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2022 has introduced a lot of well-rounded and capable hybrid cars, but only one tops the list.

With the rising fuel costs, geopolitical difficulties, and rising costs of living around the planet, a hybrid seems to be a more stable and efficient choice for the next few years of motoring. And with the lack of an abundant EV charging infrastructure, it's no surprise that drivers are considering hybrid electric vehicles instead of all-electric counterparts. The hybrid segment, as excellent as it is today, was launched over 20 years ago by Toyota with the beloved and ever-so-evolving Prius. Today, the segment keeps growing, with many brands eager to compete.

We agree that hybrid cars don’t really share the looks, performance numbers, and celeb status of new EVs. But the more recent hybrids are taking things further by offering style, practicality, and excellent driving dynamics than ever before. The foundation for choosing a hybrid model over an electric or gasoline-powered vehicle is a compelling one; Increased energy efficiency, with most hybrids topping nearly 60 MPG in combined driving.

The competition is stiff in the 2022 hybrid car segment, with vehicles like the Toyota Avalon Hybrid, the Honda Accord Hybrid, the Honda Insight, and the Prius battling for the lead. Not all hybrids are the same, though, and that’s how it’s meant to be. Each party provides a unique selling proposition for each customer, making it easy to pick one in the overwhelmed segment. Some are "plug-in" hybrids, and some are self-charging hybrids or mild hybrids.

2022 has introduced a lot of well-rounded and capable hybrid cars that are offering great fuel economies, low starting MSRPs, and exceptional packages. But only one tops the list. Let's find out.

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The Toyota Prius’ has been an unquestionanble success since it was introduced. With more than 6 million units sold worldwide in the 20 years since the Prius first landed in the United States, the Prius' continued popularity has helped it become the go-to vehicle for all hybrid vehicles. The Japanese hybrid is the kind of car that celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Ryan Gosling, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cameron Diaz bought, claiming to do their bit for the environment.

The 2022 Toyota Prius is an excellent continuation of the vehicle’s fourth-generation lineage. The family consists of a base Eco model, the LE, the XLE, and the Limited trim.

The rising competition for the crown has been fierce with the best hybrids, which pushed the vehicle’s sales down slightly, to just over 236,000 units back in 2012, but the Toyota Prius kept its composure and still sold 59,000 units in 2021, despite the supply shortage. And last year, the vehicle clocked its 20th anniversary since it first rolled out of the production line. Today, some competing brands, such as Hyundai and Honda, have come very close to dethroning the Prius, but the Pioneering vehicle still retains authority.

Boldly squaring up against the likes of the Hyundai Sonata, the Honda Accord, and the Avalon, the Prius is still one of the best hybrid cars on the market. After adding features like the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 last year, the 2022 Toyota Prius cranks things up a notch with a new Nightshade special edition trim. However, some aspects of the Prius still attract criticism, mainly the performance and some interior features, which leave more to be desired. Although, thanks to the humble performance, the Prius is able to achieve an average fuel economy of over 50 MPG – a small price to pay for a few trips to the gas station.

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The best feature of the Toyota Prius has always been the fuel efficiency, and the new Prius is no different. Like the predecessor, the 2022 Toyota Prius’ powertrain consists of a 96-horsepower 4-cylinder gas engine, which pairs with a 71-horsepower permanent magnet AC electric motor. The result is an output of about 121 horsepower, which, when compared to the Camry hybrid or the Hyundai Sonata, may feel sluggish, but allows the Prius to return a better fuel economy than nearly any other hybrid vehicle out there.

The base model, L Eco, is the most fuel-efficient of the bunch, delivering an EPA-estimated 58 MPG in the city and around 53 MPG on the highway. The rest of the trims get 54 MPG in the city and 50 MPG on the highway with the front-wheel-drive configuration. While, with the all-wheel drive, which comes as an optional feature on all trim levels, the Prius makes a lower rating of 51 MPG in the city and 47 MPG on the highway. Nightshade trims are rated at 52 MPG combined. The fuel economy not only makes the Prius produce lower tailpipe emissions, but it also makes it cheaper to own.

Wilfred Nkhwazi is a screenwriter, actor, and sports car enthusiast from Blantyre, Malawi. He has written 2 feature films and a thriller trilogy. Wilfred is pursuing an Electric Car Technology program and spends a lot of his time writing for hotcars.com, penning down fast whips, celebrity collections, and everything else in-between. When he isn't writing, he loves to take long drives around the city, make music, and drink hot chocolate.