The best Motability hybrid cars in 2024


Martin Gurdon

4 Jan 2024

Motability has more than 700,000 car owners signed up to its famous vehicle financing scheme. People who qualify for a higher or enhanced mobility allowance are able to join and use their allowances to finance cars, specialist wheelchair accessible vehicles, electric scooters and powered wheelchairs. 

Leases last 3-5 years and include insurance, servicing, tyres and breakdown cover.

If you qualify for its vehicle finance scheme, there are plenty of Motability hybrid cars to choose from in 2024. To help you decide read our guide below - or check out our separate guide to the best Motability electric cars on the market.

9. Hyundai Tucson

Our pick: Hyundai Tucson 1.6 TGDi 48V MHD SE Connect 5dr 2WD DCT

Price: £29,500

Initial payment: £2,145

Combined MPG: 43.5

Boot space: 577 litres

The latest Hyundai Tucson is a spacious, distinctive looking thing. We’ve gone for the entry level, two-wheel-drive mild hybrid SE Connect, which is decently equipped with features such as lane departure warning, parking camera and parking sensors. You could opt for 4x4 and plug in hybrid Tucsons, which are heavier and costlier, so this version of the car feels like a decent compromise.

The Tucson’s 577 litre luggage deck is flat and broad and the interior is a spacious place for up to five adults, who will enjoy raised seating positions.

The car’s 177bhp, 1.6 litre petrol engine works well with its 48v mild hybrid set up, slipping between power modes smoothly and seamlessly. Overall, this is a quiet, civilised means of transport.

The Tucson drives better as a 2WD. At least until it snows.

8. Nissan X-Trail

Our pick: Nissan X-Trail E Power 204 Connecta Xtronic

Price: £39,790

Initial payment: £3,499

Combined MPG: 62.8

Boot space: 585 litres

Nissan’s big sports utility’s front wheels are electrically driven, with a three-cylinder 1.5 petrol engine providing the charging power.

The result is a hefty car capable of an impressive 0-62 of 8 seconds, and although it doesn’t have a true EV’s near silence, it’s still a lot quieter than many of its rivals. It also handles well and has a precision that belies its size, coupled with serene riding qualities.

Make no mistake, this is a big car, but that translates into impressive interior space for people and their stuff, and rear doors that open to 90 degrees aids getting into the back.

There’s a seven seater and 4x4 options, but we’d go for five seat, two-wheel-drive derivatives, as these cars are lighter and will use less fuel.

The X-Trail feels like an electric car to drive

7. Toyota Corolla

Our pick: Toyota Corolla Touring Sports 1.8 Hybrid Icon

Price: £31,560

Initial payment: £2,145

Combined MPG: 62.8

Boot space: 598 litres

The Corolla Touring Sports isn’t even slightly sporting, but it is a proper estate car with a hybrid power pack. We’ve chosen it over the Corolla hatchback because that car is cramped in the back. 

By contrast, the Touring Sports has been stretched just enough to make for decent back seat passenger space, and there’s a generous boot with a big tailgate aperture. Accessibility-wise, some people with mobility issues might find it a little low to the ground, otherwise getting in and out is fine.

As with the Yaris Cross, the Corolla will sup petrol at around 60 mpg, and is a smooth, composed, pleasant if not especially engaging thing to drive. 

Last year the car was given a subtle facelift with blink-and-you’ll-miss-them external styling tweaks, and things like a bigger touch screen inside. More importantly, its electric drive train is now a little more powerful than before, with lighter, bigger batteries. We think in 1.8 litre guise the car has the right mix of performance and economy, but there’s also a 2.0 version for those who disagree.

As with the MG 5 found in our Best Motability electric cars to buy in 2023 guide, the Sport Touring is a true estate car, something that makes it both rare and useful. 

The estate is usefully bigger than the hatch and looks good too

6. Kia Sportage

Our pick: Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDI 3

Price: £36,270

Initial payment: £1,969

Combined MPG: 49.6

Boot space: 591 litres

You can choose the Sportage as a plug in hybrid, but here we’re concentrating on the less expensive mild hybrid variant. Not having to lug around the plug in’s extra batteries results in better handling too. Being lighter also makes this car a little quicker.

Interior space for five adults and their stuff is generous to a fault, and so is the equipment list, which in ‘3’ guise is generous. Dynamics? For such an upright thing the car steers and corners with surprising accuracy.

Access to the interior, with its big, comfortable elevated seats is good too, all of which helps to make it one of the best Motability hybrids to buy in 2023.

The Sportage has no shortage of appeal

5. Toyota Yaris Cross

Our pick: Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid Design

Price: £26,545

Initial payment: £1,995

Combined MPG: 62.8

Boot space: 397 litres

Most sports utilities of this size are petrol powered, so being a hybrid makes this version of the Yaris Cross stand out.

As a Motability hybrid to buy in 2023, the Yaris Cross is let down to smaller rear doors resulting in poor rear access to a back seat area that’s a bit cramped. Front seat occupants have little to complain about.

Being a Toyota, they won’t be moaning about the quality of the interior’s fittings, although its acres of dark, dour plastic is hardly inspirational.

Still, real world 60mpg economy is a plus, as is the car’s ability to trickle along in quiet, civilised battery only mode, something that flags up the rather busy sounding petrol engine when accelerating hard.

Still, its controls are easy to use, the car steers and handles well and is blessed with strong brakes.

The upright Yaris won't make you cross

4. Dacia Jogger

Our pick: Dacia Jogger 1.6 HEV Expression

Price:  £22,995

Initial payment: £1,495

Combined MPG: 64.2

Boot space: 160/599 litres

If you’re after interior space and excellent value for money, then the Jogger hybrid ought to be on your car shopping list. In Expression guise the Jogger HEV is six a half grand less than the much smaller Honda Jazz and features a smartphone integrated infotainment system, climate control, blind spot monitoring, reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.

There’s not a lot wrong with the way the Jogger HEV drives, although the ride can become a bit bouncy on poor roads and power delivery and general mechanical refinement aren’t its strongest features, but its duel power system delivers decent economy and more poke than the thirstier petrol Jogger.

Other demerits? The interior is a cornucopia of hard black plastics and scratchy fabrics, but is perfectly well made.

The car comes as standard with three rows of seats. Behind the third row is 160 litres of boot space, which increases to 599 litres when they’re folded down. Drop the second row and you’re confronted with a slightly lumpy 2m long luggage deck.

As a practical, affordable mode of transport, the Jogger is one of the best Motability hybrid cars.

The Jogger is an easy car to run

3. Kia Niro

Our pick: Kia Niro 1.6 GDi HEV ‘3’

Price:  £39,910

Initial payment: £1,999

Combined MPG: 61.4

Boot space: 451 litres

We a re big fans of the all-electric Niro and the hybrid has many of the same qualities. This car has a ballroom sized interior, accessed by big doors, and the hybrid boasts the biggest boot in the Niro range. We’re majoring on the self-charging hybrid but there’s a plug in version too if you’re so inclined.

Performance is solid rather than sporting. The car reaches 62 mph in 10.8 seconds, and as it doesn’t spend much of its time in pure electric drive mode, its slightly strained sounding 1.6 petrol engine makes its presence felt most of the time. However, real world economy of around 60mpg is impressive for such a big vehicle.

The Niro hybrid has many of the same qualities as the EV

2. Toyota Yaris

Our pick: Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid Icon

Price:  £22,125

Initial payment: £595

Combined MPG: 68.9

Boot space: 286 litres

The Yaris was something of a pioneer in the hybrid supermini market, and the current one is a very capable car.

It looks much less dowdy than its predecessor, but if the styling wins praise, overall interior space does not. Although front seat occupants have nothing to complain about, those in the rear will find it a more compact environment. Boot space too is mediocre at 286 litres with the rear seats in place.

On the positive side, this car is easy to drive, with light, positive steering, which aids parking. The ride is good too, so the Yaris is a comfortable place in which to travel.

The car is parsimonious at the pumps, with a claimed MPG of nearly 69 miles. We achieved a creditable 60mpg in normal driving conditions.

The Yaris was a pioneer in the hybrid supermini market

1. Honda Jazz

Our pick: Honda Jazz Hybrid Elegance eCVT

Price:  £29,440

Initial payment: £1,599

Combined MPG: 62.8

Boot space: 304 litres

Honda’s Jazz five door supermini has a spectacularly spacious interior, and is a pragmatic buy.

The generous boot is reached by a big rear door, and carrying a folding wheelchair or even a compact mobility scooter are practical propositions. The Honda’s four big passenger doors and high seating position make this a surprisingly accessible car, and the back seats cleverly fold into the floor to create a flat, van-like luggage deck.

The car will often trickle along in near silent, electric mode during low speed, city driving, and goes well when its 1.5 litre petrol engine joins in. Controls are straightforward to use, and this is a light, easy-to-drive machine.

Honda has built up a reputation for reliability, and the Jazz is a well-made car. A high list price and awkward looks aside, it’s good news. 

Honda Jazz PHEV exterior front driving The Jazz is unusually practical for a small car

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