The automotive world is rapidly embracing electrification, and while fully electric vehicles are grabbing headlines, hybrid technology continues to offer a practical stepping stone for many drivers. For those not yet ready to commit to a fully electric lifestyle or lacking convenient charging options, small hybrid SUVs present an appealing blend of fuel efficiency and SUV practicality. These vehicles utilize gas-electric powertrains that recharge themselves through braking and engine deceleration, negating the need for plugging in. This technology, pioneered decades ago, has matured significantly, offering improved performance and fuel economy in modern compact SUVs. If you’re seeking a vehicle that’s easy on gas and ideal for city driving, exploring the best small hybrid SUVs of 2024 is a smart move.
white Mazda CX-50
Mazda CX-50 Hybrid: Marrying Mazda Style with Toyota Efficiency
The Mazda CX-50 has already carved a niche with its rugged aesthetics, offering a more adventurous alternative to the popular CX-5. Now, the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid elevates its appeal by incorporating Toyota’s renowned hybrid powertrain. Sharing the same robust hybrid system as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the CX-50 Hybrid delivers 219 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque from a 2.5-liter inline-four engine. This power is managed through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and distributed to all wheels via an electric all-wheel-drive system, featuring three electric motors.
While the standard gasoline CX-50 models offer a “zoom-zoom” driving experience, the CX-50 Hybrid prioritizes fuel efficiency. It offers more horsepower but less torque than the base CX-5, and significantly less power compared to the CX-50 Turbo. This focus on efficiency positions it differently from competitors like the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, which offers sportier N-Line variants. The CX-50 Hybrid achieves a combined fuel economy of 38 mpg, slightly less than the RAV4 Hybrid’s 39 mpg.
Integrating the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) into the Mazda CX-50 required considerable engineering adjustments. Beyond the subtle “Hybrid” badging, the CX-50 Hybrid features extended body cladding and a slightly taller roofline to maintain a 7.6-inch ground clearance, even with the battery pack positioned beneath the rear seats. Despite being longer than many rivals, the CX-50 Hybrid offers 29.2 cubic feet of cargo space, a minor reduction compared to other CX-50 models (31.4 cu-ft) and less than the RAV4 and Tucson Hybrids (38.7 cu-ft).
The interior of the CX-50 Hybrid is where Mazda’s signature refinement truly shines. The cabin exudes a subtly upscale ambiance, particularly in higher trims, boasting a generous array of premium features. The Premium Plus trim, for example, showcases two-tone leather seats with meticulous camel-colored stitching, echoed throughout the doors and dashboard.
Mazda retains its user-friendly rotary controller in the center console, a feature often found in luxury brands, minimizing fingerprints on the touchscreen. Steering wheel controls offer additional convenience. Thoughtful button placements near the steering column provide quick access to memory seat settings, a front camera for tight maneuvers, and parking sensor deactivation for car washes.
While the panoramic sunroof available on most CX-50 Hybrid trims enhances the airy feel, elements of classic automotive design remain. Analog gauges complement the driver’s display, and the infotainment screen, while functional, maintains a relatively monochromatic appearance, save for smartphone integration via wireless CarPlay or Android Auto.
Mazda CX-50 front interior
The interior of the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid features a blend of modern technology and classic design elements, with a rotary dial control and analog gauges.
The CX-50 Hybrid presents a near-luxury experience with a focus on tactile buttons rather than overwhelming touchscreen controls. The ride quality and cabin quietness are also notably refined, exceeding some Toyota hybrids in perceived damping. Overall, the CX-50 Hybrid embodies a more sophisticated and fuel-conscious Mazda, diverging from the brand’s sporty paddle-shifters and turbo engines, which are reserved for other CX-50 variants.
Priced between $34,000 and just over $40,000 MSRP, the CX-50 Hybrid positions itself above the standard gas models but below the more performance-oriented Turbo versions. This mid-range positioning contrasts with the Hyundai Tucson, which offers a wider spectrum of hybrid options at similar price points, encompassing both efficiency and sportiness.
White Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: A Spectrum of Hybrid Choices
Hyundai adopts a more diverse strategy with its popular Tucson model, offering a range of powertrains including gas-only, sporty hybrid, luxurious hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid variant. The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) caters to drivers seeking maximum electric driving, providing 33 miles (53 km) of all-electric range when regularly charged, while still offering the security of a gasoline engine for extended journeys.
The Tucson Hybrid N Line, tested here, distinguishes itself with unique 19-inch wheels, black side mirrors, and dual exhaust tips, in addition to N Line badging. The 2025 Tucson lineup receives a refreshed front fascia with updated LED lighting and wheel designs, maintaining a sharper, more contemporary aesthetic compared to its more traditionally styled competitors.
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid front interior
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid N Line interior features a modern, all-digital twin-screen display and sporty red accents.
Inside, the Tucson Hybrid N Line boasts a modern, fully digital dual-screen interface, replacing traditional gauges. Red stitching accents adorn the supportive seats, door panels, center armrest, and steering wheel. Polished pedals and an N-branded steering wheel further emphasize the Tucson’s sporty character.
This sporty aesthetic is complemented by enhanced performance from a responsive 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. When using premium fuel, the powertrain delivers a combined 231 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, though it is designed to run on regular gasoline as well. Paddle shifters offer manual control over the six-speed automatic transmission, providing a more engaging driving experience compared to the CVTs found in its rivals.
While not the most fuel-efficient in its class, the Tucson Hybrid N Line achieves a respectable 35 mpg combined. This slight dip in fuel economy is offset by a more dynamic driving experience, offering enhanced passing power and a greater sense of confidence when merging onto highways. The powertrain also exhibits a level of refinement that rivals, and perhaps even surpasses, the Lexus UX and Mazda CX-50 in terms of responsiveness and smoothness.
Despite its sporty N Line designation, the Tucson Hybrid N Line maintains a comfortable ride quality, similar to the 2025 Tucson XRT, a new soft-roading trim in the Hyundai lineup. Interestingly, even with its sporty cues, the Hybrid N Line includes “Baby Mode,” a driver-selectable feature that softens initial acceleration for passenger comfort, especially for young children or those prone to motion sickness.
The Tucson Hybrid also excels in practicality, offering more rear-seat legroom and a larger cargo area than the Mazda CX-50. Its spaciousness surpasses the subcompact Lexus UX in all dimensions.
In conclusion, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid N Line emerges as a well-rounded option, blending sporty appeal with family-friendly practicality and ample space, making it a compelling choice in the small hybrid SUV segment.
orange Lexus UX300h
Lexus UX300h: Compact Luxury with a Premium Price
The Lexus UX300h, updated for 2025 (formerly UX250h), presents a more compact and arguably less refined option compared to the Mazda and Hyundai. Despite its luxury badge, the UX300h feels noticeably smaller and less powerful than its similarly priced competitors. The 2025 update brings subtle yet worthwhile enhancements, and it continues to be available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations.
However, its classification as a CUV or SUV is debatable. Government fuel economy websites categorize the UX300h as a compact car, while the others are classified as Small SUVs with 4WD. The UX300h leans more towards a subcompact crossover or hatchback in its dimensions, appearing significantly smaller when parked alongside the Tucson and CX-50. While not direct competitors in size, their overlapping price points make them relevant cross-shopping options.
The Lexus UX300h’s smaller footprint can be an advantage in urban environments, offering greater parking ease. Its styling is arguably attractive, particularly in the higher-spec F Sport trim, which adds visual flair with unique wheels, grille design, a black roof, and dark roof rails. However, the oversized Lexus grille on the compact body might not appeal to all tastes.
front interior of Lexus UX300h Hybrid
The Lexus UX300h interior provides a comfortable and luxurious space for front passengers, though rear passenger and cargo space are limited.
The interior of the UX300h earns high marks for material quality, design, driver comfort, and infotainment system, particularly for drivers under six feet tall, as front-seat spaciousness is comparable to its rivals. However, the UX300h’s smaller dimensions significantly impact rear-seat passenger and cargo space. The cargo area offers a mere 17.2 cubic feet, less than half the capacity of the Hyundai Tucson.
The UX300h’s gauge cluster feels somewhat dated in an increasingly digital automotive landscape, although it does offer a color head-up display, a feature not found in the Mazda or Hyundai models discussed. A larger 12.3-inch infotainment screen is now standard on all but base models, modernizing the interior somewhat, but the abundance of physical buttons throughout the cabin hints at a design from a pre-dominantly digital era – a feature that may appeal to drivers who prefer tactile controls.
Significant powertrain updates include a shift-by-wire CVT system in this fifth-generation hybrid system. The UX300h is also the first Lexus to adopt a lithium-ion traction battery, differing from the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in the Mazda and most Toyota hybrids.
Power output has increased to 196 horsepower, and all-wheel-drive models achieve 42 mpg combined, closely matching the 43 mpg of the front-wheel-drive variant. However, the engine noise remains a notable drawback, described as unrefined and surprisingly harsh for a Lexus – perhaps more noticeable now that the larger battery allows for longer periods of quieter electric driving.
The UX300h’s primary advantage lies in its price point. With a starting MSRP of $37,515 for the front-drive model and $43,035 for the F Sport AWD version, it offers a relatively accessible entry into the luxury hybrid SUV segment. This price point reflects the upscale interior materials and design, but it comes at the cost of reduced interior space.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Small Hybrid SUV in 2024
Ultimately, each of these hybrid crossovers presents a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses. However, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid stands out as the most compelling overall package among these three contenders for the title of Best Small Hybrid Suv 2024.
The Tucson Hybrid successfully balances practicality and sporty driving dynamics, wrapped in a contemporary and stylish design, both inside and out. This modern appeal ensures it will remain visually relevant for years to come, minimizing the risk of appearing outdated as electric vehicle adoption continues to grow. The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offers a compelling combination of features, space, and efficiency, making it a top recommendation in the 2024 small hybrid SUV market.
*All mileage claims are EPA estimated.
