SUVs continue to dominate Australia’s new car sales charts, with buyers flocking to high-riding family haulers in record numbers. But while they’re immensely popular, they’re also far from the only way to enjoy the benefits of hybrid technology – boosted performance, greater fuel economy and lower running costs compared with ICE engines.

Whether you need extra passenger space, a huge boot, long-distance comfort or simply prefer the way a car drives compared to an SUV, there are plenty of alternatives to the usual hybrid SUV crowd. These five hybrid models prove you don’t have to buy an SUV to enjoy excellent fuel economy and everyday practicality:

Toyota Camry

3

Price: From $39,990 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 163kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid, e-CVT, front-wheel drive
Combined fuel consumption: 4.0L/100km

One of the best examples of a hybrid family car that isn’t an SUV is the venerable Toyota Camry. One of the most successful sedans of all time, the Camry proves that you don’t need an SUV to achieve a comfortable, very fuel efficient, good to drive and practical family car with a large 524-litre boot. No wonder it still sells so well.

Prices start at $39,990 plus on-road costs, or some $6000 less than a RAV4 that it shares so much with, mechanically speaking, and even at the top-spec SL level, you’re still not spending even $60,000 once on-road costs are included. Every Camry uses a 170kW 2.5-litre hybrid drivetrain that uses just 4.0L/100km on the combined cycle. That economy in a large, comfortable sedan? That’s incredible, and we think you’d be mad to consider an equivalent SUV over one.

Kia Carnival Hybrid

3

Price: From $56,310 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: 180kW/366Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, six-speed auto, front-wheel drive
Combined fuel consumption: 5.8L/100km

Although there’s been some recent action from new brands to our shores in higher price points, affordable people mover options on the new car market have significantly dwindled compared to, say, the early 2000s. In fact, the Kia Carnival is easily the biggest-selling people mover and sells in strong numbers locally, and while it also offers a diesel option, the hybrid is a great drivetrain choice.

The Carnival hasn’t been the most successful people mover in Australia by accident – it’s earned that position thanks to its good value for money, huge cabin space, comfortable driving experience and good fuel economy. Prices start at $56,310 plus on-road costs for the 180kW 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid engine, which is rated at just 5.8L/100km on the combined cycle, and it’s a great SUV alternative thanks to its space and seating for eight.

Skoda Superb Select PHEV

3

Price: From $66,990 driveaway
Drivetrain: 150kW/330Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid, six-speed dual-clutch, front-wheel drive
Claimed electric driving range: 125km (WLTP)
Combined fuel consumption: 1.4L/100km

The current-generation Skoda Superb launched in Australia with a 195kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine in sporty Sportline spec, but the brand has also just added a cheaper new Select plug-in hybrid model to the lineup. Priced from $66,990 driveaway, the Superb Select PHEV uses a 150kW 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid drivetrain with a 25.7kWh battery that’s rated at a long 125km of WLTP range.

Because of that long range, the Superb Select is rated at just 1.4L/100km on the combined cycle, and unlike some other PHEVs, it can be DC fast charged so that you’re spending less time charging and more time enjoying is comfortable driving experience, excellent build quality and spacious cabin. The Superb is known for a massive boot, and the Select is no different – despite the PHEV battery robbing some space, it still offers 510 litres with the rear seats up and a cavernous 1770 litres with them folded. That alone makes it a compelling choice against a hybrid SUV.

BYD Seal 6

3

Price: From $34,990 plus on-road costs (sedan), $39,990 plus on-road costs (wagon)
Drivetrain: 130kW (sedan)/163kW (wagon) 1.5-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid, single-speed transmission, front-wheel drive
Claimed electric driving range: 55km (WLTP – sedan), 100km (WLTP – wagon)
Combined fuel consumption: 1.1L/100km (sedan), 0.8L/100km (wagon)

BYD’s Seal 6 is the newest kid on the block on this page, having only just launched in Australia. But unlike the Seal electric sedan, the Seal 6 is a plug-in hybrid and also available in either sedan or – in a first for the brand locally – wagon bodystyles. Pricing starts at just $34,990 plus on-road costs for the Essential sedan, making it one of the cheapest PHEVs available locally, while the Premium wagon – which is better equipped, more powerful and offers a longer EV range, making it the pick of the range – is $5000 dearer at $39,990 plus on-road costs.

Both Seal 6 variants use a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with an electric motor, with the sedan making 130kW of power and the wagon 163kW. Thanks to a larger 19kWh battery (versus 10.1kWh in the sedan), the wagon is capable of a WLTP-rated range of 100km, a combined fuel consumption of just 0.8L/100km and a total driving range of more than 1000km. Furthermore, its body is practical and spacious, while its 670-litre boot opens up to 1535 litres with the rear seats folded.

Honda Accord e:HEV RS

3

Price: From $64,900 driveaway
Drivetrain: 152kW/335Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid, e-CVT automatic, front-wheel drive
Combined fuel consumption: 4.3L/100km

Rounding up the best hybrid family cars you can buy that aren’t SUVs is the Honda Accord, which recently celebrated its 50th year in production. As it’s always been, the Accord is a spacious, practical, well equipped, good quality and reliable mid-sizer that deserves attention. Just a single model is available in Australia, the e:HEV RS, which is priced from $64,900 driveaway.

That means that it’s not cheap, but it’s very well equipped and it’s also great to drive. Its 2.0-litre hybrid drivetrain makes a reasonable 152kW of power but, crucially for this page, is rated at just 4.3L/100km on the combined cycle. Its 570-litre boot is huge for a mid-size sedan too, meaning that you can fit quite a lot in, while cabin space is impressive too. As with Toyota and its RAV4 and Camry, the excellent top-spec Honda CR-V SUV is priced around the same as the Accord, but we’d choose the latter every time.