What are Australia’s five cheapest new hybrid cars?

Sales of hybrid vehicles have grown exponentially over the past decade or so and, much like EVs, increasingly affordable options are coming to market from a similarly increasing array of manufacturers.

After pioneering petrol-electric powertrain technology over 20 years ago, Toyota has now gone all-hybrid within its passenger car and SUV ranks, leaving ladder-frame 4x4s and GR performance models as the only purely combustion-powered vehicles in its line-up.

It’s no secret that hybrids typically cost more than their petrol counterparts, but for most buyers the fuel savings and enhanced driving experience more than justify the price premium.

With this in mind, we thought we’d delve into the new-car catalogue and list the five cheapest hybrids – parallel, series and plug-in – available in showrooms right now.

The second-generation 2024 MG3 hatch made headlines earlier this year with its bold new look, steep price increases and the addition of a hybrid powertrain.

Two hybrid variants are offered Down Under, including the Hybrid+ Excite and Hybrid+ Essence, the former of which starts from a tempting $27,990 plus on-road costs and comes with 1.5-litre four-cylinder powertrain.

Combine the petrol engine with the electric motor and the MG3 Hybrid+ offers a mighty 155kW and will return fuel consumption of 4.3L/100km on the combined cycle.

Chomping at the MG’s heels is the 2024 Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport Hybrid, which opens from $28,500 plus on-road costs and comes with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol-electric system in a pint-size five-door hatchback about the same size as the MG3.

The Yaris can’t match the MG3 for outright firepower (85kW), but it monsters its Chinese rival when it comes to fuel economy since the Japanese brand claims combined consumption of just 3.3L/100km.

At a time when most models are getting dearer, GWM-Haval Australia has actually lowered the Jolion’s asking prices with the introduction of the facelifted version of the Chinese-made small SUV.

The first and only model on this list with national drive-away pricing, the 2024 Haval Jolion Hybrid range opens with the Premium at $32,990 drive-away, which marks a hefty $4000 reduction in the entry price of the electrified model range and makes it Australia’s cheapest hybrid SUV.

Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol/electric system good for a combined 140kW/375Nm and combined fuel consumption of 5.1L/100km.

Don’t be confused by the smaller number above, because the 2024 Toyota Yaris Cross GX 2WD is more expensive than the Jolion Hybrid Premium when you include statutory on-road costs in all states and territories.

The SUV counterpart to the Yaris detailed above, the entry-level Yaris Cross starts from $30,900 plus on-road costs and features an identical powertrain to its hatch sibling, albeit in a bigger package.

The extra height and weight results in a higher 3.8L/100km combined fuel consumption.

One size up from the Yaris (and MG3) is the 2024 Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport hatch and sedan, both of which are priced from $32,110 plus on-road costs.

All Corollas (besides the hot GRs) are powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder hybrid system outputting 103kW of power, with combined fuel consumption listed at 4.0L/100km.

Due to the substantially bigger battery packs and motors employed by plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) – needed in order to offer a meaningful electric-only range – it’s very rare for them to match the prices of comparable models with simpler parallel and series hybrid powertrains.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t affordable PHEVs, it’s just that they justifiably cost quite a lot more than their self-charging hybrid equivalents.

So what are Australia’s cheapest PHEVs?

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au