Which used hybrid SUV is the most reliable?

In our guides, the full-hybrid SUVs from Toyota and Lexus stand out as the safest: the Toyota Yaris Cross, the first-generation Toyota C-HR and the Lexus RX from 2015 to 2022. Plug-in hybrids and models with heavy recall histories need more checks before buying. The type of hybrid matters as much as the model.

Full, plug-in or mild hybrid: what is the difference?

The names vary between websites and brands. Here are the three families, with the orders of magnitude given by Fiches-auto.

For a used buyer, this changes three things.

The battery. On a full hybrid, the traction battery is small and cycled many times on short trips, with no plug-in charging. On a plug-in, it is much larger, more expensive to replace, and its state of health depends on how it has been used: ask for it to be checked. On a mild hybrid, the 12 V or 48 V battery is modest and cannot power the car on its own.

The battery warranty. It depends on the brand and is set out in the warranty booklet. At Toyota, the traction battery of hybrids and plug-in hybrids is covered for 5 years or 100,000 km, with cover extending to 10 years or 250,000 km if an annual battery check is carried out at the dealer network. At Hyundai, the high-voltage battery is covered for 8 years or 160,000 km, with replacement or repair below 70% of original capacity; the 48 V batteries of mild hybrids are covered for 5 years. At Kia, the high-voltage battery of hybrids is covered for 7 years or 150,000 km, but the 48 V or 12 V battery of mild hybrids only for 2 years. Toyota and Kia state that their warranty transfers to the new owner, Kia subject to regular servicing. Have the brand's dealer network confirm what remains valid on the serial number.

Servicing. A hybrid needs a complete service history, like any other vehicle. The faults most often cited in our guides tend to affect the small 12 V battery, which discharges when the car is driven little, rather than the hybrid system itself.

Which hybrid SUVs are best rated in our guides?

We have taken the guides whose version is a hybrid and whose category is SUV. These are the best placed, with the reliability score out of 5 and the indicative price given in the guide.

• Toyota Yaris Cross: 5/5, "buy" verdict, €20,000 to €30,000. Five Euro NCAP stars in 2021; no recurring fault is documented, as there is not yet enough track record according to the press. Its engine is covered in our Toyota 1.5 hybrid page: keep an eye on the 12 V battery and the reprogramming recall for Yaris models from late 2020.
• Toyota C-HR (1st generation): 4.5/5, "buy" verdict, €15,000 to €24,000. The hybrid system is considered proven. The reported faults are the 12 V battery and windscreens that crack, the replacement of which requires recalibration of the driver-assistance systems.
• Lexus RX (2015-2022): 4/5, "buy" verdict, €28,200 to €33,000. The hybrid system has a reputation for robustness. To check: the 12 V battery after a long period standing, and airbag recalls on the 2015-2016 series, which can be checked by serial number.
• Subaru Forester V: 5/5, but "caution" verdict, €20,500 to €41,000. Its rating rests on little model-specific data; its hybrid system is mild (17 hp electric motor) and L'Argus considers it insufficient. Check the history.

A 5/5 SUV with no known faults is therefore not necessarily better known than the others: it can sometimes be a sign of too little track record. Our guides state the source of each rating every time.