Hybrid cars are more popular than ever in the UK – but which is the best one to buy?10:47, 09 Jul 2026The best plug-in hybrid to drive in the UK has been announced. As their name suggests, the cars combine a traditional petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor and a larger battery.‌This means there is no need to worry about the range of the battery, as the petrol or diesel engine will kick in when it's low. But utilising electricity by charging at home can significantly lower your fuel costs, particularly at a time of rising prices.‌It's perhaps no surprise, then, that the vehicles are more popular than ever. In the first half of 2026, they have seen a rise of 38.4% in sales.‌With that in mind, the renowned motoring publication Auto Express has put together a list of the best plug-in hybrid cars currently on sale in the UK.Top of their list is the German Audi A5 e-hybrid whose prices start from £50,225 for the saloon version which has a pure electric range of 68 miles.‌The same car also won Auto Express’ Premium Hybrid Car of the Year Award for 2026. They praised it for having a “high class interior”, “good rear-seat legroom”, and “high levels of equipment”.However, the car lost marks for having a high price, not having great rear headroom, and not an especially big boot. Especially praised was its hybrid system, they said: “It also has an ace up its sleeve in the form of its impressive plug-in hybrid powertrain.“It can seamlessly switch between electric and petrol power, and there’s enough grunt under the bonnet so you never feel like you’re lacking in power when merging onto the motorway or driving cross-country.”‌Coming in second behind the Audi is the BMW 530e which was praised for having “sharp” handling, a powerful petrol engine, and a “plush” interior. However, it lost marks for its size, being “£7k more expensive than base 520i”, and it’s electric variant having lower company car tax rates.Nevertheless, they said: “The plug-in hybrid BMW 530e was named our Premium Hybrid Car of the Year in 2024 and 2025. It was only narrowly beaten by the Audi A5 e-hybrid in 2026.‌“Sure it’s partly electric, but the 530e is just as enjoyable to drive as a 5 Series should be and offers peerless refinement.”Coming in third behind the Audi and BMW is the Volkswagen Golf eHybrid, a hybrid family hatchback. It was praised having “user-friendly” technology, a “wide range of powertrains”, and “good balance between ride and handling”.Article continues belowMeanwhile, it lost marks for lower cabin quality, some problems with its ergonomics, and having louder road noise on larger wheels.When it comes to hybrid cars that handle well, Reach has also been able to sample some hybrid cars. At the SMMT’s May test day, Christopher said the Honda Civic eHEV was his favourite hybrid of the day.He said: “I’ve not driven many cars that handle this well, this sharply, this communicatively. It inspires confidence and you soon forget that petrol engine and hybrid system are doing a clever dance under the bonnet. As it’s a relatively sizeable hatchback, it’s practical too.”