Interest in hybrid electric vehicles is accelerating in response to rising fuel costs, according to Carwow.
Polling more than 1,200 drivers, Carwow reveals that 54% are reconsidering what car to buy next, with 26% now saying they would now choose a hybrid or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
Siobhan Doyle, Consumer Writer at Carwow, said: “Plug-in hybrids remain a familiar, low-risk choice for those who are hesitant to make the switch to full electric, and rising fuel prices are now tempting more consumers to steer away from the sharp rise in running costs of petrol and diesel powertrains.
“This response is clearly reflected in the level of enquiries we are seeing for hybrid models across the Carwow platform.”
In the first quarter of 2026, hybrid-related enquiries increased by 43% quarter-on-quarter, outperforming those of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which grew 35% over the same period.
Hybrids are now edging ahead of BEVs across both new and used, accounting for 32% of new car enquiries (vs 30% BEV) and 18% of used enquiries (vs 16% BEV) in the first three months of the year.
Carwow’s latest polling reveals that 34% of drivers see hybrids as a ‘step towards’ going fully electric, while one in five (20%) would stick with a hybrid long-term if they made the switch.
When asked what most appealed to them about hybrids, the top answer was ‘better fuel economy than petrol and diesel cars’ (24%), followed by ‘electric driving without worrying about charging’ (23%) and ‘flexibility for long journeys’ (19%).
The Kia Sportage was ranked the most popular hybrid in the first three months of the year, recording a 56% rise in enquiries, followed by the JAECOO 7 (17%) and the Chery Tiggo 8 (up 149%).
The BYD Seal U ranked fourth in hybrid enquiries in the last three months, just ahead of the MG HS.
