Edmunds picks 5 hybrids worth buying

Buying a hybrid in 2020 doesn’t have the same cutting-edge feel that it used to back in the early 2000s. Today, all the hype surrounds the latest electric cars.

But do a little research and you’ll find that hybrid vehicles are better than ever and provide impressive fuel economy with little to no compromise. As a bonus, many of the latest hybrids no longer take several years to “break even” in terms of cost versus fuel savings.

Here are five top-rated hybrids in a variety of styles, singled out by the experts at Edmunds, that quickly recoup their initial costs. All prices below include the destination charge.

2020 HONDA INSIGHT

Starting MSRP: $23,885 Edmunds’ top pick for hybrid cars is the Honda Insight, a small sedan that hits the efficient marks hybrid drivers want. Perhaps more importantly, it avoids the pitfalls they don’t want. The Insight is not strangelooking, it isn’t adorned with eco-conscious badges, and it isn’t slow. It just works.

We especially like that the Insight combines its fuel economy with excellent value. In fact, in its Touring trim, the Insight has an MSRP that’s $500 lower than the comparable Honda Civic on which it is based — and its EPA rating of 48 mpg in combined city/ highway driving exceeds the Civic’s 36 mpg.

2019 KIA NIRO

Starting MSRP: $24,535 Kia sells the Niro as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric vehicle. At an MSRP of $24,535, the Niro hybrid is easily the most affordable of the three, and its EPA rating of 50 mpg combined is among the highest you’ll find on the market. We also like the Niro’s interior comfort and standard technology.

There’s no gasoline-only version of the Niro, so making a comparison is a little tricky, but Kia’s Sportage crossover SUV is a good stand-in. The two offer similar amounts of storage space, especially with the rear seats folded down. Go with the Niro and you’ll pay $90 less than a comparable 2020 Sportage and get nearly double the fuel economy. The Sportage checks