If you are looking for the 20 best hybrid and electric cars for 2020, then you are thinking about the high fuel economy rating.
While it is intuitive to understand that electric cars do not use fuel, hybrid vehicles are not 100% electric, and they are accompanied by a petrol or diesel engine and an electric motor. Both motors work together to drive the car.
Both electric and hybrid cars reduce the amount of CO2 emission and save a lot when it comes to gas prices.
In this article, we will start with the 20 Best Hybrid and electric cars for the 2020 list. The list not only features the best-rated hybrid and electric vehicles but also highlights the best used hybrid cars under $40,000!
Towards the end, we included some of the frequently asked questions about hybrid cars to make sure that people are clear about what it means, what are the different types of hybrid vehicles, and much more. Keep reading for more details!!
What Are The 20 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars for 2020?
Here is the list of the 20 best hybrid and electric cars for 2020:
- 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid:
The 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid’s Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) ranges from $28,430 to $32,730.
It is a five-people fit four-wheel-drive (FWD) car. The Toyota Camry Hybrid achieves about 44-51 mile per gallon (mpg) in the city roads and about 47-53 mpg for the highways, and it comes with 208 horsepower (hp)
The 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid got to the top of the list for its excellent fuel economy, very smooth riding, and a long list of safety features.
One of the drawbacks of the Toyota Camry Hybrid is the regeneration brakes, which takes a little time for you to get used to it.
- 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid
The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid’s MSRP ranges from $25,620 to $32,290.
It is also a five-people FWD car that comes with an excellent mileage of 48 mpg at city roads and 47 mpg at the highways.
The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid has a power of 212 hp. The Honda Accord reached the top of the list for its excellent fuel economy and a very user-friendly infotainment system.
The Honda Accord, however, comes with a relatively small trunk, and it has concise power at high speeds.
- 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
The 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid’s MSRP is about $37,000.
It is again, a five-people fit FWD car with a mileage of 43 mpg at city roads and 43 mpg at the highways.
The 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid has a power of 215 hp. It is featured for its smooth ride, a huge trunk. However, the Toyota Avalon does not have a great infotainment system and was rated low for its fuel economy.
- 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid’s MSRP is about $23,100. It is also a five-people fit car. The Toyota Corolla was featured for its high fuel economy rating and the long list of safety features, in addition to the high reliability.
The 2020 Toyota Corolla’s main drawback is the small trunk.
- 2020 Honda Insight
The 2020 Honda Insight’s MSRP ranges from $22,930 to $28,340.
It is a five-people FWD car with a power of 151 hp. It achieves about 51 mpg at city roads and 45 mpg at the highways.
The main pros of the 2020 Honda Insights include the ample cargo space, the long list of standard features, and the excellent fuel economy.
One the other hand, the cons of the Honda Insight is the low-quality cabin as compared to similar price hybrid cars, the very noisy engine.
- 2020 Hyundai Ioniq
The 2020 Hyundai Ioniq’s MSRP ranges from $23,200 to $38,615.
It is a five-people FWD car with excellent fuel economy ranging from 55-57 mpg at city roads and 54-59 mpg at the highways.
The 2020 Hyundai Ioniq is known for its ample cargo space, excellent fuel economy, outstanding features, and a relatively extended warranty.
The main con of this car is that it does not have a very smooth ride on broken pavement, the vehicle bounces a lot.
- 2020 Toyota Prius
The 2020 Toyota Prius MSRP ranges from $24,325 to $32,500.
It is also a five-people FWD car with an adequate fuel economy. The 121 hp Toyota Prius achieves 52-58 mpg at the city roads, and 48-53 mpg at the highways.
The Toyota Prius is featured for its excellent cargo space, very comfortable seating, user-friendly infotainment system, and excellent gas mileage.
The Toyota Prius was critiqued for its low upscale rivals.
- 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
The 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid’s MSRP ranges from $25,750 to $31,300.
It is a five-people FWD car. The Sonata Hybrid achieves about 39-40 mpg on the city roads and 44-46 mpg on the highways with a 193 hp.
Some of the great features for the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid include a very high-quality ride, roomy and comfortable seats, and an easy-to-use infotainment system.
The drawbacks of the Sonata Hybrid include a relatively small trunk, low mileage, and a noisy engine on the highways.
- 2020 Ford Fusion Hybrid
The 2020 Ford Fusion Hybrid’s MSRP ranges from $28,000 to $34,595.
Like the previously listed cars, it is a five-people fit FWD car with a 188 hp.
The car achieves about 43 mpg on the city roads and 41 mpg on the highways.
The Ford Fusion is known for its sporty style, very easy-to-use infotainment system, and a high-quality cabin.
The cons of the Ford Fusion are mainly the small trunk, sluggish engine, and the low fuel economy ranking.
- 2020 Chevrolet Bolt
The 2020 Chevrolet Bold Hybrid’s MSRP is about $36,620.
It is a five-people fit FWD car with an engine power of 200 hp.
The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt Hybrid is featured for its longer drive range as compared to the other hybrid cars, the long list of standard features, and the remarkably smooth engaging ride.
Some of the drawbacks of the 2020 Chevrolet Bold Hybrid include the small seating and the relatively high price as compared to other hybrid cars.
- 2020 Kia Optima Hybrid
The 2020 Kia Optima Hybrid’s MSRP ranges from $29,310 to $36,090.
The car is a five-people fit FWD with a power of 202 hp.
The Kia Optima Hybrid can achieve up to 40 mpg on city roads and 45 mpg on the highways.
The great features in the Kia Optima include a long list of standard features and very smooth brakes. One the other hand, the car does not have the best reliability, has a low fuel economy rating, and a tiny trunk.
- 2020 Toyota Prius Prime
The 2020 Toyota Prius Prime Hybrid’s MSRP ranges from $27,900 to $33,800.
It is also a five-people fit with FWD and 121 hp engine.
The Toyota Prius Prime has excellent mileage, a long list of standard features, and exceptional reliability. However, the car has a very distracting touch screen.
- 2020 Ford Fusion Energi
The 2020 Ford Fusion Energi is a hybrid car with an MSRP of about $37,000.
It is also a five-people fit FWD drive car with an engine power of 188 hp.
The Ford Fusion Energi comes with a fantastic infotainment system, a long list of standard features, very comfortable roomy seats, and a high-quality cabin.
The drawbacks of the Fusion Energi have to do with the poor handling, short electric ranges, and the minimal trunk space.
- 2020 Nissan Leaf
The 2020 Nissan Leaf Hybrid’s MSRP starts from $31,60.
It is a five-people fit FWD car with engine power ranging from 147 to 214 hp.
The Nissan leaf comes with very roomy comfortable seats, great standard features, and swift acceleration. However, the rear seats do not fold as flat as the other hybrid cars, and it comes with a very old dashboard.
- 2020 Honda Clarity
The 2020 Honda Clarity’s MSRP starts from $33,400; however, the price gets a little high using higher trims.
It is also a five-people fit FWD car with engine power ranging from 174-212 hp.
Despite the high price, the Honda Clarity has a great smooth ride, ample seating, and considered one of the top high-efficiency cars on the list. As we mentioned, the main drawback of the Honda Clarity is the high price and a very distracting touch screen.
- 2019 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
One of the most luxurious cars in this list so far is the 2019 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The MKZ’s MSRP is about $35,995. The engine power is about 188 hp. The car achieves about 42 mpg on the city roads and 39 mpg on the highways.
As any luxury car, the 2019 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid comes with a very high-tech infotainment system, heated seats, and a rearview camera.
- 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid’s MSRP is about $36,295. It comes with about 176 hp.
The RAV4 achieves about 41 mpg on city roads and 38 mpg on the highways.
Some of the cool features in the Toyota Hybrid include ample cargo space, very high-quality smooth ride, and excellent fuel economy rating.
On the other hand, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid’s front passenger seat is not comfortable, it has an outdated infotainment system as compared to the other hybrid cars for the same year, and its brakes feel artificial.
- 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s MSRP is about $36,295.
It comes with an engine power of 190 hp. The car has 22 miles range for battery only and 310 miles in total.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has impressive features, including an excellent warranty, a high crash-test rating, and it is the first car in this list with an option of three-rows seats.
The Outlander has a relatively weak engine, does not have factory navigation, and it does not have the best inspiring look.
- 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
The 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid’s MSRP is about $24,885. It achieves up to 44 mpg on city roads and 37 mpg on the highways.
The Ford Escape is featured for its great-looking interior, potent powertrain, incredible infotainment system, easily sliding second-row seats, and it feels like a sedan when steering and driving.
The 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid comes with minimal cargo space, low-quality riding, and it comes with many issues with the navigation and audio systems.
- 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid’s MSRP is about $39,995. It comes with 32 miles of battery-only range and 520 miles in total.
The Chrysler comes with a great looking interior, ample cargo space, comfortable seating, high rated fuel economy, and a long list of safety features.
The Chrysler Pacifica is considered one of the expensive hybrid cars, and it does not have standard driver assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hybrid Cars
What Does A Hybrid Car Mean?
A hybrid car contains two engines: one electric and one petrol or sometimes diesel. It can ride on the electric motor for small distances. Think of the most common hybrid car that came out 20 years ago: the Toyota Prius.
How Does Hybrid Car Work?
The hybrid car can drive on electric power when it is charged. It can be charged using the combustion engine and sometimes using braking.
What are the Different Types of Hybrid Cars?
Hybrid cars come in one of the following forms
- Traditional hybrid: it is also called a “full-hybrid.” In this type, both the electric engine and the petrol or diesel engine work TOGETHER to drive the car. They can work either to support each other or in isolation.
- Mild: the mild type has the electric power only to support the petrol or diesel engine NOT to drive the car.
- Plug-in: the plug-in or sometimes called “PHEV” has a relatively more extensive electric range as compared to the traditional hybrid. However, you need to actually “Plug-in” the car to charge it like charging any electrical device.
- Range-extended: the range-extended has an additional small petrol engine to charge the batteries. This engine does not, however, drive the car.
What Are the Cons of the Hybrid Cars?
As we mentioned before, hybrid cars are not 100% electric, meaning there are certain times when you need to take it to the gas station and fill it.
Hybrid cars are known for their noise when pressing the brake due to the recovered kinetic energy. It takes time for people to get used to it. Therefore, if you get stressed from noise or if noise can affect your driving quality, you might consider not getting a hybrid car.
When trying to accelerate using a hybrid car, the acceleration won’t happen as instantaneous as the traditional petrol or diesel car. Moreover, acceleration can make additional noise from the engine.
In the PHEV hybrid cars, you need to charge the car if you are planning for a long trip. Loading the vehicle might take time. Some people install a charger in their driveway, which adds to the total costs. However, some government grants can help with this price and covers up to 75%.
Should I Buy a Hybrid Car?
Deciding whether to buy a hybrid car or not depends on your daily driving. Do you mostly drive on low speeds on city roads? Or do you drive much on highways and motorways?
Hybrid cars are incredible fuel savers IF you are driving on low speeds and city roads.
Driving at low speeds on city roads using a hybrid is very relaxing as there is no engine noise.
However, if you think you drive mostly on highways or motorways, then some traditional cars can be more efficient.
Should I Buy a Plug-in or a Traditional Hybrid Car?
The short answer to this question is: it depends. There are many pros and cons for both cars, and you need to evaluate what works best for you.
Both cars work along with another combustion engine, meaning that you need to take them to a gas station to fill occasionally. They are, however, very fuel economy and can cut prices on gas but not as electric cars.
When it comes to the differences, in general, plug-in cars are considered more expensive than traditional hybrid vehicles.
Another difference is the way each one charges the batteries. For traditional cars, batteries are charged either from the combustion engine or from the braking. Plug-in vehicles need to be charged through a main or get a home charger installed in the driveway.
Plug-in cars have bigger batteries, meaning they can travel long distances if they are fully charged. Since they also have a petrol engine, the combined range is much higher than the traditional hybrid cars.
Plug-in cars are best for you if you need to drive longer distances and would like to save on fuel. However, if you do not fully charge it, it consumes more fuel than any regular car because of its weight due to the heavy batteries.
A final remark, if you did research on any hybrid or plug-in car and you were amazed by the mile per gallon, these numbers are not realistic. The published mile per gallon values are based on laboratory tests, and you will never get any close to these values—just something to keep in mind when shopping for a hybrid or plug-in car.
Conclusion
Buying a hybrid car can be environmental and economically friendly. You can reduce the amount of CO2 in the air and save a lot on the fuel.
However, you need to know that hybrid cars are not pure-electric; they are associated with a petrol or diesel engine to drive the vehicle. The vehicles use electric power only on low speeds and city roads. Therefore, if you are planning to drive on high rates on the highways, you might be consuming much more fuel than the regular car to drive this heavy hybrid car. Hybrid vehicles, especially the plug-in, is more substantial than conventional automobiles due to the batteries they carry.
The 2020 best hybrid and electric cars have tons of incredible vehicles to choose from. Read carefully and make sure you are choosing the best for you.
Some of the features to think of and pay attention to including:
- Are you more concerned about a great looking hybrid car?
- Are you mainly looking for a fuel-saving car?
- Do you care much about the cargo space (e.g., do you shop a lot and plan to use the cargo more often)?
- Are you looking for a larger family car? Note that most of the listed hybrid cars are five-people fit.
Final remark, the listed prices here are the starting Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) are only starting prices. The actual cost of the vehicle can be much higher. It is recommended that you shop and get at least three quotes and never go with one quote.