We'll start this chart with one of the most proven and oldest hybrid versions on this list, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid. This small city car was first switched partially to electric in 2012, when it was one of the only tiny cars to feature a battery that can be used at slower speeds. These days, it's difficult to find a vehicle that doesn't have a hybrid power train, but back then, it was a big deal.

But why is the Yaris ideal for the city? It's a small car, without sacrificing too much on the space side of things, especially for the passengers in the back or the boot. You can store as much as 286 liters in terms of volume, which is pretty decent, considering how little the car is, whichâ is useful on a longer trip, as well, thanks to the 1.5 liter gasoline-powered engine. It's naturally aspirated and it is a Toyota, so being left stranded on the road is probably not going to happen with this one.

Two alternatives, if you want a larger car, is the Yaris Cross and its fancier brother for the ballers out there, the Lexus LBX. These are city-oriented SUVs that are larger, but still suitable for narrow streets. They sport the same power train and similar fuel economy, while being better suited for longer trips, especially if a little bit of off-roading is required.

At 22.000 euros in Romania, the hybrid version of the Yaris isn't going to break the bank, but it will offer a reliable experience, with exceptional fuel economy (3.9 liters/100 km claimed) and an easy to maneuver car.

A cheaper hybrid for the city

If you don't quite have over 22.000 euros to spend on a hybrid, you can opt for something a bit cheaper and with a more balanced engine combination, for that matter. The Renault Clio E-Tech Hybrid 140 is a fairly recent addition on this market. It is a bit larger than the Yaris, but that comes with more space in the back for passengers and better boot capacity, as well, at 390 liters.

Furthermore, the engine combo packs more of a punch here, with a 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engine giving you as much as 140 horsepower combined with the electric motor. The fuel consumption goes a bit higher, though, at 4.2 liters/100 km, but that power has to come from somewhere, after all.

Still, the Clio can be a great contender, starting at 20.900 euros for the hybrid version, which can be good even for longer trips and vacations. The reliability will definitely not rival the Yaris, which is made by a legendary brand in this aspect, but the design and increase in size might be more appealing for some people.

If you have a bit more money and fancy something with even more space or higher quality materials, while still being suitable for city environments, the Volkswagen Gold recently received a new version, that packs a mild hybrid configuration.

Now I'm personally not a big fan of the mild hybrid configurations, as they are a bit confusion to me. They don't allow you to drive the vehicle using only the electric motor, which always has to be backed by the combustion one (except when you are parking at very slow speeds), making it not much of an emissions or fuel saver, in the end.

Anyways, the cheapest mild hybrid Golf costs a little over 25.000 euros here in Romania and it features a 1.5 eTSI gasoline engine with 4 cylinders and 115 HP. The next step up is named the same, but it's almost 3.000 euros more, because it ups the gasoline engine to 150 HP.

But you want a hybrid, not a mild hybrid. I hear you! The Golf comes as a plug-in hybrid, as well, but you will have to make sure to keep it charged yourself, because unlike a full hybrid, it won't charge the batteries from the combustion engine. The advantage, however, is that the range is longer in pure electric mode and the car can go to higher top speed limits in that mode.

However, the starting price of the Golf PHEV starts at almost 40.000 euros, so affordable it is not, but it brings the total system power to 204 HP. The boot space in the Golf is smaller than the Clio, at 381, but it's still decent and the comfort should definitely be improved here, helping with longer trips.

One more from Japan

Do you like jazz? I do, but it's not about the music genre here, but rather, the Honda Jazz. Honda is one of the Japanese carmakers that is also known for reliability, although maybe not quite as much as Toyota, but also for the sportiness of their cars.

Starting at shy under 27.000 euros, the Jazz isn't cheap, Honda charges a bit of a premium in general, but it feels nicer than the Yaris. It's just a very tiny bit larger, but comes with a 1.5 liter, 4 cylinder engine that produces a total system power of 122 HP, so not much more than the Toyota counterpart, but the space inside is more generous here, plus the boot is 304 liters, so a little bit larger, as well. The Jazz is definitely more suitable for longer trips, with a more balanced engine and more space, but it still fits the small streets like a champion.

The fuel consumption is 4.7 liters per 100 kilometers on average, so higher than the Yaris, but that's probably because the Honda has a bit more power and one more cylinder, as well as a bit more heft to it.

These are some of our picks for the best small hybrid cars that can fit the bill in the city, while wouldn't embarrass you on a vacation with your family. There are others, as well, and more will be added on the market, as well, so make sure to research what your favorite carmaker has to offer in this segment.