7 Hybrid Vehicles To Avoid Buying in 2025

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Hybrid vehicles occupy a kind of middle ground in the auto industry by offering drivers a combination of an electric motor and a gas-powered internal combustion engine, allowing you to switch to fuel after the battery has run out of juice. It’s a convenient option for consumers who like the idea of a greener driving experience but don’t want to lose power if there’s no EV charging station nearby.
That advantage has helped hybrid vehicles capture a bigger share of the U.S. auto market. Hybrid sales accounted for 9.6% of the total light-duty market during the 2024 second quarter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That was up from 8.6% the previous quarter. Plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) sales increased slightly from 1.7% during Q2 2023 to 2.0% during Q2 2024.
As with any type of car, different hybrid vehicles are designed to meet different consumer needs — and there can be wide variations in performance, gas mileage and reliability. If you’re considering buying a hybrid vehicle in 2025 and put a big priority on reliability and fuel efficiency, here are seven hybrids to avoid buying in 2025, listed in alphabetical order.
BMW ActiveHybrid 5
If you want decent fuel economy, this is not the car to buy. The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 gets a combined 26 miles per gallon, according to TopSpeed, which is much lower than what you’ll find with other hybrids. TopSpeed noted that this mid-size luxury sedan is “more concerned with using the hybrid system to aid in acceleration and drivability than saving gas.”
BMW ActiveHybrid 7
This version of the ActiveHybrid lands at the bottom in fuel efficiency among hybrids at a combined 20 MPG. According to TopSpeed, the ActiveHybrid 7 is “25% more expensive than the platform that it is based on.”
Lexus LS 600h L
The Lexus 600h Lis tied with the ActiveHybrid 7 for worst fuel efficiency among hybrids at a combined 20 MPG, according to TopSpeed. Although the car is “powerful and fast” and boasts a luxurious interior, it also has a “hefty price tag” despite the poor gas mileage.
Mercedes A-Class PHEV
The main problem with PHEV versions of the Mercedes A-Class are the repair costs, according to an analysis from the WhatCar? website. About 9% of hybrid owners had to pay more than £1500 (about $2,000) for repairs, while repair bills were lower for gas and diesel A-Class owners
Range Rover Evoque PHEV
WhatCar? gave this hybrid a reliability rating of only 58.6%. According to WhatCar?, PHEV versions of the Evoque “aren’t as robust as other variants because they suffer more faults that are time-consuming to put right.”
Roughly two-thirds of the Evoque PHEVs in a WhatCar? survey had something go wrong, with electrical issues topping the list of problems, followed by issues with the engine and bodywork.
Saturn Aura Hybrid
TopSpeed gives the Saturn Aura Hybrid good marks for having a “decent and roomy” interior and “good overall quality.” But if you want the best fuel efficiency, you won’t find it here because the Aura only gets a combined 26 MPG.
Volkswagen Golf PHEV
This version of the Golf got a so-so 79.3% reliability rating from WhatCar?, which noted that the vehicle has had “lots of reports of electrical issues” — and nearly half (47%) took more than a week to fix.