What you need to know before buying a hybrid car in 2025

It's easy to say hybrid! In reality, there are several types of hybrid cars, from the simplest mild hybrids that in some cases barely differ from petrol or diesel cars, to the range-extending plug-in hybrids that represent the last step before the electric car.

This means that when buying a car, a customer should be careful which type of hybrid is proposed to them by the salesman or advertiser, because it may not be suitable for their needs. The year 2025 promises to be full of models in the field of 'hybrid cars', which is why we want to try to explain to you in simple terms the technological and substantial differences between the various hybrid cars already on sale or on the way.

There are many nuances that distinguish one hybrid car from another, all of which have in common that they have two or more forms of propulsion such as petrol and electricity. Plus we point out which are the new hybrids for 2024-2025.

• Mild hybrid cars
• Middle hybrid cars
• Full hybrid cars
• Full hybrid range-extender cars
• Plug-in hybrid cars
• Plug-in hybrid range extender cars

Mild hybrid cars

Mild hybrid cars, also known by the abbreviation MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle), represent the entry-level of electrification in cars. Available with either a petrol, diesel or LPG engine, mild hybrids differ from non-electrified versions in that they are equipped with a 12- or 48-volt battery that is capable of recovering energy during braking and deceleration and transforming it into an electric boost that is added to that of the combustion engine during acceleration. There is no socket for electric charging, just put petrol or diesel in the tank

In mild hybrids, the combustion engine is switched off more frequently than in the classic start-stop system of non-electrified cars, especially when 'cruising' at a constant speed. This leads to a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 15 per cent compared to conventional non-electrified cars. Usually, the electric motor of mild hybrids does not give traction to the wheels, but there are several exceptions to this rule on the market that we can call 'middle hybrids'.

Dacia Bigster

Photos by: BMW AG.

BMW X3

Photos by: Hersteller

Cupra Terramar

To date, almost all car brands offer petrol-powered mild hybrid cars, with the exception of sports and luxury car manufacturers. The exception is Porsche, which has just unveiled its 911 GTS mild hybrid to be delivered at the end of 2025.

Brands selling mild hybrid diesel include Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini and Volvo. A world premiere, on the other hand, is the petrol/LPG bifuel mild hybrid motorisation of the Dacia Bigster, which will also arrive in 2025.

New mild hybrid 2024-2025

• Audi A5
• Audi Q3
• Audi Q5
• BMW 1 Series
• BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
• BMW X3
• Cupra Terramar
• Dacia Bigster (also LPG)
• Mazda CX-80
• Nissan Qashqai
• Porsche 911 GTS
• Skoda Kodiaq
• Suzuki S-Cross
• Suzuki Swift
• Volkswagen T-Roc
• Volkswagen Tayron
• Volvo XC90

Middle hybrid' cars

Let's talk about what we can call 'middle hybrid' cars, always included in the mild hybrid category. These are cars that are marketed as mild hybrids or simply hybrids that have a slightly larger battery capacity (often lithium-ion) and a more powerful electric motor that are able to move the car on its own when manoeuvring and for short stretches of road at reduced speed.

Photos of: Fiat

Fiat Grande Panda

Photos of: Peugeot

Peugeot 3008

Photos of: Subaru

Subaru Forester

All the new Stellantis hybrids such as the Fiat 600 and the Fiat Grande Panda, the Peugeot 3008, the Jeep Avenger, the Alfa Romeo Tonale or the new Lancia Ypsilon now belong to this particular sub-category of mild hybrids that was first introduced by Subaru with its e-Boxer.

New 'middle hybrid' 2024-2025

• Alfa Romeo Junior
• Citroën C3
• Citroën C3 Aircross
• Citroën C4
• Citroën C4 X
• DS 3
• DS 4
• Fiat Grande Panda
• Fiat Giga Panda (or Multipla)
• Fiat Torino
• Jeep Avenger 4xe
• Jeep Compass
• Lancia Ypsilon
• Opel Frontera
• Opel Grandland
• Opel Mokka
• Peugeot 5008
• Subaru Forester

Full hybrid cars

Full hybrid cars, also known as HEVs or FHEVs, are those that always have a combustion engine (for the time being, only petrol), but are flanked by one or more, more powerful electric motors and a high-voltage battery with a larger capacity than mild hybrids. This means that they can also run in purely electric mode for a few kilometres and limit the use of the combustion engine to reduce consumption by 20% or more. Again, there is no socket for electric charging, only the fuel cap.

Dacia Duster

Photos by: MG Motor

MG ZS

Photos by: Renault Communication

Renault Symbioz

The pioneer of full hybrid technology is Toyota, which over the years has been joined by other manufacturers, mainly Korean, Japanese and French. Among the most recent full hybrids to go on sale between 2024 and 2025 are Dacia Duster and Bigster, Hyundai Staria, Lexus LM, MG3, MG ZS and Renault Symbioz. The first Subaru Crosstrek full hybrid was also presented in Japan.

A currently unique full hybrid car is the Kia Nio Tri-Fuel LPG, the Korean gas hybrid SUV already on sale in Italy.

New full hybrid 2024-2025

• Dacia Duster
• Dacia Bigster
• Forthing Friday
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Hyundai Staria
• Jaecoo 5
• Kia Niro Tri-Fuel
• Kia Sportage
• Lexus LM
• McLaren W1
• Mercedes-AMG GT 43 Coupé
• MG3
• MG ZS
• Renault Captur
• Renault Rafale
• Renault Symbioz
• Suzuki S-Cross
• Toyota RAV4

Full hybrid range extender cars

Full hybrid range extender cars currently represent a niche in the hybrid car market and are characterised by the fact that the drive to the wheels is exclusively electric. The on-board combustion engine only serves to recharge the drive battery when it is discharged.

In practice, range extenders are electric cars with an additional petrol engine as a power generator, without a charging socket. So here, too, you just add fuel to the tank. Consumption and mode of use are therefore similar to those of the full hybrids seen above.

Nissan Qashqai

Nissan X-Trail

To date, the only range extender models of this type sold in Europe are the Nissan Qashqai e-Power and the Nissan X-Trail e-Power. For the time being, there is no news on the arrival of other e-Power models in Europe.

New full hybrid range extender 2024-2025

• Nissan Qashqai

Plug-in hybrid cars

Plug-in hybrid cars, also known as PHEVs, are the evolution of full hybrid cars with the added bonus of a socket for external battery charging. That's why they are also called 'plug-in' hybrids because they can be plugged into a domestic socket or a charging station, with either combustion or electric wheel drive depending on the state of charge of the battery.

On these cars, the battery and electric motor (or motors for 4x4s) are further augmented to provide more power and a longer electric range, up to more than 60 miles with zero local emissions. The downside is a high level of technological sophistication that leads to higher prices compared to full hybrids. In order to make the most of their efficiency, plug-in hybrids should be recharged at the plug regularly, otherwise there is a risk of consuming a lot of power due to the additional weight carried (battery and electric motor/engine).

Photos of: Volkswagen

Volkswagen Tayron

Photos of: Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Outlander

Photos by: Jaecoo

Jaecoo 7

There are many brands offering plug-in hybrid cars with both petrol and diesel, including those sports and extra-luxury car brands that manage to reduce CO2 emission levels, at least in the WLTP homologation cycle. These include Ferrari with its 296 GTB, McLaren with its Artura and the Bentley Bentayga.

New plug-in hybrids coming between the end of the year and 2025 include Volkswagen Tayron, MG HS, Cupra Terramar, Jaecoo J7, Mitsubishi Outlander and new Peugeot 3008.

New plug-in hybrid 2024-2025

• Audi A3
• Audi A5
• Audi Q3
• Audi Q5
• BYD Seal U DM-i
• Cupra Terramar
• Ferrari F80
• Jaecoo 7
• Jeep Compass
• Kia Sportage
• Lamborghini Temerario
• Lamborghini Urus SE
• Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+
• Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Hybrid 4matic+
• Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance
• MG HS
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Omoda 9
• Opel Grandland
• Toyota RAV4
• Volkswagen T-Roc
• Volkswagen Tayron
• Volvo XC90

Plug-in hybrid range extender cars

Plug-in hybrid range extender (EREV or REEV) cars are still a rarity in Europe, represented at the moment by the Mazda MX-30 R-EV alone, but may become more common from 2025 onwards. These are cars with only electric drive on the wheels and a combustion engine used as a power generator, but with an additional socket for external charging. Battery recharging must also be done frequently here to take full advantage of the EREVs' capabilities.

Basically, they are electric cars with the addition of a petrol engine for those still worried about battery range. These cars currently represent the highest level of hybrid car technology, really close to electric cars and with highly developed batteries and electric motors. They are very popular in China and a new EREV is presented almost every week, with electric ranges of over 186 miles.

Photos by: Leapmotor

Leapmotor C10

The first of these plug-in hybrid range extenders to arrive in Europe is expected to be the Leapmotor C10 EREV promised for 2025.

New plug-in hybrid range extender 2024-2025

• Leapmotor C10

Models coming in 2025:

MG 2025: All the new upcoming models

Jeep 2025: All the new upcoming models

Peugeot 2025: All the new upcoming models

Kia 2025: All the new upcoming models