search used Toyota Yaris Cross cars or read our Toyota Yaris Cross review
Nissan X-Trail – best large hybrid SUV
- E-Power hybrid is smooth and powerful like an EV
- Only ever needs refuelling, no charging
- Spacious, comfortable cabin
Nissan's clever E-Power setup is what's known as a series-hybrid. This means there's a petrol engine, but it only ever acts as a generator and never powers the wheels directly. Instead you have a burly electric motor that's solely responsible for driving the car, drawing power from the battery that's recharged by the engine. The result is smooth, powerful EV-like acceleration, but the X-Trail only ever needs refuelling – no need to faff around with charging. Its sizeable, squared-off bodywork hides a surprisingly plush cabin with loads of passenger space, plus the option of seven seats if you'd like.
Shop used Nissan X-Trail cars or read our Nissan X-Trail review
Kia Sportage – best full-hybrid family SUV
- Choice of self-charging-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid engines
- Easy to live with and practical
- Seven-year Kia warranty
The Kia Sportage is usually near the top of the UK's best-selling cars list. Its popularity is obvious once you consider the car's breadth of talents. It's large enough for a family of four to travel comfortably, as well as haul a portly pooch or tackle a flat-pack furniture shop. Add to that a long standard equipment list and the reassurance of Kia's long seven-year factory warranty. Then you have the modern styling inside and out, with the exterior benefitting from a more butch front-end treatment in late 2025. Finally, you have the option of a petrol-only self-charging-hybrid setup or a plug-in-hybrid model if you have the ability to charge at home.
View used Kia Sportage cars or read our Kia Sportage review
Ford Kuga – best plug-in hybrid family SUV
- Lots of passenger and cargo space
- Affordable used-car prices
- Fun handling
There are plenty of engine choices if you're shopping for used Ford Kuga cars, with several strong non-hybrid options. However, we reckon the plug-in Kuga is one of the most compelling choices in the range because it blends the Kuga's existing strengths – its smooth ride quality, engaging driving experience and comfortable cabin – with a useful 40-mile electric range and strong mpg figures if you make the most of the on-board battery pack. There's also a self-charging hybrid that's a better choice if you can't recharge at home.
See used Ford Kuga cars or read our Ford Kuga review
Dacia Jogger – best value full-hybrid SUV
- Massive cargo space
- Simple, durable interior design
- Well-rounded hybrid engine
You might think the Dacia Jogger is more MPV than SUV – and TBF, you'd have a point. However, Dacia says the car has an 'SUV profile', and there's also chunky plastic cladding and roof rails to complete the look. It's incredibly practical too, with up to seven seats and a third row that's totally removable so you can make the most of the massive boot. The 1.6-litre self-charging hybrid setup is borrowed from parent company Renault and has an excellent blend of smooth power and fuel-sipping efficiency. You can average more than 55mpg if you keep your speed down.
Check out used Dacia Jogger cars or read our Dacia Jogger review
Mazda MX-30 – best value plug-in-hybrid SUV
- Extremely affordable on the used market
- Clever range-extending powertrain
- Funky design with solid build quality
The Mazda MX-30 is a rogue choice but hear us out. This is a modern, small SUV that mainly works as an electric car with a short 53-mile range. As you start to empty the battery, a small rotary-engine range extender kicks in to recharge the battery. This combination can cover around 400 miles in total, and has the flexibility to keep going as long as you can find a petrol station. The ace up the MX-30's sleeve is the price, however. Mazda struggled to market the car effectively when it first launched, leading to steep brand-new depreciation. That means nearly new MX-30s are often cheaper than the least expensive petrol-powered budget cars of similar age and mileage.
Take a look at used Mazda MX-30 cars or read our Mazda MX-30 review
Cupra Formentor – best performance hybrid SUV
- Great to drive
- Decent practicality
- Swift performance
The Cupra Formentor is the first car designed from the ground up by SEAT's sporty spin-off brand. Leaning into the high-performance image means the Formentor gets some of the strongest engines in its class, with more than 300hp available in range-topping models. For this list, we're more interested in the 1.4-litre eHybrid version. This is a plug-in hybrid with the ability to return vast economy figures or run on electric power alone but, with 245hp on tap – 272hp on more recent models – it can still launch towards the horizon with the ferocity you'd expect from a legitimate hot hatch.
Browse used Cupra Formentor cars or read our Cupra Formentor review
Volvo XC90 – best luxury hybrid SUV
- Handsome, understated styling
- Vast cabin space
- Fuss-free driving experience
This generation of Volvo XC90 has hung around since 2015, and we expect it to keep going a while longer since Volvo recently updated it. Its enduring appeal is a result of many virtues, but a big part is the car's handsome, sophisticated styling – less brash than a German luxury car while still looking classy. Of course, it's also extremely practical, with a large square body hiding seven seats and a large cargo area if you forgo the third row. Material quality and interior design is tasteful and timeless, with a clean aesthetic across the car's infotainment and driver's display screens, which makes them refreshingly easy to use.
Shop used Volvo XC90 cars or read our Volvo reviews
Peugeot 3008 – best stylish hybrid SUV
- Avant-garde design
- Nice materials in the cabin
- Good ride and handling balance
Considering the Peugeot 3008 shares parts with more affordable Citroen and Vauxhall models, it needs something to stand out. Thankfully, it has an enormous helping of style to lift it above rivals. If the sharp-suited exterior didn't completely capture your imagination, the quirky cabin won't fail to impress, with angular styling and Peugeot's peculiar i-Cockpit comprised of a small, flickable steering wheel and high-mounted digital driver's dials. There's a choice of 145hp mild-hybrid and 195hp plug-in-hybrid engines, as well as a fully electric version.
View used Peugeot 3008 cars or read our Peugeot 3008 review
SUV space with small fuel costs
Search Motorpoint's huge selection of used hybrid SUVs – all backed with warranty cover. For more inspiration, check out our picks for the best hybrid family cars.
