2025 hybrids ranked: CAR's top models and surprising winner
Best hybrid cars of 2025: CAR magazine's top five ranked
2025 hybrids ranked: CAR's top models and surprising winner
See CAR magazine's 2025 hybrid ranking: BYD Sealion 6 tops Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance, Haval H6 GT, Omoda C9, Jaecoo J7. Scores and value weighed.
2026-01-07T11:52:47+03:00
2026-01-07T11:52:47+03:00
2026-01-07T11:52:47+03:00
By 2025, hybrids have decisively shed their niche status, emerging as a true alternative to conventional petrol and diesel cars. That shift is reflected in the respected CAR magazine’s annual tests, where the top hybrid models were scored out of 100 with performance, efficiency, handling, and everyday usability all taken into account.Fifth place went to the Jaecoo J7 SHS DHT with 81 points. This plug-in hybrid crossover won over evaluators with a well-judged blend of pricing, styling, and pace. Its petrol engine and electric motor work in step, delivering confident acceleration while keeping fuel use moderate—exactly the mix that suits daily driving.In fourth, the Omoda C9 1.5T PHEV AWD Explore earned 82 points. As Chery’s flagship hybrid, it stands out with all-wheel drive and a strong powertrain. The 1.5‑liter turbo engine paired with electric motors provides comfort and composure even on trickier surfaces, a quality the testers highlighted as a key strength.Third place, at 83 points, went to the Haval H6 GT 1.5T PHEV 4WD Ultra Luxury. This version of the popular crossover posted some of the class’s quickest acceleration while remaining fuel-conscious. With four-wheel drive and a hybrid setup, it comes across as a versatile option for those who want both verve and practicality in a 2025-ready package.Runner-up honors went to the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance with 85 points. It demonstrates how hybrid technology can amplify a car’s sporting character: the electric component isn’t about frugality here, but about added punch, yielding striking acceleration and tight control without sacrificing premium comfort. Topping the list, the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic scored 87 points.CAR’s experts noted high build quality, generous equipment, and excellent efficiency. Taken as a whole, the winner offered the best balance of cost and capability, making a persuasive case that today’s hybrids can already stand in for traditional powertrains.Overall, the CAR ranking suggests hybrids are no longer perceived as a temporary stopgap but a class in their own right. From attainable crossovers to a muscular AMG, the technology now lets buyers choose a hybrid out of preference rather than compromise—a spread of contenders that makes the shift hard to ignore.
2025 hybrid ranking, CAR magazine, BYD Sealion 6, Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance, Haval H6 GT PHEV, Omoda C9 PHEV, Jaecoo J7 hybrid, top hybrid cars, plug-in hybrid, efficiency, performance
2026
Michael Powers
news
Best hybrid cars of 2025: CAR magazine's top five ranked
See CAR magazine's 2025 hybrid ranking: BYD Sealion 6 tops Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance, Haval H6 GT, Omoda C9, Jaecoo J7. Scores and value weighed.
Michael Powers, Editor
By 2025, hybrids have decisively shed their niche status, emerging as a true alternative to conventional petrol and diesel cars. That shift is reflected in the respected CAR magazine’s annual tests, where the top hybrid models were scored out of 100 with performance, efficiency, handling, and everyday usability all taken into account.
Fifth place went to the Jaecoo J7 SHS DHT with 81 points. This plug-in hybrid crossover won over evaluators with a well-judged blend of pricing, styling, and pace. Its petrol engine and electric motor work in step, delivering confident acceleration while keeping fuel use moderate—exactly the mix that suits daily driving.
In fourth, the Omoda C9 1.5T PHEV AWD Explore earned 82 points. As Chery’s flagship hybrid, it stands out with all-wheel drive and a strong powertrain. The 1.5‑liter turbo engine paired with electric motors provides comfort and composure even on trickier surfaces, a quality the testers highlighted as a key strength.
Third place, at 83 points, went to the Haval H6 GT 1.5T PHEV 4WD Ultra Luxury. This version of the popular crossover posted some of the class’s quickest acceleration while remaining fuel-conscious. With four-wheel drive and a hybrid setup, it comes across as a versatile option for those who want both verve and practicality in a 2025-ready package.
Runner-up honors went to the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance with 85 points. It demonstrates how hybrid technology can amplify a car’s sporting character: the electric component isn’t about frugality here, but about added punch, yielding striking acceleration and tight control without sacrificing premium comfort. Topping the list, the BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic scored 87 points.
CAR’s experts noted high build quality, generous equipment, and excellent efficiency. Taken as a whole, the winner offered the best balance of cost and capability, making a persuasive case that today’s hybrids can already stand in for traditional powertrains.
Overall, the CAR ranking suggests hybrids are no longer perceived as a temporary stopgap but a class in their own right. From attainable crossovers to a muscular AMG, the technology now lets buyers choose a hybrid out of preference rather than compromise—a spread of contenders that makes the shift hard to ignore.
