Best Used Hybrid Cars That Aren’t the Toyota Prius

Alex LeanseWriterMotorTrend StaffPhotographerManufacturerPhotographerRyan LugoIllustratorFeb 10, 2025

Say you want a good preowned hybrid but refuse to get a Toyota Prius. You don’t have to explain your reasoning—we get it. The Prius should probably be on your list if you’re shopping for a used hybrid; it’s extremely efficient and has a useful hatchback body. But if for whatever reason you just don’t want a Prius, there are plenty of other fuel-sipping hybrids out there, some of which are cool, luxurious, or fun. Here are some non-Prius hybrids to consider.

MotorTrend’s methodology: To compile this list, we started with hybrid cars that have earned favorable reviews from MotorTrend. We also considered quality and reliability scores from J.D. Power, as well as safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA. Next, we ensured there’s available nationwide stock before arranging the best used hybrid SUVs in order of fuel efficiency.

2021–2023 Lexus ES Hybrid – Midsize Luxury Sedan

Pros: With its spaciousness, comfort, and quietude, the Lexus ES Hybrid does a decent impression of a much more expensive car. It feels properly luxurious, not only in how it drives but with the premium materials and amenities it includes. Beyond its good fuel economy, a generous trunk and useful driver assist features make the ES Hybrid a versatile daily driver.

Cons: Although the ES Hybrid can handle enthusiastic driving, it makes clear that’s not what it was engineered for—this car isn’t much fun. The brakes can feel grabby just as the vehicle comes to a stop. Lexus’ tech features often frustrate, especially the touchpad-controlled infotainment setup from before 2023.

2021–2023 Lexus ES Hybrid – Midsize Luxury Sedan Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $28,000
• Safety Ratings: IIHS 2021-2022 Top Safety Pick+, 2023 Top Safety Pick; NHTSA 2021-2023 five-star overall safety rating
• Fuel Economy: 43/44 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 581-700 miles
• 0–60 MPH Acceleration: 7.3 seconds

2021–2023 Honda Accord Hybrid – Midsize Sedan

Pros: Although the Accord Hybrid isn’t sporty or luxurious, it drives with a nicely connected and refined feel. There’s a certain directness through its controls, and everything works in a well-thought-out way. The cabin layout is attractive, spacious, and user-friendly. In addition to good fuel economy ratings, the Accord Hybrid earns impressive crash safety scores for added peace of mind.

Cons: Although a new generation of Accord Hybrid arrived for 2023, it didn’t feel like much of an improvement compared to the prior model—and stylistically, it seems even less eye-catching. Abundant road noise compromises driving refinement. Desirable tech features and amenities are reserved for more expensive higher-end Accord Hybrid trim levels.

2021–2023 Honda Accord Hybrid – Midsize Sedan Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $20,000
• Safety Ratings: IIHS 2021-2023 Top Safety Pick+; NHTSA 2021-2023 five-star overall safety rating
• Fuel Economy: 44-51/41-44 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 550-614 miles
• 0–60 MPH Acceleration: 6.7 seconds

2021–2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid – Midsize Sedan

Pros: If you want a Toyota hybrid but refuse to be seen in a Prius, the Camry Hybrid is your car. It’s practically the definition of a straightforward sedan, with great fuel economy, long driving range, and strong safety scores to back that up.

Cons: Functional as the Camry Hybrid is, little about it excites or delights. How it goes down the road is dull and not particularly comfortable. There’s little under-thigh support in the driver’s seat. Build and material quality doesn’t seem as solid as in some of the Camry Hybrid’s rivals.

2021–2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid – Midsize Sedan Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $19,000
• Safety Ratings: IIHS 2021-2023 Top Safety Pick+; NHTSA 2021-2023 five-star overall safety rating
• Fuel Economy: 44-51/47-53 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 607-686 miles
• 0–60 MPH Acceleration: 7.4 seconds

2021 Honda Insight – Compact Sedan

Pros: Like the Civic it shares key components with, the Honda Insight is a straightforward, reliable, and user-friendly car to get around in. However, it stands out among affordable hybrids with its unexpectedly peppy handling and smooth ride. The electrified engine has no trouble keeping up with traffic. Even though it’s a small car, the interior feels relatively spacious. Honda’s driverassist features often come in handy, cementing this car’s status as one of the best used hybrid cars on the market.

Cons: Although the Insight’s driving manners excel among hybrids, its fuel economy doesn’t. Replicating its official fuel economy rating isn’t easy. Even moderate acceleration gets the thrashy engine working hard. Some parts of the Insight feel cheap, like its mediocre materials and loud interior. Some drivers may find the seats uncomfortable.

2021 Honda Insight – Compact Sedan Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $19,000
• Safety Ratings: IIHS 2021 Top Safety Pick+; NHTSA 2021 five-star overall safety rating
• Fuel Economy: 51-55/45-49 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 509-551 miles
• 0–60 MPH Acceleration: 7.3 seconds

2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid – Compact Sedan

Pros: Sharp exterior design is complemented by a surprisingly peppy driving experience in the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. The electric motor is plenty responsive and still assists in giving the Elantra Hybrid excellent fuel economy. Hyundai’s technology and driver assist features are well tuned and easy to use.

Cons: Although the Elantra Hybrid’s suspension is taut and composed, it’s a bit too stiff for everyday comfort. Responsive as the electric motor is, overall power is still low—speed isn’t among this car’s accolades. Material quality feels cheap, even in the higher-end Elantra Hybrid trims.

2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid – Compact Sedan Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $17,000
• Safety Ratings: IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick; NHTSA 2023 five-star overall safety rating
• Fuel Economy: 49-53/52-56 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 550-594 miles
• 0–60 MPH Acceleration: 8.7 seconds

2022–2023 BMW 530e – Midsize Luxury Sedan

Pros: More luxurious than a 3 Series but more engaging to drive than a 7 Series, the 5 Series strikes a fine balance in BMW’s range. Its cabin is spacious and generously appointed, but it still drives with confidence and verve. The 530e delivers plenty of power as it uses its gas engine and electric motor together.

Cons: As a hybrid, the 530e is rivaled by its own lineup counterparts—they can be nearly as fuel efficient. Only choose the 530e if you plan to charge it often and drive it in all-electric mode. Trunk and fuel tank capacity is reduced due to the presence of hybrid hardware. This generation of 5 Series probably won’t go down as one of BMW’s best designs.

2022–2023 BMW 530e – Midsize Luxury Sedan Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $30,000
• Safety Ratings: IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+
• Fuel Economy: 64 mpg-e combined
• Driving Range: 340 miles; 21 miles PHEV
• 0–60 MPH Acceleration: 6.2 seconds (est.)

2021–2022 BMW 330e – Compact Luxury Sedan

Pros: As would be expected from a BMW, there’s plenty of power in the 330e plug-in hybrid. What’s less expected is its ability to cover plenty of distance in all-electric mode, even at highway speeds. The car generally moves with a tight, connected feel. Build quality is superb, and there are plenty of tech features inside.

Cons: Although it’s one of the best used hybrid cars on the market, the 330e only makes sense if you’llfrequently plug it in and run it in EV mode—because in the regular hybrid mode, it’s not particularly efficient. Pushing the 330e reveals that its dynamics aren’t as cohesive as some other BMW models. In certain areas, the materials don’t feel luxurious.

2021–2022 BMW 330e – Compact Luxury Sedan Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $24,000
• Safety Ratings: IIHS 2021-2022 Top Safety Pick; NHTSA 2021-2022 five-star overall safety rating
• Fuel Economy: 75 mpg-e combined
• Driving Range: 320 miles; 28 miles PHEV
• 0–60 MPH Acceleration: 5.0 seconds

Best Used Hybrid Cars

• Lexus ES Hybrid: 43/44 mpg city/highway

• Honda Accord Hybrid: 44-51/41-44 mpg city/highway

• Toyota Camry Hybrid: 44-51/47-53 mpg city/highway

• Honda Insight: 51-55/45-49 mpg city/highway

• Hyundai Elantra Hybrid: 49-53/52-56 mpg city/highway

• BMW 530e PHEV: 64 mpg-e combined

• BMW 330e PHEV: 75 mpg-e combined

Best Used Hybrid Cars From 2024

The used car search can be daunting. Even if you know you want a hybrid, there are over 40 models available just among relatively recent vehicles, and for each of those you’ll want to make sure they’re safe and reliable. The best used hybrid cars combine the great fuel economy you’d expect with low ownership costs, excellent safety ratings, and strong reliability.

This is when you call the experts. We sorted through all the resources at our disposal to curate a handful of options at a range of price points; we just want people to buy good cars.

Looking for something a little bigger? Check out our list of the best used hybrid SUVs.

About MotorTrend’s methodology: The Buyer’s Guide recognizes how important a used car purchase can be, which is why we take this so seriously. Our methodology considers many of the same factors in our new car rankings system, starting with value. The experts at IntelliChoiceconduct extensive research to assess long-term value on 3- to 5-year-old vehicles, which means our picks start with the 2020 model year. IntelliChoice considers resale value, the cost of insurance, maintenance costs, fuel costs, and more. We only feature models receiving a Good or Excellent IntelliChoice used car value rating. All of these vehicles also earn a Great quality and reliability rating from J.D. Power. Any vehicle we recommend must have earned an IIHS Top Safety Pickaward and NHTSAoverall five-star safety rating and have some used car inventory with under 80,000 miles (the upper limit on many automaker CPO programs).

2021-2022 Honda Accord Hybrid

Pros: The previous-generation Honda Accord Hybrid is an obvious pick among the best used hybrid cars, and not just because of its safety, efficiency, and reliability. We also swooned over its driving dynamics. It’s quicker than the base model, too. If you ask us, an Accord from a couple years ago might be better than the new model.

Cons: This midsize sedan lets in a bit more tire and wind noise than we’d like, and even used models are pretty pricey. Also, the 2020 model only achieves an IIHS Top Safety Pick (instead of a TSP+), and although it’s nearly as dependable as 2021-2022 examples, the 2020 Accord Hybrid misses out on a Great J.D. Power reliability score.

2021-2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $26,000
• IntelliChoice Value Rating: Mostly Excellent, some trims Good
• Safety Ratings: 2021 and 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, NHTSA 5 Stars overall
• Fuel Economy: 44-48/41-47 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 550-614 miles
• 0-60 mph Acceleration: 6.7 seconds

2020-2022 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Pros: The Sonata Hybrid is the best variant of the current midsize Hyundai, providing ample power for passing and merging. The cabin is quiet enough to give an impression of luxury, and here you’ll find intuitive infotainment software and mostly high-quality materials.

Cons: We’ve taken issue with the Sonata Hybrid’s brake tuning, as the stoppers can abruptly grab the brake discs in a way that doesn’t feel refined. Likewise, the transmission can deliver jerky shifts at parking lot speeds.

2020-2022 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $21,000
• IntelliChoice Value Rating: Excellent or Good (most 2020-2021 models Excellent, all 2022s Good)
• Safety Ratings: 2020-2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick, NHTSA 5 Stars overall
• Fuel Economy: 45-50/51-54 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 620-686 miles
• 0-60 mph Acceleration: 7.6 seconds

2020-2022 Lexus ES300h

Pros:The Lexus ES300h is our pick for the best used hybrid luxury car in 2024. Lexus delivered elegant styling with the current ES, and anyone sitting in the back seat will feel like they’re in a limousine with the amount of rear legroom. Grab a face-lifted 2022 model (pictured) for touchscreen infotainment, touched-up looks, and more standard driver assists.

Cons: Lexus finally replaced the annoying touchpad infotainment system with a touchscreen for 2022, but earlier model years are stuck with the cumbersome old setup. The cabin can be a little noisy, too, and the driving experience is underwhelming with numb steering and lackluster performance compared to luxury peers.

2020-2022 Lexus ES300h Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $30,000 (2020 and 2021); $37,000
• IntelliChoice Value Rating: Good or Excellent (except 2020 ES300h Ultra Luxury)
• Safety Ratings: 2020-2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, NHTSA 5 Stars overall
• Fuel Economy: 43/43-44 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 568-581 miles
• 0-60 mph Acceleration: 7.3 seconds

2020-2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

Pros: As a more affordable sibling of the ES300h, the Toyota Avalon Hybrid is every bit as deserving of a spot on our list of the best used hybrid cars. The interior is plush and the back seat huge, plus driver assists like adaptive cruise control are standard on all model years.

Cons: The XSE and Touring variants ride stiffer than the base XLE, and we find the softer ride more fitting of the Avalon’s character. A longer vehicle will also be harder to park and maneuver around town.

2020-2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $27,000
• IntelliChoice Value Rating: Excellent
• Safety Ratings: 2020-2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick, NHTSA 5 Stars overall
• Fuel Economy: 43/43-44 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 568-581 miles
• 0-60 mph Acceleration: 8.3 seconds

2020-2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Pros: The Camry Hybrid completes our electrified Toyota trio; the automaker has been a leader in hybrids for a decade-plus now, and they’re cheap to own, safe, and reliable. A midsize Camry is even more efficient than the Avalon, and we appreciate its comfortable ride.

Cons: Toyota’s hybrid Camry suffers from a relatively dull driving experience (unlike its Accord competitor). Although the interior tech is functional and intuitive, you can get better tech, such as a fully digital instrument cluster, in the Sonata Hybrid.

2020-2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid Specifications

• Approximate Price: From $21,000
• IntelliChoice Value Rating: Mostly Excellent, Good for 2021 and 2022 XSE
• Safety Ratings: 2020-2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+, NHTSA 5 Stars overall
• Fuel Economy: 44-51/47-53 mpg city/highway
• Driving Range: 607-686 miles
• 0-60 mph Acceleration: 7.4 seconds

Best Used Hybrid Cars From 2024

• 2021-2022 Honda Accord Hybrid
• 2020-2022 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
• 2020-2022 Lexus ES300h
• 2020-2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
• 2020-2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Alex’s earliest memory is of a teal 1993 Ford Aspire, the car that sparked his automotive obsession. He’s never driven that tiny hatchback—at six feet, 10 inches tall, he likely wouldn’t fit—but has assessed hundreds of other vehicles, sharing his insights on MotorTrend as a writer and video host.