What is a hybrid car? Mild hybrid, full hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric compared
A hybrid car uses a petrol engine together with one or more electric motors and is not charged from a socket. In a mild hybrid (48 V) the electric motor only assists; a full hybrid can drive short distances on electricity alone. In January–October 2026, 33.1% of cars sold in Türkiye were hybrids: 25.8% mild and 6.8% full hybrids. Hybrids do not benefit from the ÖTV (special consumption tax) and MTV (motor vehicle tax) discounts for electric cars.
By: Şarj Rehberim · Updated: · 6 min read
Short answer
A hybrid (HEV) is a car that uses a petrol engine together with one or more electric motors and is not charged externally. Its small battery charges while braking and while the engine is running. The aim is to lower fuel consumption; unlike an electric car, it does not cover long distances on electricity alone.
Most hybrids sold in Türkiye are mild hybrids: in January–October 2026, 178,634 mild hybrids, 46,822 full hybrids and 3,791 plug-in hybrids were sold.
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): ODMD (Automotive Distributors' and Mobility Association) press release, 3 November 2026
Mild hybrid, full hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric
According to the US Department of Energy, a mild hybrid cannot move the car on electricity alone; the electric motor assists the petrol engine when pulling away and accelerating. Some 48 V systems (for example the 21 kW system in the Peugeot 2008 and 408) can cover very short distances on electricity when manoeuvring. A full hybrid, by contrast, often drives on electricity alone at low speeds in town; according to Toyota's Corolla technical specification, the 1.8 hybrid has a battery of about 0.75 kWh and a 53 kW electric motor.
| Mild hybrid (MHEV) | Full hybrid (HEV) | Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | Electric (BEV) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charging from a socket | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | Very small (48 V; e.g. 0.9 kWh gross) | Small (e.g. 0.75–1.4 kWh) | Medium (usually 10–25 kWh) | Large (40–120 kWh) |
| Electric-only driving | Mostly none | Short distances, low speed | Usually 50–100 km | Always |
| Market share, January–October 2026 | 25.8% | 6.8% | 0.5% | 19.6% |
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): US Department of Energy (AFDC): hybrid electric vehicles · Stellantis Türkiye: Peugeot 408 and 2008 48 V hybrid · Toyota UK: Corolla technical specifications
How much fuel does a hybrid really use?
In ADAC's Ecotest, the Toyota Corolla 2.0 Hybrid averaged 5.3 l/100 km (4.3 in town, 6.9 on the motorway); the 1.8 Hybrid averaged 5.0, and 3.6 l/100 km in town alone. A full hybrid's advantage shows most in stop-and-go traffic and least on the motorway.
According to European data compiled by the ICCT from cars' on-board fuel consumption meters, the real-world CO2 emissions of petrol, mild hybrid and full hybrid cars are on average 19% higher than the official figure; for plug-in hybrids the gap is 401%.
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): ADAC: Toyota Corolla 2.0 Hybrid · ICCT: real-world CO2 values in Europe
ÖTV and MTV on hybrid cars
A hybrid-specific ÖTV advantage exists only for cars with a 1601–1800 cm³ engine and an electric motor stronger than 50 kW; these pay 70–80% instead of the 150–170% rate for petrol cars of the same engine size. Hybrids up to 1600 cm³ are taxed at the same rates as petrol cars; only plug-in hybrids with at least 70 km of electric range and CO2 emissions below 25 g/km have separate, lower rates. In MTV, the 25% rule applies only to fully electric cars; hybrids pay full MTV like petrol cars.
| Engine size | ÖTV for hybrids |
|---|---|
| Up to 1400 cm³ | Same as petrol: 70–90% |
| 1401–1600 cm³ | Same as petrol: 75–100% |
| 1601–1800 cm³, electric motor above 50 kW | 70% up to a base of 1,250,000 TL, 80% above |
| 1601–2000 cm³, others (including mild hybrids) | 150–170% |
Sources (as of 3 November 2026): Revenue Administration: List (II), 31.07.2026 · MTV Law No. 197, art. 5 (Revenue Administration)
Hybrid or electric?
- If you can charge at home or at work, go electric: energy costs are markedly lower, ÖTV starts from 25% and MTV is a quarter.
- If you cannot charge and drive a lot in town, go for a full hybrid: it saves fuel in stop-and-go traffic without needing a socket.
- If you drive mostly on the motorway, the hybrid's advantage shrinks; a mild hybrid's savings are limited compared with a full hybrid.
- A plug-in hybrid only makes sense if it is charged regularly; the details are in our plug-in hybrid guide.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a hybrid car?
- A car that uses a petrol engine together with one or more electric motors and is not charged from a socket; its battery charges while braking and while the engine is running.
- What is the difference between a mild hybrid and a full hybrid?
- In a mild hybrid (48 V) the electric motor mostly only assists; a full hybrid can drive short distances on electricity alone at low speeds in town, and its fuel savings are larger.
- Can you charge a hybrid car?
- No. Mild and full hybrids are not charged from a socket; only plug-in hybrids and electric cars are.
- Do hybrid cars get an ÖTV discount?
- Only hybrids with a 1601–1800 cm³ engine and an electric motor stronger than 50 kW; their ÖTV is 70–80%. Hybrids up to 1600 cm³ are taxed at the same rate as petrol cars.