In this guide are what we consider to be the best hybrid cars on the Canadian market for 2024. Each of our choices combines a gasoline engine with a battery pack and electric motor to create a hybrid drivetrain (either with or without plug-in capability) that delivers low emissions, a long driving range, and a smooth driving experience. Just be sure to note that you’ll want to invest in winter tires in most parts of the country: these models prioritize low fuel consumption, so most come only with front-wheel drive.
That's one of the reasons why the Canadian shift into crossovers and light trucks continues apace: more than 80 percent of vehicles sold in this country fall into these categories, leaving less than 20 percent for increasingly dwindling sedans and hatchbacks that remain on the market. If you'd prefer a hybrid SUV or pick-up truck such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid compact SUV or Kia Sorento midsize SUV, a hybrid luxury SUV like the Lexus RX 450h+, or Ford F-150 Hybrid pick-up, check out our guide to Top 10 Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid SUVs and Trucks.
For now, though, let's check out the best hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in non-SUV or truck body styles you can buy in Canada.
Best Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Cars 2024
- Honda Accord Hybrid
- Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
- Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
- Lexus ES 300h
- Toyota Camry Hybrid
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- Toyota Crown
- Toyota Prius AWD
- Toyota Prius Prime
- Volvo V60 Recharge
Honda Accord Hybrid
Mid-size sedans are a preferred option for hybridizing among automakers. Family sedan drivers generally fit a profile of being frugally minded and aware of their fuel economy. The Honda Accord Hybrid will check a lot of boxes for these buyers. Its drive dynamics are faithful to the predictable comfort the Accord is known for while cutting several litres off the average fuel consumption every 100 km. A new generation of Accord launched for the 2023 model year that introduces a new two-motor system in the Accord Hybrid. In Canada, this is the default powertrain for the accord’s two trims. The all-new 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine adds direct fuel injection and has a combined system output of 204 hp and peak torque of 247 pound-feet. This configuration achieves 5.0 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 5.7 on the highway, and 5.3 combined. The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid Sport carries a new car price of $43,464 (all prices include destination charges and fees), while the 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring rings up at $46,964.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
Hyundai gave Toyota some direct competition in the hybrid compact sedan segment when it launched the Elantra Hybrid for 2021. Styled for people who are not shy about being seen, the massive grille and deeply angular door designs would never leave you guessing that this fuel-sipping car consumes just 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres combined. It comes with key standard features like a pair of 10.25-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system. Tech features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, and more are included in the mid-level Luxury trim, which is the Elantra Hybrid configuration offered in Canada. This all combines to make this car a serious real-world bargain both on the order form and at the pumps. The 2024 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Luxury is priced at $30,506.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Hybrid can sometimes be associated with boring, but this fuel-efficient mid-size sedan looks quite the opposite. No other car on the road has a lighting signature that resembles that of the current-generation Hyundai Sonata with its unmistakeable angular and elongated front lighting, handsome side profile, and full-width taillight treatment. What’s not as obvious from the exterior is the efficiency found under the hood: NRCan says the Sonata Hybrid can be expected to consume a combined 5.0 L/100 km. Offered in a single, fully loaded trim, pricing before fees for the 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Ultimate starts at $44,006, up roughly $3,000 from 2023.
Lexus ES 300h
Lexus, Toyota’s luxury arm, makes liberal use of the hybrid technology Toyota has become known for. As a result, the ES 300h full-size sedan offers drivers an upscale, refined, roomy and fuel-efficient luxury hybrid sedan option. It shares a platform with the Toyota Avalon—the Avalon is no longer available new in Canada—but adds luxury touches such as an available 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, 8-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, and premium finishes. Thanks to the hybrid powertrain, the ES 300h averages, according to NRCan, an average fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100 km combined. Pricing on the 2024 Lexus ES 300h starts at a new vehicle price of $57,136, before fees.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
The Toyota Camry Hybrid is one of the names that comes most naturally to mind when fuel-efficient family cars enter the discussion. This mainstay mid-size sedan offers its buyers a variety of hybrid versions, including entry-level, sportier, and premium grade levels. For the base model, NRCan estimates its fuel consumption at 4.9 L/100 km combined, while the added feature content in the pricier models bumps that figure up slightly to 5.1 L/100 km. Pricing starts at $35,905 for the Camry Hybrid LE and tops out at $44,705 for the XLE grade.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Our American friends prefer mid-size sedans, but here in Canada we tend to like our cars on the smaller side. Enter the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, one of the more mainstream-looking packages in this segment. For 2024, Toyota is offering a total of four Corolla Hybrid models in Canada. Three of these are sold with all-wheel drive (AWD), making this an especially compelling offering north of the border. A 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine pairs with the updated hybrid system for a total output of 138 horsepower, while NRCan rates combined fuel efficiency from 4.7 to 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres depending on the model. All Corollas now come with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Toyota’s latest Safety Sense 3.0 suite of safety features. Pricing starts at an MSRP of $29,705 for the base LE and $31,205 for the LE with AWD, while the top XSE AWD is priced at $37,765.
Toyota Crown
And now for something completely different: a car that’s not a car. The Crown nameplate represents the best luxury Toyota has to offer in Japan and elsewhere. Last year, Toyota relaunched the Crown as a “reimagined sedan” with a lifted ride height, huge wheels, standard AWD, and two different hybrid powertrains. This includes the first use of Toyota’s new Hybrid Max performance-oriented configuration with power specs of a net 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque from a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched with a pair of electric motors. This powertrain is rated at 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres combined. The base powertrain includes a 2.5-litre four-cylinder internal combustion engine and has a combined fuel consumption of 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres. The 2024 Toyota Crown has a starting price of $55,205 for the Limited grade and $64,905 for the Platinum grade.
Toyota Prius AWD
What a difference a year can make! As the Toyota Prius entered a new generation for 2023, it went from drab and boring to downright exciting. Key new features include eye-catching styling, standard AWD in Canada, and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. NRCan rates the Toyota Prius Hybrid at 4.8 L/100 km combined, making it one of the most eco-friendly cars you can buy without a plug. For 2024, there are two trims of the Toyota Prius available in Canada. The Prius XLE AWD is priced at $40,365, while the Prius Limited AWD costs $46,465.
Toyota Prius Prime
By now, you’ve likely noticed that Toyota and Lexus dominate this list. While other automakers including Audi, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, and even Porsche are making a big push toward battery electric vehicles, Toyota’s strategy is to make fuel savings more wide-ranging by affordably putting hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology into the hands of more drivers. Toyota’s final entry on this list is the Prius Prime PHEV. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid variant is improved in its new generation for 2023 for all the same reasons as the standard Prius, plus it includes a new and larger battery that offers up to 72 kilometres of all-electric range and power increases to 220 hp. In its most efficient SE trim, the Prius Prime averages 1.8 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres or burns 4.5 L/100 km combined when operating in hybrid mode. Pricing for the 2024 Toyota Prius Prime starts at $42,265, and all three trims qualify for the full amount of the federal government’s iZEV incentive program as well as provincial rebates where they exist.
Volvo S60 Recharge
Looking for a compact sedan that’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Check out the 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge. This plug-in hybrid electric car’s simple styling, natural-feeling materials, and an all-electric range of 64 km to go with an estimated average fuel consumption of 3.0 Le/100 km give it heaps of practicality. But when you’re ready to unleash its performance side, the Volvo S60 Recharge provides 455 hp, a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds, and standard electric all-wheel drive. In Canada, three versions are offered for the 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge: Plus ($58,389), Ultimate (adds $9,050), and the Polestar-Engineered performance-oriented grade (adds $16,250 over Plus). The 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge qualifies for the full $5,000 federal iZEV rebate program as well as provincial incentives where they exist.
Note: Images may show US models. Prices correct at time of publication but are subject to change