5 Vehicles That Showcase Used Hybrid Car Options

The used hybrid car market has expanded rapidly from its early days that offered just a few subcompact vehicle options. Battery-powered editions of popular automobiles in almost every single segment now offer those seeking a used hybrid car the chance to pick the vehicle that best fits their lifestyle, instead of compromising on features or performance. High end luxury cars, sport-utility vehicles, family sedans and entry-level compacts all offer used hybrid editions, and there are still of course dedicated hybrid cars out there for commuters looking for the best possible fuel mileage.

Let’s take a look at examples from five used hybrid categories that best personify what is available for those shopping for a previously-owned hybrid automobile.

01. Used Honda Civic Hybrid

Introduced in 2005, the most recent generation of the used Honda Civic Hybrid is one of the most fuel efficient automobiles in the compact class. In terms of practicality, the gasoline / electric version of the Honda Civic sedan gives up only a small amount of trunk space to the standard edition (due to battery placement), which means that it is still perfectly suited to daily driving duties, and its similar styling is enhanced by a few aerodynamic tweaks to the sedan’s exterior to help improve fuel economy.

The most impressive aspect of the used Honda Civic Hybrid is its frugal fuel consumption. Thanks to its pairing of a 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine with a battery-powered electric motor, the Civic Hybrid returns fuel economy numbers of around 40-mpg city and 45-mpg highway (depending on model year). Altogether, the Civic Hybrid’s drivetrain offers up 110 horsepower fed to the front wheels through a continuously-variable automatic transmission.

02. Used Ford Escape Hybrid

A used Ford Escape Hybrid is one of the most popular crossover suvs offered with a gasoline / electric drivetrain. 2008 and up models provide seating for as many as five passengers, and folding the rear row forward reveals a maximum of 65 cubic feet of space. This solid utility, combined with the Escape Hybrid’s available all-wheel drive system keeps the vehicle competitive with traditional crossovers in terms of capability.

The edge that a used Ford Escape Hybrid has over standard SUV options is its fuel economy. The front-wheel drive edition of the Escape Hybrid is rated at 34-mpg around town and 30-mpg during highway cruising, numbers which are far and away the best in its class. Power is derived from a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that works with a pair of electric motors to deliver 155 horses. All-wheel drive models gain an additional electric motor that exclusively powers the rear axle should wheel spin be detected, and the entire system is managed through a unique continuously-variable automatic transmission.

03. Used Lexus LS 600h L

The world of ultra-premium luxury cars gained a hybrid member when Lexus introduced the Lexus LS 600h L in 2008. The used Lexus LS 600h L is a battery-assisted version of the brand’s flagship extended wheelbase sedan. Unlike most hybrid cars, a used LS 600h L is tuned to straddle the line between maximum performance and acceptable fuel mileage while maintaining the high standard of comfort and feature content offered by the gasoline-powered Lexus LS.

The used Lexus LS 600h L is outfitted with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that works together with a pair of electric motors to produce what Lexus refers to as V-12 levels of power. 438 ponies are on tap through the LS 600h L’s hybrid system, yet the vehicle’s fuel mileage is more on par with what one would expect from a less robust V-8 setup: 20-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway, an improvement around town over the standard Lexus LS. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a full-electric mode for low speed cruising and a continuously-variable automatic transmission.

04. Used Honda Insight

After a long hiatus, a much improved and modernized version of the Honda Insight dedicated hybrid reappeared on the scene for the 2010 model year. A used Honda Insight offers the practicality and nimble handling of a subcompact hatchback combined with the superior fuel mileage of a lightweight, highly developed hybrid platform.

A used Honda Insight is one of the most affordable of the recent hybrids on the previously-owned market, and it comes with an excellent fuel economy rating of 40-mpg in stop and go driving and 43-mpg on the highway. The four-door hatchback is motivated by a 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that teams up with an electric motor in order to provide a total of 98 horsepower. A used Honda Insight also provides features such as a continuously-variable automatic transmission, Eco Assist, the fuel-maximizing ECON button and an electric-only mode.

05. Used Mercury Milan Hybrid

The used Mercury Milan Hybrid is a battery-powered mid-size sedan that has largely flown under the radar on the secondhand hybrid market. Brought out in 2010 alongside the more common Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Mercury Milan Hybrid can be had at excellent prices as a used vehicle due to the lack of hype surrounding the model.

Despite its low-key status, a used Mercury Milan Hybrid offers the same spacious interior room, comfortable ride and laudable fuel economy found in its Ford twin. The Milan Hybrid makes use of an electric motor that works in concert with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline unit in order to generate 191 horsepower. Matched with a continuously-variable automatic transmission, this level of output allows the used Milan Hybrid to drive just like a standard gasoline-only automobile while returning lofty fuel economy figures of 41-mpg city and 36-mpg highway.