For those who don't want to break their reliance on fossil fuels completely by purchasing a fully electric vehicle, known as an EV or BEV (battery electric vehicle), a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or petrol hybrid (HEV) is a great alternative.
Hybrids deliver excellent fuel economy and lower emissions, while still being able to take advantage of the speedy refuelling options and range advantages associated with conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Top selling hybrid vehicles in New Zealand
It's interesting to note that last year PHEV sales, like EV sales, dropped off a cliff.
Last year’s EV sales were down 70% on 2023's numbers: 6341 new EVs were registered in 2024, compared to 21,032 during 2023. Overall, just 5% of new vehicles last year were EVs, compared to 13% in 2023.
And PHEV sales followed the same trend. Of the 34,635 hybrid cars registered in NZ last year, just 10% were plug-in hybrids, which compares to 23% across the same period in 2023.
However, sales of petrol hybrid cars, which are commonplace across many brands, remained strong, posting a monthly average of approximately 2601 new cars last year (for a total of 31,212), compared to a monthly average of 2445 over 2023.
So far this year, petrol-hybrid sales have remained strong, while EV sales are up slightly and plug-in hybrids have continued their decline in popularity:
Sales by Engine Type 2025 |
|---|
53% Petrol/Diesel |
35% Petrol Hybrid |
7% EV |
5% Plug-in Hybrid |
Source: Motor Industry Association
Top selling plug-in petrol hybrids
Rank | Top Selling PHEVs 2024 | Top Selling PHEVs | Top Selling PHEVs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (1195) | GWM Haval H6 (61) | Mitsubishi Outlander (495) |
2 | Mitsubishi Outlander (361) | Mitsubishi Outlander (59) | BYD Sealion 6 (461) |
3 | BYD Sealion (223) | MG HS (44) | MG HS (263) |
4 | Porsche Cayenne (96) | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (40) | GWM Haval H6 (230) |
5 | Hyundai Tucson (85) | Jaecoo J7 (34) | Jaecoo J7 (167) |
Top selling petrol hybrids
As most new Toyota models are petrol hybrids, and Toyota is the country's No.1 car brand, boasting around a quarter (23%) of all new vehicle registrations last year, it's no surprise that the Japanese car marque dominates the petrol hybrid charts.
Rank | Top Selling Petrol Hybrids 2024 | Top Selling Petrol Hybrids | Top Selling Petrol |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Toyota RAV4 (10,457) | Toyota RAV4 (1039) | Toyota RAV4 (6221) |
2 | Toyota Corolla (1854) | Toyota Yaris Cross (181) | Toyota Corolla Cross (956) |
3 | Toyota Yaris Cross (1832) | Toyota Corolla (167) | Toyota Corolla (846) |
4 | Toyota Highlander (1419) | Toyota Corolla Cross (141) | GWM Haval H6 (788) |
5 | Toyota Corolla Cross (1404) | Hyundai Tucson (121) | Toyota Yaris Cross (784) |
Below is an overview of the three top-selling PHEVs of 2024 in New Zealand. Prices do not include on-road costs or specials, and should be used as a guide only.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross – from $44,990
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was 2024's most popular PHEV by a considerable margin. Its only real rival was its big cousin, the Outlander. The Eclipse Cross comes with all the usual bells and whistles you'd expect from a modern SUV, including driving assist features such as forward collision mitigation and pedestrian approach warnings. Plus it comes in 4WD for those who want to truly utilise its SUV credentials. The Eclipse Cross PHEV offers up to 55km of EV range, and a 25-minute fast charge.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV– from $54,990
The Mitsubishi Outlander was No.3 on 2024's list of top selling cars. So it's no surprise that the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one of the most-popular plug-in hybrid cars, too. The Mitsubishi Outlander is perfect for those who want just a little more than the Eclipse Cross offers, whether a little more space, a little more grunt, or a little more range (84km EV range as opposed to 55km). Like the Eclipse Cross, the Outlander PHEV comes with all the modern luxuries and safety features, 4WD, 25-minute fast charge and that reliable Mitsubishi name.
BYD Sealion 6 – from $52,990
BYD's plug-in hybrid SUV debuted in NZ last year, and made quite an impression, placing third on the year's PHEV best-seller list. The BYD Sealion 6 is available in four models: Essential FWD, Dynamic FWD, Dynamic FWD Extended Range, and the Premium AWD.
The main difference between the FWD models is their spec levels, and as the Extended Range's name suggests, it's able to travel further on battery power alone. And although the Premium AWD is faster, it delivers reduced fuel efficiency.
The range has also been extended to include the Sealion 7, a fully electric luxury SUV, priced from $67,990.
Hybrid options: petrol hybrid vs plug-in hybrid
Petrol hybrid (HEV)
Petrol hybrids, like the first mass-produced hybrid car, the Toyota Prius, feature a battery that is charged during driving, not from an external power source. The car's electric motor is reserved for stop-start urban driving, while a petrol engine does the heavy work. Because of a petrol hybrid's reliance on its conventional engine, fuel savings are limited. However, petrol hybrid owners do not pay road user charges.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
A plug-in hybrid has a large battery and a powerful electric motor that, together, allow you to drive at speed for long distances, from around 40km to 90km, depending on the model. Like fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids need to be plugged in and charged.
When used for day-to-day city driving and short commutes, plug-in hybrids offer a gas-free driving experience, along with the assurance of a petrol engine for longer road trips. However, they are subject to road user charges.
Mild-hybrid (MHEV)
Not as common as plug-in or petrol hybrids, mild hybrid electric vehicles use a battery-powered electric motor alongside a conventional petrol engine to improve efficiency. Mild hybrids use regenerative braking to charge their batteries while driving. They don't charge from an external power source and are not capable of electric-only driving.
Compare car insurance with Canstar