While electric vehicles are currently grabbing all the headlines, it’s hybrids that are still selling in significantly higher numbers – in April 2026, EVs took 16.4 per cent of sales, but hybrids accounted for a 29.5 per cent market share, indicating Australians are still more than keen on this technology.

If you’re considering a hybrid for your next car, here’s an idea – consider waiting until later in 2026 when some even more impressive hybrids will hit the market, saving you money on fuel costs with greater range and efficiency.

Here’s the WhichCar by Wheels guide to the best hybrids launching in the rest of 2026:

1) BYD Shark Performance

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When it’s due: Imminently
Drivetrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid, 350kW/700Nm, one-speed hybrid transmission, AWD
Price: From $62,900 plus on-road costs

BYD Australia recently announced the expansion of its popular Shark 6 ute range with new cab-chassis and uprated Performance variants, both of which are due on sale locally imminently. We think that it’s the Performance that will be of particular interest to ute buyers as not only does it upgrade the Shark 6’s drivetrain with a larger 2.0-litre engine making 350kW/700Nm outputs, but it also allows for an important upgrade to a 3500kg braked towing capacity, aligning it with diesel utes like the Ford Ranger for the first time. The Performance is priced from $62,900 plus on-road costs.

2) Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series Hybrid

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When it’s due: From July 2026
Drivetrain: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 hybrid, 341kW/790Nm, 10-speed auto, 4WD
Price: From $156,060 plus on-road costs

For the first time in its history, the Toyota LandCruiser is finally getting a proper hybrid drivetrain. Due locally from July, the LandCruiser Hybrid uses a strong twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre V6 hybrid set-up, making 341kW of power and a particularly fiesty 790Nm of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and the same four-wheel drive system as the regular V6 turbo-diesel LandCruiser. Pricing starts at $156,060 plus on-road costs and only the top-spec GR Sport and Sahara ZX models will be offered with the new drivetrain, at least initially.

3) Honda Prelude

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When it’s due: Imminently
Drivetrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid, 135kW/315Nm, eCVT auto, FWD
Price: $65,000 driveaway

It’s about to launch in Australia priced from $65,900 driveaway, and uses a hybrid drivetrain for the first time in the storied history of the nameplate. It’s the Honda Prelude, a 2+2 coupe – a very rare concept nowadays, unfortunately – that promises to combine sporty handling, great fuel efficiency, excellent quality and handsome styling. A 135kW 2.0-litre hybrid drivetrain provides propulsion, while Civic Type R bits like the dual axis front suspension Brembo four-piston front brakes and adaptive suspension promise a great driving experience.

4) Kia Seltos

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When it’s due: Late 2026
Drivetrain: 1.6-litre four-cylinder hybrid, outputs TBC, six-speed dual-clutch, front- or all-wheel drive
Estimated price: $40,000

The current generation Kia Seltos is a popular small SUV thanks to its size, strong value equation, pleasant driving experience and roomy cabin, but in Australia it’s never had a fuel-saving hybrid drivetrain before. That will change in late 2026 when the second-generation model arrives, which will actually be powered solely by a 1.6-litre hybrid drivetrain with outputs and fuel economy yet to be announced. The new Seltos is sharper to look at than the current model, and promises even more interior space thanks to larger dimensions and better packaging.

5) Jaecoo J8 SHS

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When it’s due: Third quarter 2026
Drivetrain: 1.5-litre turbocharged plug-in hybrid, 395kW/650Nm, 34kWh battery, one-speed hybrid transmission, AWD
Estimated price: $60,000

The Jaecoo J8 has already been on sale in Australia for almost 12 months with a five-seat layout and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, but that will change in the third quarter of 2026 as its maker is adding a new SHS model with seven seats and the same 395kW/650Nm plug-in hybrid drivetrain that’s found in the Chery Tiggo 9. Both changes will address prior potential issues with the J8, as it will likely sell better once the SHS has arrived. Pricing is yet to be announced, but we estimate it to start at around $60,000 before on-road costs, which is around $5000 more than the five-seat petrol models.

6) Hyundai Staria and Staria Load Hybrid

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When it’s due: Second quarter of 2026
Drivetrain: 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid petrol, 180kW/370Nm, six-speed auto, FWD
Price: $53,490 plus on-road costs (Load), $73,740 +ORC (Lounge)

Hyundai’s futuristic and cavernous Staria people carrier has just received a mid-life facelift with new styling features, new interior tech and a new model lineup. Most importantly in this context, however, is that it will finally add a hybrid drivetrain for the Australian line-up, a 180kW 1.6-litre turbocharged set-up that’s also found in cars like the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Santa Fe. Hybrid pricing for the Staria Load van kicks off from $53,490 plus on-road costs and $73,740 +ORC for the Lounge people mover, with both expected to land locally in the second quarter.

7) Toyota RAV4 PHEV

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When it’s due: From October 2026
Drivetrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid, 200kW or 227kW, 22.7kWh battery, e-CVT, FWD or AWD
Price: $58,840 plus on-road costs (XSE 2WD), $66,340 +ORC (GR Sport)

The sixth-generation Toyota RAV4 has only just launched in Australia and it was already the best-selling car in the country in April 2026. That popularity is set to grow as the year goes on and deliveries come on stream, but also because Toyota Australia is yet to launch the plug-in hybrid model, which will be the first RAV4 PHEV offered locally. It’s due to arrive in October with an electric driving range of around 100km (exact figures are yet to be announced), and it’ll only be available on the upper-spec XSE and sporty new GR Sport. Pricing kicks off from $58,840 plus on-road costs for the XSE and $66,340 +ORC for the GR Sport.

8) Chery ‘KP31’

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When it’s due: Late 2026
Drivetrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel plug-in hybrid, stats TBC
Estimated price: Around $55,000

It’s still at least six months away from being launched locally, and we don’t even know what it will be called yet, but Chery‘s new ‘KP31’ (its codename) ute is shaping up to cause a commotion in the ute segment. It’s set to be the only diesel plug-in hybrid offered locally once it goes on sale, but it will also be capable of towing 3500kg and doing other things many ute buyers expect from their vehicle. A petrol PHEV drivetrain will also be launched later on, likely in 2027.

9) Nissan Qashqai e-Power

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When it’s due: Imminently
Drivetrain: 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder hybrid, 140kW/330Nm, e-CVT, FWD
Price: From $45,640 plus on-road costs

Nissan’s ‘e-Power’ hybrid system is fairly unique in the market as the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol acts as a generator for the electric motor, and its maker continues to refine it to be more efficient. A case in point is the updated Qashqai small SUV, which is about to launch locally with the latest e-Power system that’s been made more efficient (4.1L/100km versus 5.2L/100km of the pre-updated model). The previously available petrol engine has been shelved so it’s now hybrid-only.

10) Mercedes-Benz CLA

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When it’s due: Second quarter of 2026
Drivetrain: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mild-hybrid, 100kW/200Nm (CLA 180), 120kW/250Nm (CLA 200) or 140kW/300Nm (CLA 220 4Matic), eight-speed dual-clutch, FWD or AWD
Price: From $66,500 plus on-road costs

Revealed last year, the new third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA is about to launch locally and for the first time in its history, will offer both hybrid and fully electric drivetrains. On the hybrid side is a new 1.5-litre hybrid set up mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission making from 100kW/200Nm to 140kW/300Nm outputs and capable of as little as 5.4L/100km on the combined cycle. The new CLA is also based on a new platform, offers significantly more technology like the company’s new ‘MB.OS’ infotainment system and pricing starts from $66,500 plus on-road costs.