Best Luxury Hybrid Cars for 2023
The best used and new luxury hybrid cars based on a data-driven analysis of each vehicle's reliability, resale value and safety.
The best luxury hybrid car is the Lexus ES 300h based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. Its overall rating of 9.1 out of 10 reflects the ES 300h’s reliability, value retention and safety scores. A new Lexus ES 300h costs between $43,440 and $52,330 while a used version costs between $31,989 and $49,244. This luxury hybrid car can seat up to 5 people and is EPA rated to deliver up to 44 miles per gallon in mixed city/highway driving.
The Luxury Hybrid Car category consists of 27 models priced between $36,750 and $206,800 for new vehicles and between $19,999 and $256,350 for used vehicles. iSeeCars has sufficient vehicle data to rate and rank 16 of these 27 models based on their reliability, value retention and safety scores.
Why Should I Buy a Luxury Hybrid Car?
As hybrid cars and electric vehicles become more popular, more and more shoppers are seriously considering the fuel-saving technology as a viable alternative to traditional internal combustion-powered vehicles. If you want a luxury car that offers better fuel economy than a standard gasoline-powered car, there are a number of luxury hybrid cars to choose from.
This list includes plug-in hybrid models (also called PHEVs), that feature a hybrid system with larger battery packs and a limited all-electric range before switching on their gasoline engine. Vehicles like the Volvo S90 are available with both powertrains. It's worth noting that while some hybrid versions of popular models, like the Lexus ES 300h, are only available as a front-wheel drive vehicle, its non-hybrid counterpart has available all-wheel drive.
What Are the Best Luxury Hybrid Cars?
The luxury hybrid cars on this list vary in practicality, ranging from sporty small sedans like the BMW 3 Series to luxury sports cars like the Acura NSX. The Lexus ES 300h hybrid sedan, which shares a platform with the Toyota Camry, offers responsive handling, a smooth ride, and an elegant interior. It earns a combined MPG of 44, compared to 25 MPG for its gasoline counterpart. It also comes with a suite of active safety features including forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and blind spot monitoring. The Lexus ES 300h also has a comparable starting price to its non-hybrid equivalent. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid midsize luxury sedan was discontinued after the 2020 model year, so it is only available in the used car marketplace. The MKZ Hybrid offers a smooth ride and a number of standard safety and infotainment features like an 8-inch touch screen infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.
The Volvo S90’s standard powertrain is a mild-hybrid system paired with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The plug-in hybrid powertrain pairs the twin-charged engine with two electric motors for 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The mild hybrid returns an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, while the plug-in earns impressive fuel economy at 63 MPG-equivalent when using electric power and 30 mpg combined after switching over to gasoline power.
If you want a performance-oriented sports car that prioritizes fuel efficiency, there’s the Acura NSX and the Porsche Panamera. The capable Acura NSX coupe has a twin-turbo V6 engine with 600-horsepower with AWD. The hybrid powertain includes an electric motor, and a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission mounted at the rear of the car, as well as two electric motors mounted at the front. The NSX gets 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, which is not very efficient compared to most hybrids, but its use of these motors in NSX’ advanced all-wheel-drive system greatly enhances its handling stability.
The Porsche Panamera features multiple plug-in hybrid options, including the 4 E-Hybrid, 4S E-Hybrid, and the range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid. The first two feature a twin-turbo V6, while the Turbo S E-Hybrid features a twin-turbo V8. The Panamera plug-in hybrids earn a combined 48-52 MPG equivalent and have 17-19 miles of all-electric range. Along with having the driving dynamics characteristic of a super luxury car, the Panamera is loaded with features including a 12.3-inch touch screen, navigation, a 10-speaker stereo, wireless device charging, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
For drivers who want a practical car with the dimensions of a subcompact car, the BMW i3 hatchback electric car is also available as a plug-in hybrid. The fun-to-drive vehicle earns a combined city/highway rating of 100 MPGe.
What Other Vehicles Should I Consider?
For more hybrid vehicle options, refer to our list of Best Hybrid Cars for hybrid cars from mainstream automakers like the Toyota Prius and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. If you want a luxury hybrid with more cargo space check out our list of the Best Luxury Hybrid SUVs for premium hybrid SUVs like the BMW X5 and the Lexus NX 400h. For a zero-emissions vehicle, be sure to check out our Best Electric Cars or Best Electric SUVs lists.
Why Should I Buy a Luxury Hybrid Car?
As hybrid cars and electric vehicles become more popular, more and more shoppers are seriously considering the fuel-saving technology as a viable alternative to traditional internal combustion-powered vehicles. If you want a luxury car that offers better fuel economy than a standard gasoline-powered car, there are a number of luxury hybrid cars to choose from.
This list includes plug-in hybrid models (also called PHEVs), that feature a hybrid system with larger battery packs and a limited all-electric range before switching on their gasoline engine. Vehicles like the Volvo S90 are available with both powertrains. It's worth noting that while some hybrid versions of popular models, like the Lexus ES 300h, are only available as a front-wheel drive vehicle, its non-hybrid counterpart has available all-wheel drive.
What Are the Best Luxury Hybrid Cars?
The luxury hybrid cars on this list vary in practicality, ranging from sporty small sedans like the BMW 3 Series to luxury sports cars like the Acura NSX. The Lexus ES 300h hybrid sedan, which shares a platform with the Toyota Camry, offers responsive handling, a smooth ride, and an elegant interior. It earns a combined MPG of 44, compared to 25 MPG for its gasoline counterpart. It also comes with a suite of active safety features including forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and blind spot monitoring. The Lexus ES 300h also has a comparable starting price to its non-hybrid equivalent. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid midsize luxury sedan was discontinued after the 2020 model year, so it is only available in the used car marketplace. The MKZ Hybrid offers a smooth ride and a number of standard safety and infotainment features like an 8-inch touch screen infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a Wi-Fi hot spot.
The Volvo S90’s standard powertrain is a mild-hybrid system paired with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The plug-in hybrid powertrain pairs the twin-charged engine with two electric motors for 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The mild hybrid returns an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, while the plug-in earns impressive fuel economy at 63 MPG-equivalent when using electric power and 30 mpg combined after switching over to gasoline power.
If you want a performance-oriented sports car that prioritizes fuel efficiency, there’s the Acura NSX and the Porsche Panamera. The capable Acura NSX coupe has a twin-turbo V6 engine with 600-horsepower with AWD. The hybrid powertain includes an electric motor, and a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission mounted at the rear of the car, as well as two electric motors mounted at the front. The NSX gets 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, which is not very efficient compared to most hybrids, but its use of these motors in NSX’ advanced all-wheel-drive system greatly enhances its handling stability.
The Porsche Panamera features multiple plug-in hybrid options, including the 4 E-Hybrid, 4S E-Hybrid, and the range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid. The first two feature a twin-turbo V6, while the Turbo S E-Hybrid features a twin-turbo V8. The Panamera plug-in hybrids earn a combined 48-52 MPG equivalent and have 17-19 miles of all-electric range. Along with having the driving dynamics characteristic of a super luxury car, the Panamera is loaded with features including a 12.3-inch touch screen, navigation, a 10-speaker stereo, wireless device charging, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
For drivers who want a practical car with the dimensions of a subcompact car, the BMW i3 hatchback electric car is also available as a plug-in hybrid. The fun-to-drive vehicle earns a combined city/highway rating of 100 MPGe.
What Other Vehicles Should I Consider?
For more hybrid vehicle options, refer to our list of Best Hybrid Cars for hybrid cars from mainstream automakers like the Toyota Prius and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. If you want a luxury hybrid with more cargo space check out our list of the Best Luxury Hybrid SUVs for premium hybrid SUVs like the BMW X5 and the Lexus NX 400h. For a zero-emissions vehicle, be sure to check out our Best Electric Cars or Best Electric SUVs lists.
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.8
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.6
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
2. Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.4
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.5
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.8
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.1
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
4. Mercedes-Benz C-Class (Plug-in Hybrid)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.9
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.0
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.8
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
6. Audi A8 L (Plug-in Hybrid)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.9
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.6
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
7. Volvo S60 (Plug-in Hybrid)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
8.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.8
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.2
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.0
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
9. BMW i8 (coupe)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.4
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.5
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.1
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.8
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.5
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
12. Volvo S90 (Plug-in Hybrid)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.6
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
13. Acura RLX (hybrid)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.4
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.8
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.5
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.7
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.5
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.5
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
16. BMW i3 (Plug-in Hybrid)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.9
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
BMW i3 Summary
The BMW i3 is a compact electric car and was the first European EV to market in the US. BMW broke the mold when it created this fresh approach to motoring.
Pros and Cons
Key Features
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
9.3
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
Polestar 1
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
9.3
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
Karma Revero
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
8.3
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
BMW i8 (convertible)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
8.2
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
Karma GS-6
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
7.4
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.9
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
Volvo V60 (Plug-in Hybrid)
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.8
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
Coming soon
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
Coming soon
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
Coming soon
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
Coming soon
-
Safety
Not Available
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How We Rank These Cars
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on the latest research by our data science team and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
After being evaluated, vehicles with the highest average scores earn a spot in the iSeeCars Best Car Rankings. (No final score is given to vehicles missing a score in any of the categories, but scores for other categories are still shown.)
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability | 33.3%
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention | 33.3%
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety | 33.3%
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).