Five most fuel-efficient hybrids of 2026 highlighted in new list

Hybrid vehicles remain the «golden mean» between gasoline-powered cars and electric vehicles. The Jalopnik portal compiled a ranking of five models with the best fuel economy, based on EPA data, that also sold well in the U.S. during the first half of 2026. Toyota claimed four of the five spots.

Toyota Camry – 4.6 L/100 km

The Toyota Camry took first place. In the front-wheel-drive LE trim, the sedan gets 4.6 L/100 km combined. In the first six months of 2026, 179,000 hybrid Camrys were sold in the U.S.

Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Aruzhan Makhsotova

The powertrain is built around a 2.5-liter engine and produces 225 horsepower in the front-wheel-drive version. The all-wheel-drive model produces 232 horsepower, but the front-wheel-drive version delivers the best fuel economy.

Toyota RAV4 – 5.5 L/100 km

Second place went to the new Toyota RAV4, which became hybrid-only for the 2026 model year. The front-wheel-drive version gets 5.5 L/100 km combined, while its hybrid powertrain produces 226 horsepower.

First-generation Toyota RAV4 (XA10) / Photo: Kazakhstan’s Technical Regulation and Metrology Committee

In the first half of the year, 118,000 hybrid RAV4s were sold in the U.S. The all-wheel-drive version produces 236 horsepower, although it also has higher fuel consumption.

Honda CR-V – 5.9 L/100 km

The Honda CR-V Hybrid took third place with fuel economy of 5.9 L/100 km combined. The front-wheel-drive version produces 204 horsepower, and sales of the hybrid model totaled 124,000 units in the first six months.

Honda Base Station — Photo: Hondanews.com, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

The CR-V remains one of the most popular vehicles in the U.S. During the period, 226,100 units were sold, including gasoline-powered versions. Honda lists the 2026 CR-V Hybrid’s output at 204 horsepower.

Hyundai Tucson – 6.2 L/100 km

The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid took fourth place. The most fuel-efficient front-wheel-drive version gets 6.2 L/100 km combined, while the powertrain’s combined output reaches 231 horsepower.

Photo: Hyundai, photo editor: Dastan Shanay

In the first half of 2026, Hyundai sold 117,600 Tucsons across all versions in the U.S. The company has continued to offer the Tucson with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains for the 2026 model year.

Toyota Sienna – 6.5 L/100 km

Rounding out the top five is the Toyota Sienna, the only minivan on the list. Despite its size and weight, the front-wheel-drive hybrid model gets 6.5 L/100 km combined. It is equipped with a 2.5-liter engine and electric motors that produce a combined 245 horsepower.

In the first six months of 2026, Toyota sold 55,200 Sienna minivans in the U.S.

Ultimately, Toyota claimed four of the five spots, while the most fuel-efficient vehicle on the list was not a small city hatchback but the large Camry sedan. The ranking included only relatively popular models on the U.S. market and compared them based on fuel consumption.