Top Cheap Hybrid Cars in Australia 2025 🚗

The cheapest hybrid SUV in Australia 2026 right now are the Suzuki Swift, the Toyota Yaris, the Chery Tiggo 4, MG 3 and the MG ZS.

Two of them are Japanese and the same two are also the most pathetic, slow-poke hybrids on the market.

Swift is the cheapest, starting at 25 grand, but it has the worst overtaking ability here.

It requires a yawn-inducing, 13 seconds, to reach a hundred kph.

The Toyota Yaris is 4 thousand dollar dearer, but a couple of seconds quicker than the Swift.

It is still no match, for the Chinese options, that are now available in the market though.

The MG3 is the best.

It has impressive overtaking ability, given that it is five seconds quicker from zero to hundred, compared to the Swift hybrid.

The funny thing here, is that the MG3 hybrid is also quicker than the Swift Sport, by 4 tents of a second!

So we can also start calling Japanese hot hatches as pathetic now, just like their hybrids.

The little MG, is propelled by a two hundred and eight horsepower powertrain, afterall.

You still might not like the MG3, simply because of it being a hatchback of course.

For you, MG also sells a crossover SUV with the same powertrain, called the ZS Hybrid-plus.

It is four grand more expensive than the hatchback, and also half a second slower to hundred kph.

But both of those compromises, are not a deal-breaker, because it still remains the best of the rest, when it comes to cheapest hybrids in Australia.

The fifth and the latest hybrid to join the cheapest end of the market, is Chery's Tiggo 4.

It is half a second slower than the MG ZS, but also a thousand dollars cheaper, at just under thirty grand.

However, even the Chery, still has better overtaking prowess, compared to Toyota's bestselling Corolla hybrid & Yaris Cross Hybrid.

Not to forget, it is cheaper than them, by a couple of grand.

However, bear in mind, that none of the these hybrids are quicker than a Polo GTi yet.

If you want a hybrid which effortlessly decimates the Polo GTi and even the Golf GTi, get the Haval H6, Ultra Hybrid, All Wheel Drive variant.

It retails for 46 grand, but accelerates from zero to hundred in 4.8 seconds.

Beyond that you always have the used alternatives, especially, if you a smart guy, who thinks spending more than thirty five thousand dollars on a car is stupid, you are absolutely right. Because today, a Tesla Model 3 Performance, is available for a mouth watering, thirty five grand, in the used car market. But that's not all, a 2 year old, MG4 X-power is also available for the same price. It will be a tad bit slower than the Model 3 Performance in terms of acceleration. But the Tesla, that you will find at this price, will at least be five years old. Plus it will have at least a hundred and fifty thousand kilometers on the odo. While the X Power can be found with just forty thousand kilometers on the clock. Now coming to question of whether any petrol powered alternatives can be found with similar performance in the used car market? Then the answer is no. However, something slightly slower can certainly be found. The german hot-hatches, namely the Audi RS3, Mercedes A Class and the BMW 1 Series, all had their Flagship versions capable of pulling a sub five second sprint to a hundred kph some ten years ago. Now they are all available for less than 20 grand, except for the Audi RS3. But then, the Volkswagen group can be forgiven for it, as their Golf R takes it's place on the roster. Our favourites are the Beemers. The M one thirty five i is available for as low as sixteen thousand dollars, with a delicious inline-six turbo-petrol, mated to the ZF 8-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. To be honest, it doesn't make any sense to shell out an extra twenty grand for the EVs up there. If you want an even better driving experience then you can get the 2 series, with the limited slip differential. It is about eight grand more expensive, but is beyond doubt, the most effervescent alternative among this bunch. If you want something with all wheel drive, you have two choices. The Mercedes A45 AMG or the Golf R. The Golf R has a more liveable, and yet also the more entertaining suspension setup, while the Merc is objectively more capable. If you insist on X Power equalling acceleration, then the option of a stage 1 remap does exist. For example the Golf R with a reliable stage 1 remap from Revo, can crack the ton in four seconds flat. Not bad for a car that is available for seventeen grand right? If you insist on a brand new vehicle in this price range, then the i20 N is your best option. It is painfully slow compared to the used options tho. Plus it is only available with a manual gearbox. If you want an automatic, then the Swift Sport is your best bet. Else, you can stretch your budget to forty-one grand and go for a Polo GTi. Can't really imagine, who in their right minds would go for such slow and expensive front-wheel-drive appliances though. Especially when those...

#mg3hybrid #tiggo4 #mgzs