Hybrid cars are becoming more and more prevalent, with the focus being shifted from just fuel efficiency to aiding in performance and torque as well. Hybrid cars such as the Volvo S60 Recharge feature a ridiculous combined horsepower of 455 horsepower, while others such as the Toyota Prius have evolved from the ugly duckling into a car that is actually fun to drive and looks good doing it.
While you may think that these hybrid cars will have poor fuel efficiency due to the amount of power and torque they put out, well - you'd be wrong. Some of these cars listed are able to achieve over 100 combined MPGe and still provide great performance at the same time. Others, such as the S60 Recharge will be closer to 70 MPGe, which is still much better than non-hybrid cars offering nearly 500 horses.
By gathering information from automakers, official press releases, and Edmunds, we've compiled a list of 10 of the fastest sleeper hybrid cars.
1 Volvo S60 Recharge
455 Horsepower
The Volvo S60 Recharge is a front-engine, rear-motor four-door PHEV. It features a turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine with "E-Boost", having a combined horsepower of 455 and 523 combined pound-feet of torque. If you're wondering how fuel-efficient this car is, it gets 74 MPG combined, or 30 MPG when only using the gasoline engine.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 4.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 114 MPH |
| Weight | 4,425 pounds |
| Horsepower | 455 HP |
| Torque | 523 pound-feet |
All-wheel drive is standard on the S60 Recharge, which means you can expect incredible acceleration when paired with the 523 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged and supercharged engine, when paired with the hybrid E-boost system, had this car positioned in the top spot for the title of fastest Volvo ever until the Volvo EX30 came out and snatched the title.
2 Volvo S90 Recharge
455 Horsepower
The Volvo S90 Recharge is similar to the S60 in that it has the same 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder drivetrain paired with the plug-in hybrid system. All-wheel drive is standard, just like the S60 Recharge. With the weight being just over 200 pounds heavier than the S60 Recharge, you'll see a slower 0-60 time by less than half of a second.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 4.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 112 MPH |
| Weight | 4,628 pounds |
| Horsepower | 455 HP |
| Torque | 523 pound-feet |
With roughly a 7-inch longer wheelbase and just under an inch more track width, you may notice subtle differences in the handling of the S90 Recharge when compared to that of the S60 Recharge. The fuel efficiency is nearly the same until you add the hybrid system to the mix, causing the S90 Recharge (66MPGe) to have just under 10 MPGe less than the S60 Recharge (74 MPGe).
3 Lexus LS 500h
354 Horsepower
The Lexus LS 500h is a front-engine, all-wheel drive four-door sedan. It has a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine with electric assist using a lithium-ion battery - making 416 horsepower on 91-octane fuel. The engine utilizes technology from Formula One Racing engines such as straight intake ports, a longer stroke, and laser-clad intake valve seats.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 4.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 140 MPH |
| Weight | 5,129 pounds |
| Horsepower | 416 HP |
| Torque | 442 pound-feet |
Apart from the powerful engine and modern technology, the LS 500h also has a 10-speed transmission that can be manually shifted with paddle shifters. The electronically controlled Adaptive Variable Air Suspension system comes standard on this hybrid car, which helps lower the center of gravity when driving or raise the vehicle when parked to help get in and out of the vehicle.
4 Toyota Crown
340 Horsepower
The Toyota Crown is a sedan that was made available in 2023 to replace the Toyota Avalon. It features a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with Toyota's Hybrid Max system that provides 29 MPG in city driving and 32 MPG on the highway. All-wheel drive is standard on the Toyota Crown, and the suspension is raised, making the car sit higher than a Toyota Avalon.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 5.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 129 MPH |
| Weight | 4,338 pounds |
| Horsepower | 340 HP |
| Torque | 400 pound-feet |
With the platinum model, you also get 21-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, and an upgraded park assist system. The interior is luxurious and more premium than you'll see in the previous Avalon. The higher ride height has comfort more akin to that of an SUV than a sedan. However, all of these great features come with a cost - you can expect to pay around $53,445 for the platinum.
5 Mazda CX-90
323 Horsepower
The Mazda CX-90 is a front engine, front motor, all-wheel drive wagon. It has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with one AC motor to put out a combined horsepower of over 300. As for fuel efficiency, you'll see 24 MPG in city driving and 27 MPG on the highway. The combined fuel mileage is 56 MPGe while the fully-electric range is 25 miles.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 5.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | Limited to 118 MPH |
| Weight | 5,236 pounds |
| Horsepower | 323 HP |
| Torque | 369 pound-feet |
For being a seven-passenger vehicle, this hybrid car has great performance that is comparable to that of its turbocharged inline-six sibling. Unlike some of the other hybrid cars on this list, the CX-90 gains most of its power from the 173 horsepower AC motor, with the gasoline-powered four-cylinder only putting out 189 horsepower.
6 BMW 330e
292 Horsepower
The BMW 330e is a rear-wheel drive hybrid sedan with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The electric motor provides an additional 107 horsepower and 77 pound-feet of torque, giving the car super-quick acceleration while the light weight aids in saving energy. With the 330e, you can expect 27 MPG combined city and highway, or 45 MPGe combined.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | Five seconds |
| Top Speed | 143 MPH |
| Weight | 4,039 pounds |
| Horsepower | 288 HP |
| Torque | 310 pound-feet |
Apart from the added performance, the hybrid system is able to drive the car for 23 miles before the gasoline-powered engine is required to start running. This gives the BMW 330e a total range of 310 miles, which is 50 miles more than the standard non-hybrid 3-series. When using a Level 2 charger, you can expect the battery to recharge in around 3 hours, or if using a standard wall charger, you'll need to keep it plugged in overnight.
7 MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid
221 Horsepower
The MINI Countryman Hybrid features a 1.5-liter Turbo three-cylinder TwinPower engine paired with an electric motor to produce 221 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque making this peppy little hybrid super fun. It has a six-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive which gives the same nimble handling characteristics as the non-hybrid MINIs.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 7.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 140 MPH |
| Weight | 3,986 pounds |
| Horsepower | 221 horsepower |
| Torque | 284 pound-feet |
With a charge time of 2.5 hours, multiple trim options, and a great-looking interior - this hybrid has features that are bound to please, no matter your preferences. The fuel efficiency is great, too, with it getting 29 MPG combined city and highway driving, or 73 MPGe combined city and highway when the hybrid system is engaged.
8 Toyota Prius Prime
220 Horsepower
The Toyota Prius has garnered a huge amount of love and hate over the years, but rest assured - the Prius Prime is a different animal. This car barely shares any similarities with the older versions of the Prius in terms of aesthetics. A new streamlined, sporty-looking exterior has replaced the rather unattractive older shell.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 6.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 112 MPH |
| Weight | 3,536 pounds |
| Horsepower | 220 HP |
| Torque | 139 pound-feet |
On top of the exterior changes, the Prius Prime was given a completely upgraded powertrain, when compared to the previous Prius'. The Prius Prime features a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four engine, while also having two AC motors, one with 161 horsepower and the other with 94. This makes the new Prius Prime not only fast-looking - but also fast-going.
9 Toyota Camry Hybrid
208 Horsepower
The Toyota Camry hybrid is a sleek, well-designed car that provides amazing fuel efficiency while also having enough power to get up and go when you need to. Using Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, a system that has been improving for 16 years, the Camry Hybrid is able to achieve a 46 MPG combined fuel economy rating.
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 7.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 135 MPH |
| Weight | 3,480 pounds |
| Horsepower | 208 HP |
| Torque | 149 pound-feet |
Apart from the good performance and high MPG numbers, this car sports a luxury-like interior that is reminiscent of a Lexus. Sport-tuned suspension as well as multiple different drive modes such as EV, ECO, and SPORT allow for a fun experience while you save gas at the same time.
10 Toyota Prius
196 Horsepower
You may be surprised to see the Toyota Prius on this list, however, just like the Prius Prime, this car also features a beefier powertrain. You have the option of a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with the all-wheel drive model getting an upgraded rear motor that amounts to two more horsepower (196 horses versus 194 horses).
Performance
| 0-60 MPH | 7.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 115 MPH |
| Weight | 3,230 pounds |
| Horsepower | 196 HP |
| Torque | 139 pound-feet |
The same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine featured in the Prius Prime is seen here, while also using two AC motors. The Prius has a fuel efficiency rating of 57 MPG in city driving, and 56 MPG on the highway. The performance numbers have also risen significantly, with the 0 to 60 times being over three seconds faster than the previous year's Prius.