Hybrids have been given a five-year stay of execution from the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars, after Sir Keir Starmer was forced to back down on his electric vehicle sales targets earlier this week.
On Monday, the Prime Minister announced a number of watered-down changes to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate - the government's binding policy designed to push an increasing number of Britons into electric cars in the run-up to the end of the decade.
His hand was forced by US President Donald Trump and the announced 25 per cent tariffs on US car imports on April 2's Liberation Day.
Starmer has moved to protect the UK's automotive industry from the blowback of higher levies by unveiling his 'plan to support carmakers'.
The biggest news is that plug-in hybrids and - more surprisingly - new conventional 'self-charging' hybrids will be allowed to stay in showrooms until 2035.
So, what's the difference between them? Will other forms of hybrid car be available beyond 2030? And which are the most reliable hybrid models in showrooms today?
Hybrids have been given a five-year stay of execution from the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars. But which ones? We explain all - and reveal the 5 most reliable models
Commenting on his changes to EV sales targets, The Prime Minister said earlier this week: 'Global trade is being transformed so we must go further and faster in reshaping our economy and our country.
'I am determined to back British brilliance.
'Now more than ever UK businesses and working people need a Government that steps up, not stands aside. That means action, not words.'
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Amongst the actions is a five-year exemption for hybrids from the outlawing of sales of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.
Hybrids have long been seen as a stepping stone between combustion-engine models and full EVs.
While the Government had hinted at allowing 'some' hybrids to evade the ban at the end of the decade, only plug-in hybrids - which provide longer electric-only ranges - were expected to stay beyond the 2030 deadline.
The government's new regulatory leniency now allows both plug-in and full hybrids to be sold until 2035.
In total, there are four types of hybrid car - we explain how they differ and which ones can still be purchased until the middle of next decade.
1. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
Also known as: Hybrid, conventional hybrid, self-charging hybrid
On sale between 2030 and 2035? YES
Conventional hybrids are those with a combustion engine (typically petrol) with a supplementary small battery and electric motor
A hybrid electric vehicle has an onboard battery and electric motor to supplement a petrol or diesel engine.
However, it can't be plugged in to be charged, so all of the electric power is generated by the movement of the vehicle.
Batteries are far smaller than those in fully electric cars and for this reason can only typically provide a handful of miles of range when exclusively running on electric power.
They're often referred to as conventional hybrids as they were introduced to the market ahead of plug-in hybrids (which we will come to shortly), with the Toyota Prius being the most renowned model.
It was widely expected that this type of hybrid car would be banned from 2030 alongside conventional petrol and diesel models, but that is no longer the case.
2. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Also known as: Plug-in hybrid
On sale between 2030 and 2035? YES
Plug-in hybrids commonly have a larger battery than a conventional hybrid and can be charged via the mains, a wallbox or public device
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles also use an internal combustion engine - usually petrol but there have been some examples of diesel PHEVs - and an onboard battery and electric motor(s).
But the biggest difference to an HEV is that they also have a charging socket.
The battery can be charged by plugging into the mains, a domestic wallbox or public charging device.
Like HEVs, they also have energy regenerating brakes and systems that help to trickle a little extra capacity to the battery on the move.
The battery pack is not as large as those in fully electric cars but is bigger than units in HEVs. This means that plug-in hybrids can be driven on electric power alone, with proponents arguing this makes them perfect for short-trip urban driving.
When fully charged, a plug-in hybrid can provide anywhere between 25 and 60 miles of range using just electric power.
For longer journeys - or any trip where you've used up to electric driving capacity - the vehicle will become reliant on the petrol engine to take you to your destination.
Almost all manufacturers have introduced plug-in hybrid options, whether that's a Ford Kuga, Audi A3, or a Bentley Bentayga.
All plug-in hybrids will get a stay of execution until 2035.
3. Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV)
Also known as: Mild hybrid
On sale between 2030 and 2035? NO
Mild hybrids are the latest form of 'hybrid' car to hit the market. However, at no time does the system power the wheels like an HEV or PHEV
One of the most confusing recent terms introduced to the sector is the mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV).
These are a middle-ground between a petrol/diesel car and a HEV and are becoming increasingly common in showrooms.
While they do have some electric capacity, to use the term 'hybrid' does muddy the waters.
This type of hybrid car has a very small battery and motor-generator - usually no bigger than 48 volts - to supplement the combustion engine under the bonnet.
However, the big difference to a HEV or PHEV is that the battery and motor does not provide all-electric propulsion at any time whatsoever.
Instead, the motor-generator uses stored electricity to supply additional torque to the engine, boosting its output without burning additional fuel to make the combustion engine more efficient.
Some mild hybrids also use the generator to enable the car's engine to be turned off for up to 40 seconds when coasting, automatically restarting when acceleration is called for. This is said to offer greater fuel-economy from a petrol or diesel engine.
Examples of cars that come as mild hybrids include the Ford Fiesta, the Jaguar F-Pace and Volvo XC60.
Because the e-motor doesn't send power direct to the wheels, the government doesn't classify MHEVs as hybrids. As such, this fuel type will be banned from showrooms in 2030.
4. Range Extender Electric Vehicle (REX)
Also known as: Range extender, REEV
On sale between 2030 and 2035? NO
A range extender is the fourth and final type of hybrid car, which uses both a battery and combustion engine. However, it works differently to the three versions listed above
A range extender (REX) is the fourth different type of hybrid, though hasn't been as popular as conventional or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Arguably the best-known model is the Vauxhall Ampera, which was a short-lived early green car on sale between 2012 and 2015 - and one that's still considered ahead of its time.
While it does use a 'hybrid' of battery-plus-electric-motor and combustion engine, in a range extender the latter is much smaller than you'd find in the other types of hybrid car.
This is because the combustion engine acts as a generator - or auxiliary power unit (APU) - rather than a drivetrain.
This means the APU never sends power to the wheels. Instead, it only charges the battery or sends power to the e-motors.
As such, new range extenders too won't be given a pass to remain on sale beyond 2030.
Most reliable hybrid cars in showrooms today
Despite the complexities of having a combination of combustion engine (almost always petrol), small battery pack and electric motor, hybrids are by far the most robust fuel type, according to What Car?'s latest reliability survey.
Showing just how far the technology has come since the Toyota Prius debuted in Britain at the turn of the Century, just 19 per cent of owners of hybrid cars - both conventional self-charging hybrids and plug-ins (PHEV) - reported at least one fault in the last two years.
To put that into context, 22 per cent of petrol cars went wrong, 27 per cent of EVs and almost a third of diesels.
The data from the latest reliability poll also reveals they spend the least amount of time off the road being fixed - and owners infrequently need to put their hand in their own pocked to cover repairs.
But which models are best? Here's the countdown of the five hybrids on sale in showrooms now with the highest reliability scores...
5. Lexus NX (2021-present)
Reliability score: 97.6%
Some 13% of drivers of the current Lexus NX reported a fault of some kind in the last 24 months. Most were pretty minor though, with the vast majority bodywork related
Lexus – the luxury arm of Toyota – tends to tick two main boxes with its cars: they're always premium models with plush interiors, and in almost all scenarios come with hybrid power.
One of the smallest vehicles in its line-up, the NX crossover, fits this bill - using the tried-and-tested 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid drivetrain that's powered Toyota cars for a generation.
The latest example of the NX is proving a relatively dependable purchase. Some 13 per cent of drivers of this car reported a fault of some kind in the last 24 months. Most were relatively minor though, with the vast majority bodywork related.
While the vast majority of NXs should have been covered by the manufacturer's three-year warranty, one in ten owners did incur costs of between £301 to £500 to have their cars put right.
Around four in five were fixed in a day or less and the rest were in workshops for less than a week.
4. Mercedes A-Class (2018-present)
Reliability score: 98.7%
Hybrid Mercedes A-Classes are proving more reliable than petrols with just one in ten drivers of the former encountering faults compared with a fifth of complaining petrol owners
The current Mercedes A-Class is an accomplished family hatchback. It might be the smallest car the German outfit produces, but it hasn't cut corners of luxuries with a great cabin, lots of classy materials and heaps of equipment.
It's better to drive than any A-Class to precede it, too, and has the A250e self-charging hybrid offers a green powertrain option.
Hybrids are proving more reliable than petrols with just one in ten drivers of the former telling What Car? they had encountered faults in the last 24 months compared with a fifth of complaining petrol owners.
The sole cause of issue with hybrids is related to interior trim, and all of these problems were resolved free of charge under warranty. Unfortunately, some drivers had to be patient before getting their cars back from workshops, with just a quarter returned to their driveways in under 24 hours. Two fifths were in repair garages for over a week.
3. Toyota RAV4 hybrid/PHEV (2019-present)
Reliability score: 98.8%
Just 3% of Toyota RAV4 owners had problems with their cars over the last two years, limited only to 12-volt battery and hybrid battery pack issues
The highest scoring hybrid Toyota is the current RAV4. Having spanned five generations dating back to the mid-nineties, it has consistently been a dependable choice of motoring for Britons for three decades.
The latest example is sold as both a conventional self-charging hybrid and a PHEV - the latter offering up to 46 miles of electric-only range when fully charged. These results combine both hybrid drivetrains.
Just 3 per cent of owners had problems with their cars over the last two years, limited only to 12-volt battery and hybrid battery pack issues.
Most were still drivable and a third were fixed within 24 hours - the rest within seven days. While Toyota covered the cost of 83 per cent of repairs, the rest had to pay £100 to £200 to get their SUVs put right.
2. Hyundai Kona hybrid (2019-present)
Reliability score: 99.0%
The hybrid Hyundai Kona is not just proving a lot more dependable than the fully electric version, it's good enough to be the third most dependable petrol-electric car in this list
Buyers of Hyundai's Kona have a wide choice of fuel types - it is sold as a petrol or fully electric car with a hybrid option a stepping stone between the two. And it's the latter petrol-electric combo that we're covering here.
Just 7 per cent of hybrid Kona drivers had to deal with faults in the previous 24 months - that's a much smaller share of owners than Kona Electric users, of which a quarter had to cope with their cars developing issues. For the hybrid models, it was mostly electrical gremlins in the sat-nav/infotainment system that was the cause of complaints.
With most issues being minor, it's no surprise that all faulty cars could still be driven and all were repaired within a week - half in under 24 hours. The Korean brand's five-year warranty also means all models referenced had work undertaken at no cost.
1. Lexus ES (2018-present)
Reliability score: 99.3%
The Lexus ES hybrid saloon is far from a popular choice in Britain. However, based on its 99.3% reliability rating, maybe more people should consider it. Here's what tends to go wrong...
The most reliable hybrid car, according to What Car?, is one that's a relatively rare sight on UK roads. The Lexus ES executive saloon isn't what you'd call a volume seller in Britain but based on its dependability alone, maybe it should be considered by more buyers.
Owners of ES saloons up to five years old suggest they're pretty much bulletproof with a combined reliability rating of 99.3 per cent.
This is because only two in fifty drivers had any issues to complain of in the last 24 months - all of them related to the sat-nav/infotainment system.
Every fault was resolved in less than a week and under warranty at no customer cost.
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