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In this article, I will take a look at some of the best electric hybrid bikes available for under £3000 in 2023. The list below includes a mixture of hybrid e-bikes in the £2000-£3000 price bracket. You can expect an e-bike with a premium-brand motor, decent battery, excellent build quality, and a 2-year warranty in this price range.
Unfortunately, there is no real innovation or new technology in the sub-£3000 price bracket this year. All the new tech seems to have been reserved for the more expensive models. This new technology will likely trickle down in the next couple of years.
What is an Electric Hybrid Bike?
Hybrid electric bikes bridge the gap between a full-on mountain bike and a road bike – they offer the best of both worlds without the extremes. Electric mountain bikes are very capable off-road but heavy and can feel a bit cumbersome out on the road; e-road bikes are fast and light on the road but aren’t designed to soak up poorly surfaced country lanes and forest trails.
Versatility is the key with hybrid e-bikes. They are the kind of bike you can happily ride on the tarmac, or if you fancy going into the country to explore, you can ride on forest trails, single track and canal towpaths. Hybrids are also suitable for riding through the winter.
One of the main features of hybrid electric bikes is a more relaxed frame geometry combined with higher volume tyres and front suspension (on some models). The front suspension does add a bit of weight, and in my experience, you can ride a rigid fork hybrid off-road without any issues.
Most modern hybrid electric bikes use similar electric motors and batteries found on their mountain bike counterparts – these motors are usually softer in their power delivery and optimised for efficiency.
Because of their inherent versatility and comfort, electric hybrid bikes are usually the first choice for commuters. They fit the bill perfectly and are tough enough to handle the rigours of daily riding in all weather. Read my article featuring some of the best electric bikes for commuting.
Commonly used Electric Motors
Electric motors are designed to be more efficient and produce slightly lower torque figures because hybrid e-bikes aren’t usually ridden in the same demanding manner as mountain bikes. This doesn’t mean they lack power – I know from experience that the difference is marginal. All the bikes here use the Bosch mid-drive, Shimano Steps or x35 ebikemotion rear hub motor.
Bosch
The Bosch electric bike motor is a mid-drive, meaning it’s located centrally (in the crank) and produces power delivered to the rear wheel via the chain. This design drastically improves efficiency and means a higher torque output – very useful for climbing steep hills.
Shimano Steps
Shimano’s e-bike motor is also a crank or mid-drive motor – it works very similarly to the Bosch. My previous e-bike used the Shimano Steps E6100 motor featured on a few of the bikes below. It’s incredibly efficient while producing significant assistance even in the lowest power setting.
The Shimano Steps motor can be configured using the partner e-Tube smartphone app; there is also the e-Ride app for tracking rides and uploading to platforms like Strava. This app also supports a navigation feature. The display can also be connected via ANT+ to an external bicycle computer (compatible with Garmin models).
X35 Ebikemotion
The x35 ebikemotion system is designed to be incredibly lightweight and integrated, producing a finished e-bike that looks and rides like a regular bike. Because this system uses a small rear hub motor, there is a trade-off in performance and battery range. This is mitigated by the very light weight of the bike. The X35 is designed to complement your riding ability rather than dominate it. It’s commonly found on lightweight electric bikes, e-road bikes and electric gravel bikes.
This system doesn’t usually come with a display, but instead, a single button that controls power assist and displays battery range with a three-colour LED. A simple partner app is available that will connect your smartphone to the system and display all the info you need, plus a navigation feature.
Battery Types and Range
Bosch and Shimano typically offer batteries in three sizes: 400Wh, 500Wh and 625Wh – these batteries will give the rider a range of anything up to around 100 miles. I used to get nearly 100 miles out of the Vitus Mach E, but I only ever used ‘eco’ mode. Battery range depends on rider weight, tyre pressure, wind direction and terrain ridden on. Bosch has produced a very helpful range calculator.
The X35 ebikemotion system uses a much smaller 250Wh battery – the reason for this is neat integration into the bike’s frame and to help keep the overall weight down. It’s still possible to squeeze 50-60 miles out of a charge, but these bikes are designed more to be ridden as a regular bike with the assist only helping when the rider needs it.
The 10 Best Hybrid E-Bikes under £3000
Ribble AL e Hybrid
| Motor Type | Rear Hub Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Mahle X35 Ebikemotion |
| Battery | 252Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 11 |
The Ribble AL e hybrid is an excellent choice for the best of both worlds. I spent a lot of time riding one of these last years, and the great thing about the Ribble is you can have a regular bike and e-bike all rolled into one! Weighing in at around 14kg, the AL e isn’t much heavier than a regular hybrid bike, and it’s just as easy to ride without the assist.
I would say that the AL e is aimed more at the rider with a degree of fitness or someone who lives in a relatively flat area. The small rear hub motor provides a useful boost when climbing moderate hills, but it lacks the outright grunt of a mid-drive when climbing long, steep hills, and you will still need to put in a fair bit of effort.
This bike has mudguards, a rack and Schwalbe Marathon puncture-resistant tyres. Shimano hydraulic brakes provide assured stopping power, and gearing is SRAM 11-speed with a wide range cassette and 42t single chainring up front.
I have had the pleasure of long-term testing the Ribble AL e – Read the full review here.
Buy Now: Ribble AL e Hybrid – Fully Loaded Edition £2399
Cube Touring Hybrid One 500 (2022 model)
| Motor Type | Mid-Drive Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Bosch Active-Line Plus |
| Battery | 500Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 9 |
The Cube Touring Hybrid One 500 is another excellent electric hybrid bike. It’s probably one of the best-value bikes in its class and currently retails for just under £2500. A premium brand, Bosch-powered e-bike doesn’t get much cheaper, and there have been no compromises on build quality and components.
Check out 5 of the best car racks for electric bikes.
This bike uses Shimano 9-speed gearing and is fully equipped for daily commuting or long-distance touring. You will not find a better-equipped e-bike at this price – it has mudguards, a rack, lights and a kickstand. The icing on the cake is the excellent 3rd Generation Bosch Active Plus motor and 500Wh battery, giving a real-world range of 50-70 miles on a single charge.
Cube has produced great e-bikes for a few years, and their experience shows. The Touring Hybrid One not only looks great but performs great as well – highly recommended!
Cube Touring Hybrid One 500 – On Sale at £2199
Cube Touring Hybrid One 400 – On Sale at £2099
Vitus Mach E Urban 2022
| Motor Type | Mid-Drive Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Shimano Steps E6100 |
| Battery | 504Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 9 |
The Vitus Mach E Urban is sold exclusively through Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles and uses the excellent Shimano Steps E6100 motor with a 504Wh battery – the Mach E is based on its non-assisted stablemate, and the overall build quality is excellent.
A smooth welded 6061 alloy frame with relaxed geometry makes the Mach E a versatile mile muncher. I used to ride 70 miles in one go on mine through very hilly Cornish countryside, and it’s incredibly comfortable.
Although it doesn’t come fitted with a rack or mudguards, these can be easily added if required. Dependable Shimano 9-speed components provide gearing, and the flat-mount Shimano hydraulic brakes do a very good job of stopping. The V-Tire G-Sport all-terrain tyres are high volume 700x40c and do a great job of taking the sting out of potholes. I owned one of these for a year and covered nearly 2000 miles on it without any issues – Read my Vitus Mach E review here.
The Vitus Mach E is a great buy if you’re after a hybrid electric bike that doesn’t weigh a ton (17.8kg) and can be ridden off-road.
Currently on Sale at £1729: Vitus Mach E Urban Hybrid Electric Bike (2022 version)
Decathlon Riverside 540e
| Motor Type | Mid-Drive Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Shimano Steps E6100 |
| Battery | 418Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 10 |
When I originally looked at the Decathlon Riverside 540e, it seemed a tad overpriced at £2495. Since then, the price has come down substantially, and at its current sale price of £1999.99, it’s a very good buy.
The performance will be strong, especially for hill climbing, featuring the same Shimano Steps E6100 as the Vitus Mach E. The battery is 418Wh and should give a comfortable range of 50 miles when ridden sensibly. In addition, the 540e benefits from a high-quality Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain, which gives a good range of gears and nice shifting.
There’s a Suntour NCX SF17 suspension fork with 63mm of travel, making the Decathlon ideal for commuting or riding on canal towpaths or even light forest trails. The brakes are also good quality hydraulic Tektro TDK with 160mm discs. The tough, double-walled rims are fitted with the excellent Vittoria Terrano Dry gravel tyre, which is a great all-rounder and resistant to puncturing.
Merida ESpresso 300 EQ SE 2023
| Motor Type | Mid-Drive Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Shimano Steps E5000 |
| Battery | 418Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 9 |
The latest Merida Espresso 300 EQ SE is another excellent value hybrid e-bike with everything you’ll need for long days in the saddle. The ESpresso also uses the Shimano Steps E5000 motor with a 418Wh battery – this motor produces slightly less torque than the E6100 unit but benefits from increased efficiency.
Gearing is Shimano 9-speed with hydraulic brakes; there are also tough hybrid-specific rims with puncture-resistant Continental touring tyres. The brakes are excellent Shimano MT200 hydraulic and upfront, and there’s a Suntour NEX suspension fork for when the road gets rough.
Merida produces some quality bikes, and the Espresso 300 is no exception; the 418Wh battery should give a potential range of between 50-70 miles.
Available from Tredz: Merida eSpresso 300EQ SE Electric Hybrid Bike (2023 model)
Trek FX+ 2🆕
| Motor Type | Rear Hub Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Hyena HyDrive |
| Battery | 252Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 9 |
New for 2023, the Trek FX+ 2 hybrid electric bike is one of the lighter options available at 18kg. The Hyena HyDrive rear hub motor features an internal 250Wh battery and an optional external range extender. The assisted range in the medium power setting will be 30 miles, but more would be possible if you didn’t rely on the assist as much.
The FX+ 2 is barely indistinguishable from its non-assisted counterpart and will be an ideal option for commuters or weekend leisure rides. It also features some nice components, including Bontrager 700 x 40c tyres and Shimano Altus 9-speed gearing with Promax DSK-927 hydraulic brakes. Plus, you’ll need all the accessories, including mudguards, a pannier rack, lights and a kickstand.
The Trek FX+ 2 will be a great option if you’re looking for something a bit lighter that can be easily ridden without the assist.
Visit Trek for more information.
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0
| Motor Type | Mid-Drive Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Mahle / Specialized SL 1.1 |
| Battery | 320Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 10 |
I was immediately impressed when I first had a ride on the Specialized Vado SL 4.0 last year. It’s a fantastic, light, and elegant bike – the excellent SL 1.1 mid-drive motor is also used on their Turbo Creo SL Comp electric road bike. This bike makes you smile every time you ride it; the assist is so smooth and rewarding that it makes you feel superhuman!
The frame geometry is designed for fun, and despite its rigid fork, the Vado SL can ride on rougher terrain. I considered buying one last year, but my budget didn’t quite stretch then. The Specialized Vao SL 4.0 is also among the best lightweight electric bikes.
This e-bike made an impression on me last year, and if you’re looking for a lightweight electric hybrid bike with a decent battery range and a cracking motor, the Vado SL 4.0 is hard to beat.
Available now – On Sale at £2999
Available direct from Specialized (USA)
Scott Sub Active ERIDE 2022
| Motor Type | Mid-Drive Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Bosch Active-Line Plus |
| Battery | 500Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 9 |
Scott is another brand that has been churning out decent e-bikes for a good few years. The Scott Sub Active eRIDE is a great all-rounder. The frame has a comparatively low stand-over height, and the bike benefits from all the desired accessories like lights, mudguards and pannier rack. Plus, there are durable Schwalbe Energizer Plus tyres and Suntour NEX-E25 63mm front suspension fork.
The gearing is Shimano Alivio 9-speed, and the brakes are MT200. Power is provided by Bosch’s Active Line motor, which doesn’t produce quite as much torque as other models but is incredibly efficient – the 400Wh battery should give a potential range of 50-60 miles if ridden sensibly. At its current discounted price, the Scott Sub Active is incredibly good value for money and well worth considering.
Scott Sub Active eRide (2022) – On Sale at £2204
Giant Roam E+ GTS
| Motor Type | Mid-Drive Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Giant / Yamaha Sync Drive |
| Battery | 500Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 9 |
No article about hybrid e-bikes would be complete without a Giant and its excellent Sync-Drive motor. The Giant Roam E+ GTS is a versatile hybrid electric bike and borrows heavily from their regular Roam range of hybrids.
Yamaha makes the Sync-Drive motor in collaboration with Giant, a powerhouse of a unit. These motors are renowned for their long-term reliability and strong performance. An EnergyPak 500Wh battery provides a potential range of around 80 miles – more can be achieved if you’re frugal with the e-assist.
Gearing is Shimano Alivio 9-speed with an 11-36 cassette and 42t chainring. The rims are Giant GX03 with Crosscut 700x45c gravel tyres (tubeless ready). In addition, there are Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic brakes for good stopping power and a Suntour 63mm travel Suspension fork.
I think for the price; the Giant Roam E+ GTS is excellent value; the deal clincher with this bike is the silky smooth motor, which does reward the rider with an excellent level of assistance when climbing steep hills – one of my favourites.
Available now – Giant Roam E+ GTS £2499
Raleigh Motus Grand Tour
| Motor Type | Mid-Drive Motor |
| Motor Make / Model | Bosch Active-Line Plus |
| Battery | 500Wh |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
| Number of Gears | 9 |
Raleigh is probably one of the best-known iconic British brands. They’ve expanded their electric bike range to include some very good machines. The Raleigh Motus Grand Tour is one such bike with a good price spec.
Featuring the excellent Bosch Active Line Plus with a 500Wh battery, the Motus has a potential range of up to 100 miles, with a realistic range of 50 miles easily achievable.
The gearing is a 9-speed Shimano Alivio, the brakes are Tektro T285, and there’s an RST front suspension fork to iron out the bumps. In addition, the Motus has mudguards, lights, a pannier rack and a kickstand. It’s a good all-around package with a great motor and battery range.
Available from Sigma Sports at the discounted price of £2295
Conclusion
So there you have it, some of the best electric hybrid bikes available for under £3000. But is there a clear winner?
If having all the accessories is a big factor, you can’t beat the Cube Touring Hybrid One 500 for value and all-around ability. The model featured above is from 2022, but a new model should be available soon.
The Giant Roam E+ GTS and the Vitus Mach E Urban are close behind the Cube. I loved my Mach E and regret selling it. The Shimano Steps E6100 motor is a gem, and it’s very reliable – rode for days on end in heavy downpours without issue. The Giant Roam E+ GTS also has a fantastic motor and is a good, solid workhorse capable of tackling mixed terrain.
For a lightweight option, the Ribble AL e is unbeatable – It’s a fun bike to ride. There are not many e-bikes you can comfortably lift with one arm! This is even lighter than regular bikes, and you notice the weight when riding it. With some of the heavier electric bikes, running out of battery will mean you’re pedalling a 25kg bike without assist – not so with the Ribble; you can ride it home like a regular bike.
The newest e-bike here is the Trek FX+ 2, and although it’s a great-looking bike from one of the top brands, it’s a good few kg heavier than the Ribble.
Decathlon’s Riverside 540e was overpriced when first released but is now good value for money and worth considering. The same is true for the Scott Sub Active, initially quite expensive but now a bargain.
I also think the Raleigh Motus Grand Tour is worth a look; the Bosch motor and 500Wh battery will be a great long-distance mile muncher! The Merida Espresso 300 EQ SE is another good quality hybrid e-bike that will be good for leisure riding or commuting.
My favourite would still be the Specialized Vado SL 4.0 – it remains unchanged for 2023, but I’m hard-pressed to find fault with it. It’s lightweight, fun to ride, and the motor is fantastic.
I hope you found this article useful. If you have any questions or comments regarding any of the bikes featured here, please feel free to leave a comment below. I usually reply within 24 hours. I will watch for new releases this year and update this article accordingly. Thanks for reading.
Hi Tony great reviews.
I am torn between two
At this moment the cube 500 exc is a penny under 3k and the specialised Vado is £2520
From Pure electric .
I prefer road conditions rather than off road but I agree great spec on the cube……?.. what bike would you go for..
Hi Ray,
If it was my choice, I’d go for the Specialized, as it’s nearly 10kg lighter than the Cube and is going to be much faster on the road. I’ve a friend who brought one at the beginning of the Summer and he’s out on it all the time. The Cube is a great bike, but it’s too heavy for my liking and more suited to mixed-terrain riding.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Cheers,
Tony
Ciao Tony, ho trovato il tuo sito molto interessante.
Volevo chiederti qualche informazione relativa al modello Giant Roam E+ GTS Electric Hybrid Bike – 2021:
– pensi che si possa acquistare anche dall’Italia nel sito da te indicato (con consegna in Italia)?
– il prezzo di 2199 è in Euro o in Sterline?
– io pensavo ad un modello S per la mia compagna alta 1,58 m, pensi che possa essere una buona scelta?
Grazie,
mario
Ciao Mario,
Di seguito il link al sito Giant con l’elenco dei rivenditori in Italia.
Il prezzo in Euro sarebbe di circa 2500€. Un telaio piccolo sarebbe l’ideale per un ciclista di 1,58 m.
Cordiali saluti,
Tony
Hi Tony ,great article on ebikes under £3000,I bought a Marin sausalito on the back of it!
Love the bike but as you mentioned the battery is a little small, do you know if the 500w steps battery is compatible?
Cheers
Hi Ben,
The 504Wh Shimano battery would be compatible and is a straight swap, no modification would be required.
All the best,
Tony
Hi Tony
Great site with loads of information, some too technical for me as I am new to e-bikes, so plenty to study to gain more knowledge! Like you I am in Cornwall so cycling on a mixture of country roads and old tramways / bridle ways. I got my e-bike a couple of years ago for my 60th. I agree that it’s a great way to get exercise and I cycle much further distances than I would even consider without a motor. However I’ve been having some problems with my bike. It’s a Carrera Subway with a Suntour battery and HESC motor. I’ve had error 21 which is a torque sensor problem on 3 occasions and then I lose the motor power and it’s a heavy bike to get home. It means I’ve lost confidence in it which means I won’t embark on such long trips for fear of it failing again. It’s currently being looked at again after developing the fault a couple of days ago. Last year I was without it for 4 months because it couldn’t be repaired in lockdown. Is this a common problem with the sub £1k bikes? I’m now wondering whether I need to replace it with a higher spec bike such as in your top 10 under £3k. Would I notice a significant difference in performance and are they likely to be more reliable?
Hi David,
It does seem that a lot of the budget e-bikes from the likes of Halfords and Decathlon are more prone to gremlins than other, more expensive models. I’ve ridden cheaper e-bikes without any issues, but in my experience the ancillary components seem to wear out quicker.
The mid-drive motors like Bosch and Shimano produce significantly more assist due to the way the motor transfers power to the rear wheel – in real terms they are not more powerful than hub motors (in wattage) but produce a lot more torque, which is very important for hill climbing. Mid-drive motors are also much more energy efficient so you will get a greater battery range (when compared with a similar hub motor).
There’s a few e-bike dealers in Cornwall – Clive Mitchell sells quite a few and there’s Certini in Saltash, I think there is also one in Penryn. It would be worth trying a mid-drive out to see how you get on with it. Cube e-bikes use the Bosch motor and are particularly good value for money – they start at around £2000 for the Touring Hybrid One.
As far as reliability is concerned, the Bosch is considered to be one of the best, although my Shimano Steps Vitus e-bike has over 1600 miles on it (in all weathers) and is still going like a dream. Most of these higher end electric bikes come with a 2 year guarantee and I believe you can pay to extend to Bosch warranty even further when the 2 year period ends.
I hope this helps, if you have any more questions please let me know.
Cheers,
Tony
Thanks very much for your comments Tony. I’m in West Cornwall so I’ll check for one in Penryn and Clive Mitchell.
Cheers
David
You’re welcome?
Hello Tony,
Great summary on Ebike brands capabilities and their potential for today most popular trend. In Mid March/2021 I bought a Giant Roam E+, the demand for this model exceeded the stock availability in Montreal even across Canada. In Montreal the wether is mild for this time of the year and I already logged more than 100Km . I am pleased with my choice. I find the bike is a bit heavy but only when lift it to put it on the rack of my car and travel to the bike trails. Otherwise, it runs smoothly , has a great battery keeps well the charge over the specified
range and going (any) uphill is not a challenge.
Thanks.
Angelo
Hi Angelo,
Thanks for sharing. The Giant Roam E+ is a great bike for the price, hope you enjoy it.
All the best,
Tony
Hi Angelo, I live in Rockland ON and am thinking of purchasing the Giant Roam E+. I would be interested in finding out specific information on the bike. Would you be willing to connect with me to discuss.
Sorry Robert, I did not realize you requested info about my experience with the Giant E+ bike!
However, I can tell you that with my Giant Roam E+ bike from early April until late fall I did 1333Km . It is a great bike no special maintenance is required , normal charging the battery
and lubricating the chain. If you decided to buy this bike you did a worthwhile investment!
Cheers
Angelo
Hi Tony, hoping you can help me. My wife and myself are both relatively fit and enjoy walking and used to go on the occasional cycle run when we had bikes. We are looking to purchase an ebike each up to the value of £3000. We are both approaching retirement and due to advancing years and hip replacements thought this route would still allow us to get out and about and exercise. We live in South West Scotland so there are a few hills around us. It’s a minefield picking a bike but thinking that a step through bike would possibly be best option as not sure we could get our legs over normal bike. Regarding batteries, I have read that they should be stored inside if not in use for a while, does this have a detrimental effect on the batteries that cannot be detached from bike, like the Ribble ?
Hi Jim,
Batteries can be stored in cold environments as long as they are charged at comfortable room temperatures (preferably above 10 degrees C) and if they have just been brought in from the cold it’s a good idea to leave them to warm up before commencing charging.
Regarding step-through hybrid electric bikes – Specialized have just release a step-thru version of their excellent Vado SL – this uses a lightweight mid-drive motor with 320Wh battery. I’ve ridden the regular frame version and it’s a cracking bike. It weighs around the 15kg mark. Here is a link to the new Specialized at Pure Electric – I believe they have a store in Edinburgh.
I hope this helps, if you need any more advice, please let me know.
Regards,
Tony
Thank you for this review Re mid range ebike. Thank you for your review. Can you help I am quite fit 55 year old female and ride an old Giant hyde park 22 gears. I am looking for a bike that Is lighter and faster with the option of pressing the button for some power assist if on challenging hills.
Hi,
The Ribble AL e step-thru is an excellent bike and only weighs around 14kg – it uses a small 250w hub motor with an internal 250 watt hour battery which is enough for a range of 30-50 miles. I’m currently using the regular frame version and it feels just like riding an ordinary bike but with the benefit of e-assist for a bit of help on steep hills. Here is a link to the review.