Best budget hybrid bikes 2023 – Get out and ride for less

The best budget hybrid bikes are an affordable option for the commuter and leisure rider, offering versatility without a big price tag. They offer many of the features of the best commuter bikes, often being part of the same family as pricier models of the best hybrid bikes, just with a spec that's chosen to hit a lower price.

While the best road bikes and the best gravel bikes are designed for specific types of riding and include drop bars, which some riders may not feel comfortable with, the best budget hybrid bikes are usually all-rounders. 

You can expect wide tyre clearance, so you can head off-road or just fit sturdy tyres for city riding, as well as mudguards/fenders and usually a rear rack for all-weather riding. You may also want to look at the best bike lights, the best flat road bike pedals or the best road bike tyres to complete your set-up. 

When choosing the best budget hybrid bikes, we set a budget of around £800 / $1000 and tested bikes that offer a range of different characteristics to suit those looking for a commuter ride, a fitness bike, an urban cruiser or perhaps something with scope to explore off the beaten track. 

We took them out for rides on varied routes in varied conditions, comparing them to each other and other bikes we have ridden to see how they performed in terms of comfort, stability, handling and responsiveness as well as comparing their technical specifications such as weight, gearing and frame build. 

In case you want a little more help deciding what suits your needs, we have answered a few common questions on how to choose the best budget hybrid bike for your needs at the end of the article.

Best budget hybrid bikes: quick view

The best budget hybrid bikes available today

All-terrain adventurer

The Ribble Hybrid Trail AL is a bike that's not afraid to get stuck in when the going gets rough. Perfectly suitable as a commuter bike that rolls smoothly over the tarmac and has a nippy enough acceleration about town, but what marks it out from some of its competitors is how comfortable it is veering off the beaten track.

Ribble offers three different versions of the Hybrid Trail AL – plus the ability to customise your own – all pairing a reasonably lightweight (1680g) 6061 aluminium frame with a suspension fork to give it more versatility.  

The middle-tier version that fell perfectly into our budget was the Enthusiast 2.0, which comes with a 1x11 SRAM NX drivetrain and 50mm-travel Suntour NEX-E25 fork, and we were immediately impressed with the smoothness of the ride. It's not quite as fast as others on this list, but it by no means has the sluggish feel of a mountain bike on the road. With the addition of Level ergonomic handlebar grips – a small detail that can make a huge difference to the comfort on a hybrid – the relaxed riding position made for supreme comfort, even on a three-hour ride. 

As we ventured further into the countryside, we had no problem riding straight over small potholes or drain covers. Emboldened, we took it on a gravelly climb that we wouldn't dream of taking a road bike on and would even consider a little risqué for our usual rigid-frame hybrid. The Hybrid Trail AL did not disappoint, even when the going got steep. Thanks to the massive 11-42T cassette and 32T chainring, we felt we were more likely to run out of grip before we ran out of gears – something that would be easily fixed with a chunkier set of tyres than the 40mm Schwalbe G-One Speed tyres it is fitted with (clearance allows for 45mm).

On the way down, the Hybrid Trail AL was equally as impressive. Descending these routes on our road bike, we would always have to be extra-vigilant to pick the right line between the ruts and bursts of gravel, but the Ribble allowed us to be more relaxed, letting go a little more while the Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc brakes performed with great reliability when required.

Read about how I got on when I tackled my local mountain bike climb on the Ribble Hybrid AL Trail.

Most versatile budget hybrid bike

The Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped really does its best to answer all the questions asked of it in an effort to be the bike that does it all. Built around Trek's excellent Alpha Gold Aluminium frame, as the 'Equipped' name suggests, it comes fully equipped with lights, fenders, a very solid pannier rack and even a kickstand.  

Despite all these trimmings, we found the frame to be responsive when needed, but also extremely compliant in the right places, resulting in a smooth ride on bumpy road surfaces without the need to avoid small potholes and drain covers. It performed equally as well on bike paths and light gravel, all with just 32-inch tyres, and was certainly one of the more versatile frames we came across in our efforts to find the best budget hybrid bikes. 

The handling felt really reliable and the bike had a great balance to it, even when loaded up with a small bag on the pannier rack, making it comfortable for long rides. It is also very solid. The pannier rack is well built and Trek claims the bike can take weights of up to 136kg (for bike, rider and cargo combined), which fares well compared to others in this guide – for example, the max weight for the Merida Speeder is 120kg, and the more workmanlike Scott Sub Cross is 128kg.

It certainly ticks many boxes for bikepacking, commuting, long-distance rides, riding at night and – although we didn't get the chance to test in anything but the dry this summer – more inclement weather. It does come with ergonomic handlebar grips but we found them to be less comfortable than our favourites on the Ribble Hybrid AL Trail.  

While not immediately set up as a fitness bike, the FX range is in fact Trek's answer to the fitness hybrid bike. Stripped down without the rack, lights, fenders and kickstand, the FX 2 Disc weighs in at a more reasonable 11.73kg and, while that still makes it much heavier than the likes of the Boardman URB 8.9 or Merida Speeder 200, it is on a par with the Cannondale Quick 3, which is probably a much better direct comparison.

Like the Quick, its drivetrain is a mix of Shimano Acera/Altus components in a 2x9 set-up, and both bikes have integrated mounting systems in the stem to make it easier to attach computers or mobile phones – in Trek's case, the Blendr system, which requires additional mounts to be purchased. The Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped is also compatible with a DuoTrap S, which is a sensor that integrates into the chainstay and wirelessly transmits to a smartphone or computer to track cadence and other metrics. This is similar to the Cannondale Quick 3's integrated Garmin wheel sensor, which also requires an additional purchase. 

Personally, we felt the shifting on the Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped to be restrictive in terms of the performance we would like to see on a fitness bike, so if that is high on the list of priorities, it might be worth paying a little more for the superior Shimano Deore drivetrain on the FX 3 Disc, which also comes with a carbon fork – and upgraded ergonomic grips. 

Unspectacular but effective, that's how I described the Trek FX 2 Disc Equipped after I spent a summer riding it. 

Low-maintenance urban cruiser

There are now a few different manufacturers making belt-driven bikes but they tend to be on the more expensive side. An affordable alternative, the Boardman URB 8.9 will appeal to those who prioritise practicality and want to spend more time pedalling, and less time tinkering. 

It is fitted with a Gates Carbon Belt Drive instead of a chain and an eight-speed Shimano Nexus internal gear hub, which Boardman claims makes the bike "almost maintenance free". Unlike a chain, the belt requires no lubrication, can be cleaned solely with water, and won't rust. The system as a whole is lighter than a traditional drivetrain, which helps to keep the Boardman URB 8.9 to a claimed weight of 10.7kg, making it the second-lightest bike in this round-up after the Merida Speeder 200 featured below (10.46kg). 

Testing the bike, it was noticeable how quiet the drivetrain is – and the shifting of the internal gear hub, with Shimano Alfine Rapidfire shifters, was pretty seamless. We were worried we were going to run out of gears but were pleasantly surprised that we had enough for medium-difficulty climbs (up to about 8% gradient). It was in fact going downhill that we could have used an extra lower gear, but that is certainly preferable to being one short on the way up. It's obviously not a bike for serious climbers but I did feel it had more to offer than just being a glorified town bike. 

It doesn't quite reach the status of 'flat-bar road bike' like the Merida but when we strapped on some SPD pedals and took it up one climb that had sections over 12%, its stiff, light frame allowed us to power to the top. That certainly felt like it was pushing its limits, but we wouldn't rule the URB 8.9 out as an option for a fitness bike for largely flat or slightly lumpy terrain. 

The Shimano MT-201 hydraulic disc brakes are a step up from the mainly Tektro offerings among the other bikes in this guide, especially in terms of modulated braking, and the wheelset is surprisingly aero, with 35mm-deep rims. In fact, the URB 8.9, which has a tapered carbon fork, is perhaps the raciest-looking among the best budget hybrid bikes we came across, even more so than the Merida Speeder. 

It backs that up with its performance too. In terms of acceleration and responsiveness, it was the outright leader and even reminded us of BMC's Alpenchallenge range, which are considered some of the fastest aluminium-framed hybrids available and retail at a much higher price (the eight-speed, belt-driven Alpenchallenge 01 One with alloy frame and carbon fork costs close to twice as much). 

The downside was that the stiff frame did lack comfort at times – and this is where you see – or feel – a marked difference from the likes of the Alpenchallenge. It was fine when taken on very light gravel but we felt the vibrations from any cobbles, potholes or generally uneven road surface far more than we would have liked to. It came with 700x32mm tyres and there was room to go bigger to reduce the effect of this, but it did not seem like a bike that would ever be comfortable in the rough stuff. It does have the fixings for a pannier rack, however, boosting the URB 8.9's commuting credentials.

Want to know more? Head over to our Boardman URB 8.9 review for an even more in-depth analysis. 

Fast flat-bar road bike

The Merida Speeder 200 is clearly designed with speed in mind but, for us, it is the weight that is its defining feature and why it is worthy of consideration among the best budget hybrid bikes. 

At our chosen price point, it will be hard to find a lighter bike. The frame for the Speeder 200 uses the same 6066 aluminium that the Taiwanese-German company uses in their top-end aluminium road bikes and, paired with a carbon fork, is quoted by Merida as 10.46kg (for a size S-M without pedals). 

The Speeder 200 also has internal cable routing which – combined with hydraulic disc brakes and FSA Tempo chainset – gives it a far-from-budget look.

Unsurprisingly given its weight, we found the Speeder to be most effective when climbing. It was certainly the best of the bikes in this guide on tarmac, although we found it a little rattly on anything rough and much preferred the Ribble Hybrid AL Trail for off-road climbs. The Speeder also held its own when descending, with the tapered carbon fork giving reliable, responsive handling. 

Merida redesigned the Speeder to give it a more sporty, fitness outlook a couple of years ago and we'd certainly place it in the 'flat-bar road bike' category, so this would be a great choice for someone who likes the idea of a road bike but doesn't like the idea of drop bars. 

It can fit tyres up to 37mm – a little less with fenders – so would make a decent commuter bike as well but, while it cruised along once it got up to speed, we found it lacking in responsiveness at lower speeds compared to the Boardman URB 8.9 and even the much heavier Scott Sub Cross 50, so is not necessarily any better for a fun, zippy, urban town bike alternative. For a bike at the top end of our budget, we'd also like to see it come with ergonomic handlebar grips, like the Ribble Hybrid Trail AL, a small detail that can make a big difference on longer rides in particular.

While the Sora 2x9 gearing is a decent spec for a bike at this price point, we'd be tempted to pay a little extra for the Speeder 300 that comes with Tiagra 2x10 drivetrain, which would certainly give it a more sporty feel to match its looks.

Stylish yet reliable

Scott is a brand that exudes a bit of style and class and is certainly not associated with lower-end bikes, but the Sub Cross 50 is one of the cheapest in this round-up of the best budget hybrids and shows that you don't have to break the bank to find a decent bike.

Part of Scott's touring range, it weighs in at 13kg and comes with a steel fork and Shimano's Tourney drivetrain. None of this screams sexy on paper but when we took it out for a spin, we found it to be a really fun ride. It has a kind of urban mountain bike vibe and the frame was more responsive compared to the much lighter Merida Speeder 200 for zooming around town, through the park, up curbs (safely, of course), over drains and patches of grass or whatever else came our way.

Taking it onto unpaved roads and gravel, its long chainstay and Kenda Booster 45mm tyres gave it a great amount of comfort and stability and this is where the steel fork, although adding to its weight, offered more compliance than an aluminium alternative would. 

It has the fixings for a pannier rack and felt very solid and reliable – with hydraulic disc brakes even at such a low price point – so would make a great option for a commuter bike as long as your route into work wasn't too hilly.

Responsive ride

We have tested the women's version of the Cannondale Quick 3 but the unisex model is not significantly different and the Quick range has a whole heap of different options to suit most requirements, including a 'Remixte' step-through frame. 

It is very much a fitness-oriented bike and one of the highlights of the Cannondale range of hybrids is their fitness-related perks. The Quick 3 comes with a built-in wheel sensor that allows you to connect to the Cannondale app and track your ride data, and an Intellimount stem that can hold any SP-Connect compatible phone cases and allow you to create a dashboard. It's a really great option for someone whose main motivation for riding is fitness and who wants to track metrics such as speed and mileage. 

We found the aluminium frame, paired with a carbon fork, to be stiff but comfortable allowing for easy acceleration when needed, while the handling was extremely responsive. Whether we were pootling around town or taking on longer, more testing rides, we found the Cannondale Quick 3 to be fun and functional, which is arguably what most people will be looking for in the best budget hybrid bikes. The combined Shimano Acera and Altus groupset did a good enough job and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes offered powerful and well modulated stopping.

While not as light as the Merida Speeder, the Quick is still a decent weight for this price range and its more responsive frame will likely make it a better option for urban riding. Unlike the Speeder, it can be fitted with a rear rack, so offers a bit more versatility as well. The metallic emerald green paintwork with reflective accents is also quite striking, giving it a point of difference from many of its rivals. 

Check out our Cannondale Quick 3 review for a deep dive into why it's on this list. 

Comfortable option

The Specialized Sirrus is one of the most popular fitness hybrids out there and comes in a range of different options including a full-carbon version, step-through frames, and a seven-speed offering with V-brakes for less than £500. We've looked at the Sirrus 2.0 for this guide, which is still well within our budget but comes with hydraulic disc brakes and an eight-speed Shimano drivetrain. 

Without really wowing in any particular area stats-wise, it has been put together with comfort in mind – which will be high on many people's priorities for the best budget hybrid bikes, and that's not necessarily to the detriment of performance. While not the fastest or lightest ride in this list, it doesn't fall down hugely on any of those metrics. We've found the Sirrus to be a responsive, smooth-rolling ride that will climb when it needs to, within reason. That it arguably performs beyond the level its stats suggest is largely to do with that comfort focus. 

As well as the upright frame geometry, Specialized puts great stock in its 'body-geometry-tested touchpoints' which in this case largely come down to a focus on the interaction with the rider and saddle, but also extends to fitting the bike with contoured grips that reduce hand numbness and fatigue. We found these grips to be among the best and the higher-end models also include integrated bar-ends to assist with climbing. Grips are a reasonably cheap retrofit but it's nice to have them considered alongside the design of the bike and, with fewer hand positions available to the rider on a flat-barred hybrid compared with a road bike, are an important element often overlooked.

A steel fork adds to the overall weight of the Sirrus 2.0 but also adds to the comfort and the dropped chainstays at the rear promote a bit of flex at the seat cluster to take the edge off of square hits, while there is room to fit tyres up to 42mm to absorb even more shock.

The drivetrain options on the Sirrus 2.0 aren't the most impressive. The version we looked at has a mixture of Shimano Acera, Altus and Tourney, while there is also a Microshift option. If that is a turn-off, it might be worth looking at the Sirrus X 3.0, a more gravel-focused hybrid that comes with the impressive 10-speed Shimano Deore groupset in a single-chainring setup.

How to choose the best budget hybrid bike for you

There are a few other things to think about when choosing the best budget hybrid bike for your needs, not just the price. Here, we'll run through some considerations when choosing.