The Best Hybrid Family Cars

Hybrid cars are becoming an increasingly popular option for families who aren’t ready to go 100% electric yet.

They’re efficient, economical and offer a good range of car types to meet the needs of families of all sizes, but which are the best hybrid cars available right now?

Here’s your guide to six of the best hybrid family cars:

BMW 3 Series Saloon (330e).

You’ll fee like the coolest kid on the block in this BMW. Big alloys and a strident body kit gives it an aggressive look which is further emphasised by the LED headlights. These premium looks continue inside with the plush interior materials. The BMW 3 Series Saloon also has all the gadgets you could want with crisp driver angled screens and the infotainment system being controlled via touch, control wheel and hand gestures.

Performance-wise, this hybrid car is a jack of all trades:

• xDrive offers 4-wheel power and grip for the wonderful wet British weather
• Great steering and sweetly tuned suspension means it soaks up bends well on country roads for a fun drive
• Impressive comfort levels with low noise on the motorway so you can get through those long slogs in peace
• Navigating small car parks is made easier with parking sensors, rear camera and parking assistant system

VW Tiguan

A brilliant feature of the VW Tiguan is the buckets of space and while it’s big enough for a spacious interior, it isn’t so big it’s intimidating when you’re parking. The rear seats slide and recline so there’s plenty of room for three adults, and a 490-litre boot will store all your holiday luggage.

This VW hybrid car is also at home both around town and on the motorway. It has light steering for tight manoeuvres and well-judged suspension for potholes and speedbumps. Meanwhile, it’s comfy and refined on the motorway for a smooth drive.

Here are just some of the family friendly features we love:

• Felt lined door bins so you don’t hear any items rattling around
• Large glovebox to hold all your gadgets for a road trip
• Soft touch plastics provide something to interest small kids with the sensory stimulus

Audi A3 TFSI

The Audi A3 has a slick look that’s perfect for the sportsters at heart. The low seats, youthful design, and quilted leather sports seats mean you get to feel like a flashy race driver. This hybrid car is also great for both tootling around town and getting up to speed on motorways. The suspension soaks up bumps whilst the tight turning circle means you can easily transverse narrow streets. Plus, noise is well contained at higher speeds.

The Audi A3 is a great choice if you're looking for all the practicalities of a family car without losing the stylish looks and nippy driving experience:

• Auto dimming rearview mirror so you avoid getting dazzled at night
• Physical climate controls mean you can keep your eyes on the road when turning up the air-con
• Impressive head and leg room in the rear for the taller kids
• USB ports to ensure the kids’ ipads and phones don’t run out of juice on a long journey
• Stores the profiles of up to 6 drivers (includes sat nav destinations, seat position, and air con preferences) so you don’t have to spend time readjusting everything after someone else has driven

Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage has a practical amount of storage space for all your snacks, drinks and gadgets for a family road trip. The 540-litre boot (1,715 if rear seats are down) will swallow all your suitcases and a pushchair for any younger family members. This hybrid car also holds its own when it comes to looks, with boomerang style LED running lights upfront and big tiger nose grille.

If you enjoy an exciting ride along the motorway and country lanes, the Kia Sportage delivers in spades:

• Feels secure on twisty roads
• Doesn’t roll much in the bends
• Relaxing on the motorway
• Plenty of punch for overtaking
• Nice progressive brakes

Cupra Formentor

If you’re a fan of cool designs, the Cupra Formentor will not disappoint. The sloping roofline and sharp creases give it a sporty edge. The character of this Cupra continues inside with an interestingly styled dash and doors made up of bronze highlights and well finished materials. It also has a nifty safety feature where the cabin lights in the front flash if there’s risk of drifting towards a car in a blind spot.

This hybrid car offers a fun drive on twisty roads:

• Light steering means you can drive with confidence
• Adjustable suspension for quick tight bends and bumps
• There’s a Cupra mode for weightier steering and more immediate response from throttle (so there’s very little lean in corners and bags of grip)
• The suspension strikes a good balance between comfort and body control, so you don’t feel like you’re being thrown about in your seat

Ford Puma

The Ford Puma definitely makes use of the size it has. Ever heard of a Megabox? It's only an 80-litre storage compartment underneath the boot floor - complete with waterproof plastic and a drain plug, it's the perfect place to store your mucky boots after a long family walk. Plus, with the Megabox providing space to carry items over 1m long, it's the ideal car to haul your new lamp back from Ikea.

Whilst this hybrid car can handle all manner of roads, it comes to life on country lanes. It’s eager and entertaining while the stiffer suspension gives it a more aggressive feel.

The array of safety features in the Ford Puma means you can drive confidently on the road:

• 5* NCAP rating
• Forward collision warning
• Pedestrian and cyclist recognition
• Intelligent speed limiter
• Automated high beam system
• Rain sensing wipers
• ‘Quick clear’ heated windscreen

Check out our hybrid leasing options available to lease today. Not sure if a hybrid family car is right for you? Our team are on hand to help find the perfect car for your lifestyle, give them a call on 0113 468 5377 (option 1) or drop them an email cars@zen.auto.

Or, if you're ready to go fully electric head over to our electric car guides to learn more!