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Choosing a new fuel-efficient vehicle for your next car doesn’t have to be difficult. Instead, models like the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Hyundai Elantra Blue promise fuel-sipping economy and an affordable starting price tag. Check out some of TrueCar’s picks for the best cheap hybrid cars of 2023. Surprisingly, the top five options are from just two car brands: Toyota and Hyundai.

What new hybrids are coming out in 2023?

New hybrids like the 2023 Toyota Crown are hitting the streets this year, and some familiar models return. Here are some of the best new hybrid cars with affordable starting price tags: 

  • Toyota Corolla
  • Hyundai Elantra
  • Toyota Prius
  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Toyota Camry
A white Toyota Corolla Hybrid shows off its four-door car practicality and hybrid efficiency as it drives down a city street.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid | Toyota

According to TrueCars’ picks, the five best models on the list of cheap hybrids are exclusively from Toyota and Hyundai. Beyond the top five, the new 2023 Honda Accord and Lexus ES 300h are noteworthy hybrid cars. Moreover, the Accord gets a handsome redesign to boot, ditching the overstyled aesthetic of the 2022 model. 

Is Corolla Hybrid better than Prius?

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid combines fuel-sipping economy with one of the automaker’s most popular sedans. Moreover, the lowest-trim alternative energy Corolla, the Hybrid LE, starts at about $23,895. That makes it around $2,275 less than a comparable Prius. 

However, the Corolla model’s efficiency figures fail to compete with another hybrid car, the 2022 Toyota Prius. The Prius gets as much as 56 mpg combined, while the Corolla Hybrid gets a maximum of around 50 mpg combined. 

Do you have to plug in a Hyundai Elantra Hybrid?

Fortunately for potential owners who are worried about forgetting to plug in a PHEV, the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue’s 139-horsepower four-cylinder hybrid platform doesn’t require plugging in. Instead, the gas-powered 1.6L engine charges the battery, and the system works together to get as much as 54 mpg combined. 

This red car showing off its side profile and sedan styling is a 2023 Hyundai Elantra Blue Hybrid.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue | Hyundai

How much gas mileage does a 2022 Prius get?

The 2022 Toyota Prius gets 54 mpg city and 50 mpg highway at most trims. However, the L Eco trim gets as much as 58 mpg city and 53 mpg highway. Also, with a starting price of $26,170, the Prius remains one of the best new hybrid cars for value.  

What is the mpg for a 2023 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited?

The 2023 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited gets as much as 45 mpg city and 51 mpg highway. However, the range-topping Limited can’t compete with another of the hybrid car’s trims, the Sonata Hybrid Blue. The $29,771 Blue model returns as much as 50 mpg city and 54 mpg highway. 

How far can a Toyota Camry Hybrid go on a full tank?

A late-model Toyota Camry Hybrid is a car that can cover over 600 miles on a full tank thanks to its commendable fuel economy. Specifically, the Camry model gets as much as 52 mpg combined. 

Also, with a starting price of around $29,450 for the Hybrid LE trim, the Camry is a solid option among cheap, fuel-sipping sedans with space for five passengers.  

What is the downside of a hybrid car?

Modern hybrid cars and SUVs have many redeeming features, including fuel economy figures of well over 50 mpg. However, the vehicles also typically lack power and pack heavy gas and electric architecture. Moreover, only some models have electric-only driving capability.

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