Mild Hybrid (MHEV)

A mild hybrid is essentially a petrol car with a small electrical helper. A compact battery and motor assist the engine, smooth out stop-start, and recover a little energy when braking, but the car can never drive on electricity alone.

The gain is modest but free to the driver: slightly better fuel economy and a smoother feel, with no change to how you use the car. You fuel it like any petrol model and never think about charging.

Compared with a full hybrid it does less — there is no meaningful electric-only running — so the efficiency improvement is smaller. It is best thought of as a refined petrol car rather than a true electrified one.

For a renter there is almost nothing to learn or plan: drive and fuel it exactly like a conventional car, and simply enjoy the small bump in economy that the mild-hybrid system quietly provides.