Best New Plug In Hybrids

If you’re not sure about the jump to electric, but want to reduce running costs and the environmental impact of daily driving, a new plug-in hybrid may be the solution for you.

The plug-in hybrid is becoming an increasingly popular choice among drivers, bridging the intimidating gap between traditional engines and all-electric while giving you the best of both worlds. 

With massive improvements in battery technology in recent years, PHEVs are an even more tempting proposition, offering drivers an excess of 50 miles of EV-only range, excellent acceleration and desirable in-car technology.

Skoda Kodiaq

The Skoda Kodiaq is synonymous with sensible, as far as family-focused SUVs go. There’s plenty of room to go around in both the front and back, with ample legroom to stretch and relax, as well as decent shoulder room for three adults side by side in the rear seats.

The Kodiaq’s 25.7kWh battery provides over 70 miles of EV-only range, meaning daily trips such as the school run and commute would be covered entirely by electric power, without touching a drop of petrol. With a cavernous 745-litre boot on top of that, you can bring along everything but the kitchen sink.

In typical Skoda fashion, the interior is full of practical “Simply Clever” touches, from door-edge protectors, a windscreen washer funnel and boot organisation features, making everyday life with the Kodiaq that little bit easier.

Omoda 9

The Omoda 9 is the brand's flagship plug-in hybrid SUV, offering up a premium-feeling cabin, a huge 34.5kWh battery and an unbelievable electric-only range of 93 miles.

The Turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine is combined with multiple electric motors to deliver a massive 443bhp, giving it a 0-62 time of just 4.9 seconds – all of these figures make the Omoda 9 one of the highest-figure hybrid options on the market.

Rapid charging capability is also a strong point of the Omoda 9 – the battery can charge from 30-80% in just 25 minutes, so when combined with the lengthy electric-only range, you can drive the car as if it were a full-on EV, with a petrol engine purely for reassurance. 

Geely Starray

The Starray is Geely’s second model in the UK; if you are unfamiliar with the brand, it is worth knowing that Geely is the parent company behind Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, so the great value offerings share many of the same engines, platforms and safety technologies as these more upmarket brands.

The Starray has a starting price below £30k* and is a strong contender in the competition for a family-friendly, value-for-money SUV. A spacious interior, 528-litre boot and huge specification list make the Starray a standout among other SUVs.

Under the bonnet, you have a 1.5-litre petrol engine, and then the choice of combining it with either a 18.4kWh (Pro and Max trims) or 29.8kWh (Ultra trim) battery. The input of the 18.4kWh battery allows for more than 50-miles of electric-only driving, while the larger 29.8kWh battery gives you up to 84-miles and a total range over 600 miles.

MG S9 

The MG S9 is massive, has minivan levels of practicality and most importantly, seats seven. If you want more seats without opting for a boring, boxy van, this is exactly what you’ve been looking for. 

With the option of the luxurious Premium trim – featuring tempting features such as adjustable lumbar support and massaging front seats – the MGS9 can be customised to suit your taste, without the premium price tag or compromising on practicality. 

The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, paired with a 24.7kWh battery, produces nearly 300bhp and up to 62 miles of electric-only driving range. The total range, combining both battery and petrol power, exceeds 600 miles.

BYD Seal U

The BYD Seal U is great value for those most interested in practicality and equipment – even the entry-level trim, Boost, comes with a panoramic sunroof, Infinity 10-speaker sound system, heated front seats and heated steering wheel, among other features.

Space is also plentiful in the Seal U, with plenty of room to accommodate six-footers as well as bulky child seats in the back, with ISOFIX points in the outer seats.

In the Boost and Design trims, the 1.5-litre petrol works alongside an 18.2kWh battery, offering a range of 50 miles in Boost, and 43 in Design. The Comfort model, however, has a larger 26.6kWh battery, increasing the range to an impressive 77 miles.

Golf Hybrid 

If you’re after something slightly smaller, whether it’s for manoeuvring around city streets or slotting into tight parking spaces, the Volkswagen Golf hybrid is a solid choice, especially with VW’s much improved infotainment software.

The Golf’s light steering makes it ideal for weaving in and out of traffic, as well as navigating compact street parking. With a focus on efficiency and comfort foremost, the Golf has a well-supported driving position, composed suspension and strong body control, making it a mature, but not boring, drive. 

The longer range hybrid will give you 89 miles of pure electric range while still outputting 201bhp – the sportier GTE version gets a combined power upgrade to 268bhp, with only a slight reduction of electric range to 82 miles. Either way, you get enough power to shoot sharply off a slip road, and enough range to manage your daily commute. 

The Golf has a peak charging speed of 40kW, meaning a 20-80% charge will take roughly half an hour. For those looking for a hybrid as a company car, Benefit in Kind (BiK) rate of five per cent adds even further appeal.

BYD Dolphin G

Something to watch out for, if you’re looking at PHEVs, is the ground-breaking new BYD Dolphin G, set to hit the UK priced at under £24k*.

The Dolphin G combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors and a 7.42kWh battery on the entry-level trim. There is a larger 18.3kWh battery on the Boost, Comfort and Sport trims, taking the car up to 65-miles of electric-only range, and increasing the car’s overall combined range to 646 miles in total.

The Dolphin G is well equipped as standard, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display alongside an 8.8-inch instrument panel, as well as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and cruise control.  

*prices correct at the time of writing