This paper is concerned with studying the response of a hybrid magnetic vehicle suspension system. The objective of this work is to produce vehicle body isolation by reducing the sprung mass acceleration and minimize the suspension travel, to produce good road holding ability. Two degrees of freedom quarter car model of a passive suspension system with a cylindrical type hybrid magnet is considered for the analysis. Analytical modelling, simulations and laboratory scale experiments are conducted. The performance of active suspension systems from simulations using MATLAB and experiments are compared with the passive suspension system. The amplitude of vibration of the sprung mass using active suspension is considerably reduced from that of passive system. © 2012. MechAero Foundation for Technical Research & Education Excellence.