Hybrid vehicles are set to overtake diesels in the race for real world economy, according to new data from Emissions analytics.

Hybrids have always had an mpg advantage in urban driving but new EQUA Index data shows that they are gaining on diesels in motoway or highway driving.

If current trends persist, hybrid electric vehicles (excluding plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) are set to take the lead in 2017.

The above graph represents motorway mpg for diesel vehicles and gasoline hybrids tested by Emissions Analytics and the two are converging. While the downturn in diesel mpg may be due to a change in manufacturers’ focus from fuel economy to NOx emissions, what is more striking is the improvement in gasoline hybrid performance on the motorway as a result of technological advances.