Best hybrid bikes 2023 — the affordable bike genre that offers both comfort and versatility

The Specialized Sirrus has been a very popular hybrid for many years now, and for good reason too. It's reliable, comfortable, looks good and rides very well. The new X 3.0 model is no exception to this. It’s a really brilliant do-it-all hybrid that is just as happy around town as it is on the byways according to our reviewer, therefore making it a worthy taker of our best overall hybrid bike. 

While riding along the road or other tarmac surfaces, the Sirrus X cruises along well. Even though this particular model features a single chainring on the front, the lower gears that the casette produce help you to accelerate with ease, making nipping away from traffic lights or junctions easy. Moreso, the quick handling allows for effortless change of direction, such as when manoeuvring around street furniture or traffic. Not to mention that the brakes this bike is built with are also fantastic, which if used while riding to work or around unpredictable road/bike path users, is definitely worth having.

Altogether, the Specialized Sirrus X 3.0 really is a great hybrid for those wanting something that can do it all, be it the ride to work, riding with your family at the weekend or exploring the countryside. Then take into consideration that it could be yours for as little as £629.99, and it’s a very appealing option. A great versatile hybrid from a big name like Specialized, for a very reasonable price.

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The Crossway 300 from Merida has a suspension fork and seatpost, plus a triple crankset with a huge gearing range. It's not exactly light at 14kg, but if you want something practical and comfortable for nipping about town it's well worth your consideration. 

Our reviewer said that while this isn't the most 'fun' bike, it is solid, reassuring, wholesome, and friendly – exactly what you want it to be. The riding position is quite upright, and if you want to make it more or less so you can even alter the angle of the stem. The deep-treader tyres are most at home on tarmac but are also ripe for light trails, too. 

The Crossway 300 doesn't come equipped with practical extras such as mudguards, lights and racks, but there are plenty of mounting points to fit your own; there's even a mounting point under the top tube for a Dutch-style lock. Go for this if you want an attractive town bike that you can add accessories to yourself. 

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If the best handmade hybrid is what you are looking for, then look no further. The Model 1E from Oxford Bike Works is a handbuilt steel hybrid which is made from a full personalised fitting service at its headquarters in Coventry. This bike offers high quality componentry on a very high quality frame with added accessories such as mudguards. Not to mention, this hybrid also looks very quirky and somewhat vintage. It really would make the perfect shopper or hybrid to commute into work on, at your own leisurely pace. 

The most obvious quality of the 1E is that it's comfortable. The ride this bike produces is both smooth and forgiving regardless of the terrain you happen to be riding over. Be it tarmac, rough country roads or even canal towpaths, discomfort is no issue. The bike is more than 13kg, which isn’t particularly light but given the level of comfort offered, the weight isn't an issue. It’s still smooth to ride along the flat and a confident descender, offering grip from the tyres coupled with decent braking abilities.

All in all, the Oxford Bike Works Model 1E is a really excellent handmade bike that offers personalisation with regards to geometry and very high levels of comfort thanks to the steel it is made from. It may seem a little pricier, but for something handmade and steel, the pricing is actually rather reasonable. This would therefore make a great leisure bike to go out and explore on, or a quirky commuter.

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The Merida Speeder 200 is a flat-barred road bike that's claimed to be sporty and fast, but also comfortable. It offers good specification for the money, coming fitted with hydraulic disc brakes on a stiff and well-finished aluminium frame with tapered carbon forks. Only weighing a very impressive 10,570g, this bike is light for a hybrid, thus it gets to take the title of the best lightweight hybrid.

Offering a dynamic, controlled ride, the Speeder 200 is without a doubt at home on fleet-footed fitness rides and urban or suburban commutes. Riding along flat terrain with total ease, regardless of the pace you choose, and tackling hills confidently. This bike performs while both ascending and descending. Although not a full blown road bike, you can still hit sweeping bends while descending at speed with pinpoint steering accuracy thanks to the stiff frameset. 

Overall, this hybrid is a really great lightweight option. It’s not posh road bike light but as far as hybrids go, this is impressive, especially for the price. Therefore, if you were wanting a hybrid that is lightweight and more geared towards riding on tarmac, this is undoubtedly a superb option. 

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The Dawes Discovery 201 is a very affordable and comfortable hybrid. It combines a lively compact aluminium frame with a user-friendly single Shimano chainring at the front to create what we're calling the best budget hybrid. 

With regards to power transfer, the Discovery 201 does not compromise, offering a positive power delivery to make commuting much more effortless and enjoyable; even on a budget. It's also happy at a cruising pace, offering excellent comfort and a great overall ride quality. The direct front end also combines well with good overall balance to help ensure handling is easy, even in wet conditions. Weaving through traffic is also no issue for the Dawes.

Overall the Dawes Discovery 201 is a nice all-round option for leisure riding and commuting that is very wallet-friendly in price with an RRP of only £369.99. This hybrid really does just prove that price isn't always an indication of performance.

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Although this bike got a 10/10 from our reviewer who was utterly blown away at the time, we've come to realise that the unique Goldhawk Rodax is a rather rare beast, and perhaps not everyone would share the same amount of love for it. Even so, it had to make our list because we still agree that it does what it is good at very well indeed!

What you do get for your £1,495 is "a perfect handmade urban speed machine", so said our very impressed reviewer. It's a very simple and fun urban hybrid that would be a joyous ride for anyone looking for a speedy bike that is fairly straightforward to maintain. 

Steel bikes might not be as instantly reactive in comparison to aluminium, but for a versatile bike that you ride on a daily basis, it's hard to beat. In this case, the insulating qualities that are offered by the steel frame deal very effectively with lumps and bumps in the road, according to our reviewer. 

The Rodax was also found to be very responsive under power, making stop start commutes due to traffic lights all the more easier. While 1500 big ones for a commuter that won't really be suitable for riding off-road might be a little steep for a lot of us, it's one to consider if you're after a fast commuter to whip through the traffic.

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