The ten cheapest hybrid cars in Australia

If you’re on the hunt for a car that’s cheap to run, a hybrid electric vehicle should be a strong contender when sizing up possibilities - and staring down rising petrol prices - because the savings can be substantial. 

For those unfamiliar with the term, a hybrid is a vehicle that uses both a petrol-powered internal-combustion engine (ICE) and a battery-powered electric motor, the two working in tandem, or sometimes independently, to offer you the greatest fuel efficiency possible. 

This, of course, results in you being able to save on fuel costs, as well as basking in the glow of knowing you’re This, of course, results in savings on fuel costs, as well as basking in the green glow of knowing you’re putting fewer harmful tailpipe emissions into the atmosphere. 

It’s also worth knowing that there are three types of hybrids available to choose from: a mild hybrid, where the ICE receives only a small amount of electrical assistance, a standard hybrid with a self-charging battery, and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which needs to be plugged into an external power source to charge the battery (the reason being it has a bigger battery, enabling, on average, between 50-60km of all-electric driving range between charges, and thus the ability to drive for days, or even weeks, without paying for petrol at all).  

Prices for new hybrids start from as low as $27,395, plus on-road costs, and hybrids have been around long enough on the Australian market that you should also be able to pick up a bargain on the second-hand market, if that’s the route you want to go. 

Cheap hybrid cars in Australia

1. Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid

Download the EVGuide Report, 2022

Australia's one-stop snapshot of all things relating to electric cars.

Download for free

Price: From $27,395, plus on-road costs

As of mid-2022, the Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid is the cheapest hybrid car that’s for sale in Australia, with an efficient combined fuel consumption of 3.6L/100KM. The five-door hatch is ideal as a city run-about, and is a breeze to park. 

2. Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid

Price: From $28,990, plus on-road costs

This two-wheel drive (2WD) small SUV from Toyota comes with a pre-collision safety system that features autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and a whole lot more. Fuel consumption is an excellent 3.8L/100km.

3. Toyota Camry Ascent Hybrid

Price: From $33,490, plus on-road costs

The hybrid version of this reliable Toyota workhorse (yes, there are a lot of Toyotas on this list) comes with a 2.5-litre engine and a combined fuel consumption of 4.2L/100km. A sedan that still remains a popular choice amid the sea of SUVs on Australian roads. 

4. Subaru XV Hybrid L AWD

Price: From $35,490, plus on-road costs

Subaru has been pumping out well-loved SUVs since the late-1990s, with its current line-up featuring a number of fuel-efficient, cheap hybrid cars. The XV Hybrid SUV combines a 110kW/196Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine with an electric motor.

5. Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid

Price: From $36,900, plus on-road costs

This medium-size SUV is one of the best-selling cars in Australia, and it’s sure to remain so. The 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine offers up a combined fuel consumption of 4.7L/100km. You might need to queue to get one, however, as waiting lists are out of control.

6. Toyota C-HR Koba Hybrid

Price: From $37,665, plus on-road costs

Although the petrol version of the C-HR Koba small SUV is all-wheel drive (AWD), the hybrid version is 2WD, and comes with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine. The combined fuel consumption is 4.3L/100km.

7. Kia Niro Hybrid S

Price: From $39,900, plus on-road costs

The Kia Niro is the only range of SUVs in Australia that offers a choice of three electrified drivetrains: hybrid, PHEV, and all-electric. The Hybrid S hybrid variant has a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, and a combined fuel consumption of 3.8L/100km.

8. Subaru Forester Hybrid L 

Price: From $41,390, plus on-road costs

This Subaru rival to the RAV4 is an AWD, meaning it has decent off-road ability, unlike a lot of the other small SUV hybrids on this list. The Forester Hybrid L has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a 12.3kW electric motor, with a combined fuel consumption of 6.7L/100km.

9. Honda HR-V e:HEV L

Price: From $45,000, plus on-road costs

This top-spec Honda HR-V comes with some nice touches - heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, rear privacy glass, a powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control and more - plus a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors, combining to output 96kW/253Nm. Combined fuel consumption is a reasonably frugal 4.3L/100km.

10. Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid

Price: From $45,990, plus on-road costs

The first hybrid from Chinese manufacturers Haval is a mid-size five-door SUV with a claimed fuel consumption of 5.2L/100km. Under the hood is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with outputs of 110kW/230Nm and a 1.76kWh battery that powers a 130kW/300Nm electric motor.