Are Hybrid Cars Good for Daily Commuting?

If you're driving into work every day and feeling the squeeze of rising fuel costs, it's likely a hybrid car has crossed your mind.

It's a fair thought. Hybrids sit between a traditional petrol car and a fully electric vehicle, and for commuters, they can make a lot of financial sense. 

But with self-charging hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and mild hybrids all being an option, knowing which version is right for your commute isn't always straightforward. 

In this guide, we'll explore why hybrid cars are a good option for commuting, which versions are best, and the best hybrid cars to consider. 

Yes, hybrid cars are brilliant commuter cars. 

Most commutes involve a lot of stop-start driving (as I'm sure you're aware). Every time you queue, brake, or crawl through your town centre, it's fuel wasted in a normal car. 

However, when in a hybrid car, commuting is easier and more economical. You can travel at low speeds on pure electric power, saving you fuel in the long term, and if the hybrid car features regenerative braking, you'll recuperate energy back into the battery every time you brake.

Before choosing a certain model, make sure that you're fully aware of the different types of hybrids. 

A mild-hybrid uses a small electric motor to assist the petrol engine, reducing reliance on the engine and improving efficiency. 

A mild-hybrid can't power the car on electricity alone, and is the most subtle of the three. 

A self-charging hybrid combines a traditional petrol engine with an electric motor, and as you can probably guess, it charges itself. 

Through technologies such as regenerative braking, every time you brake or coast, energy is recuperated and converted into electricity. The electric motor then uses that energy to assist the engine, particularly during stop-start driving. 

For commuters who can't charge at home, a self-charging hybrid is a great choice. 

A PHEV has a much larger battery than a self-charging hybrid and can be charged from a home or public charger.

That means you'll get a generous electric-only range, usually somewhere around 40 miles, which can cover a lot of daily commutes. 

If you can charge overnight, a PHEV can deliver massive fuel savings. 

For most commuters, yes. But the amount of savings you make depend on how you drive and which hybrid you choose. 

For urban commuting, a self-charging hybrid can return significantly better fuel economy than a petrol counterpart. For example, a Toyota Yaris returns up to 56mpg in hybrid form, and if these figures hold up (which they tend to do for hybrids), you'll save a fair bit of cash on fuel. 

PHEVs can increase your savings. If you're charging overnight and your daily commute falls within the car's electric-only range, you could complete your daily commute without using a single drop of fuel. 

Hybrids are a great choice for commuting, but they're not everyone's cup of tea: 

• Motorway commutes - If the majority of your commute is at 70mph on the motorway, the hybrid system has limited opportunity to do its job. Regenerative braking will only kick in when you slow down, and the electric motor is less efficient at higher speeds. 
• Mild hybrid caveats - The efficiency gained from a mild-hybrid is modest. If you're expecting massive savings, you may be disappointed. 
• PHEVs need charging discipline - A plug-in hybrid delivers its best savings when charged consistently. If you don't have access to home charging or choose not to charge, there's almost no point going for a hybrid. 

Not sure where to start? Here are four hybrids that stand out for commuters.