The best plug-in hybrid cars for every budget

Plug-in hybrid cars offer the best of both worlds in between a pure EV and a petrol- or diesel-powered car, but they’re so common these days that it can be hard to pick one. Our expert reviews team has created this list of the five best, for a range of budgets

If your lifestyle doesn’t suit owning an electric car, but you’ve got easy access to affordable charging at home or at work, owning a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) could be the ideal choice. You get a large enough battery to provide usable electric range for most commutes and short journeys, but you get a combustion engine to go with it, too – perfect for longer motorway trips.

Our experts have driven every PHEV on sale in the UK, and they’ve put together this list of the five best hybrid cars on sale, in a range of price brackets and body styles.

Up to £30,000

Our recommendation: MG HS – £25,995

The MG HS is one of the best value-for-money propositions on sale at the moment, offering standard kit you don’t get on some cars which cost twice as much – some examples here. It looks sharp, the interior feels posher than you’d expect given the price and it’s very roomy inside – plus it offers an impressive 75 miles of electric-only range.

It’s not that great to drive, though, and you can tell where MG has saved money when you take it over a battered road or a twisty country lane, as it wallows about in bends and clatters over potholes. The infotainment is complicated to use when compared to alternatives, too.

You won’t find any other new plug-in hybrids for anywhere near that price, but on the used market the Volkswagen Golf e-hybrid makes for a compelling, comfy, hatchback alternative, while a used Ford Kuga hybrid is much more fun to drive.

£30,000 – £40,000

Our recommendation: Audi A3 Sportback TFSI e – £39,290

The Audi A3 TFSI e offers a staggering 88 miles of electric-only range, far surpassing any other car on this list. Combined with its smart looks and plush interior, the A3 makes for a very compelling family hatchback.

It is rather expensive though, especially considering how similar it is to a Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia under the skin. It’s not all that much fun to drive, either.

If you want something that’s even more striking to look at, the Toyota C-HR is worth a look at, but for unmatched practicality at this price point the Skoda Superb Estate iV can’t be beaten.

£40,000 – £60,000

Our recommendation: Hyundai Santa Fe – £47,890</h3

The Hyundai Santa Fe isn’t just our favourite seven-seater SUV, it’s so good that it walked away with the first place prize in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards. Space-age styling, immense practicality and a comfortable driving experience mean it’s very pleasant to live with.

You only get around 31 miles of electric range though – the price you pay for having so much weight to carry around – and the Santa Fe is far from exciting to drive. The boot is smaller than in its seven-seater alternatives, too.

If practicality is your number one concern, look no further than the Volkswagen Multivan – it’s got even more space inside than the Santa Fe. The BMW 3 Series is far more fun to drive, if you don’t need to ferry six passengers around.

£60,000 – £80,000

Our recommendation: BMW X5 – £74,280

BMW has nailed the SUV formula with the BMW X5, as it not only looks great and drives well, but has a posh interior, plenty of room inside and an impressive 54 miles of electric range.

Stay sensible with your wheel options though, as the biggest, blingiest alloys make the X5 thud over broken roads, and the PHEV version loses a whopping 150 litres of boot space compared to the regular models.

If the X5 is a bit too big for your town, the Volvo XC60 is another posh, stylish SUV – though it’s a fair bit smaller than the BMW. The Mercedes E-Class estate makes for another compelling choice if you don’t need the X5’s ground clearance.

£80,000+

Our recommendation: Porsche Panamera – £86,300

The Porsche Panamera is one of the most desirable saloon cars on sale. It looks oh-so-stylish and feels like a proper sports car on the road, whether in ‘normal’ PHEV guise or in manic Turbo S E-Hybrid form.

And yet the boot is quite small for being such a large car, and you’ll pay an arm and a leg if you’re not careful when ticking the options list; the price increases alarmingly for things that ought to be standard-fit on such an expensive car, such as £1,200 for a head-up display or £1100 for lane-keeping cruise control.

The BMW M5 Touring will give the Panamera a run for its money on a country lane, and the boot is well-sized, too. A Range Rover Sport PHEV isn’t as fun to drive, but it’s far more comfortable day-to-day, and more practical than the Porsche.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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