Best plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs in the UK
High-quality PHEV SUVs from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated August 15, 2025 by
Neil Briscoe
10 best plug-in hybrid SUVs: big cars with bigger efficiency
With diesel power on the wane, if you want a frugal SUV that doesn’t have all-electric power, then a plug-in hybrid might well be the right car for you. The technology used by plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, is improving all the time, increasing their electric-only range, while also improving their long-drive fuel economy.
However, it’s important to note that PHEVs are something of a compromise — they tend to be heavy, they can be very thirsty if you’re not plugging them in and using the electric part a lot of the time, and you will need off-street parking and a home charging point if you’re going to make the best use of one.
However, if you use them right, a PHEV SUV can give you an exceptionally flexible combination of electric power for short drives, and a petrol engine (and a fuel tank) for longer journeys.
More headroom thanks to their taller bodies means an SUV can often slot a battery pack under the rear seats or boot without taking much - if any - room away from the interior. Being generally big, heavy vehicles means you’re less likely to feel the extra weight of the hybrid system in day-to-day use too.
And from a cost-savings perspective, combustion-engined SUVs tend to be some of the least economical cars on the road - so you’ll really feel the benefits of having some electric range under your belt.
Our expert road testing team covers new car on sale, whether they’re powered by diesel, petrol, electricity, or any combination thereof, so that we can give our expert recommendations. We drive cars on the road and on the test track, and we look at the individual strengths of each model — from their electric-only range, to their seating comfort, and how much stuff fits in the boot.
Best for: stylish PHEV motoring
The BMW X5 is not a young vehicle. In fact, in its current form it’s been around since 2018, which almost makes it middle-aged in car terms. What was that about life beginning when you’re 40, though? Well, the X5 certainly seems to be ageing beautifully. It still look stylish, and it still has one of the highest-quality car cabins around. And, specifically for the purposes of this list, it’s still a really good PHEV.
The current X5 xDrive50e plug-in hybrid uses a combination of a 3.0-litre turbo straight-six petrol engine and a 194hp electric motor, which is powered by a big 25.7kWh battery (that’s about the same size as the first gen Nissan Leaf’s battery…). That combo gives the X5 PHEV some impressive performance. It can run for up to 70 miles on one charge, at least according to the official figure, and somewhere between 50 and 60 miles should be do-able for non-hypermiling mere mortals. That’s enough to cover most people’s daily commutes and school runs.
Once the petrol engine kicks in, you get 483hp and all the torque you could need, so the X5 PHEV is pretty fleet for a big thing, hitting 62mph from rest in just 4.8 seconds. That’s faster than some M-cars… Officially, it gets 353mpg, but obviously that’s a ridiculous lab-based number. On a long drive with a flat battery you should average more like 26mpg, which is hardly that great, but just maybe a price worth paying for how well the X5 drives.
Which is to say, it’s really good to drive. If an ultra-sporty Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is at one end of this spectrum, and a softly-softly Range Rover at the other, the BMW is smack-bang in the middle, offering an impressive combination of comfort and cornering capability. The only drawbacks are that it’s pretty expensive, and it has a smaller boot than a regular diesel X5 (down to just 500 litres).
The BMW X5 is not a young vehicle. In fact, in its current form it’s been around since 2018, which almost makes it middle-aged in car terms. What was that about life beginning when you’re 40, though? Well, the X5 certainly seems to be ageing beautifully. It still look stylish, and it still has one of the highest-quality car cabins around. And, specifically for the purposes of this list, it’s still a really good PHEV.
The current X5 xDrive50e plug-in hybrid uses a combination of a 3.0-litre turbo straight-six petrol engine and a 194hp electric motor, which is powered by a big 25.7kWh battery (that’s about the same size as the first gen Nissan Leaf’s battery…). That combo gives the X5 PHEV some impressive performance. It can run for up to 70 miles on one charge, at least according to the official figure, and somewhere between 50 and 60 miles should be do-able for non-hypermiling mere mortals. That’s enough to cover most people’s daily commutes and school runs.
Once the petrol engine kicks in, you get 483hp and all the torque you could need, so the X5 PHEV is pretty fleet for a big thing, hitting 62mph from rest in just 4.8 seconds. That’s faster than some M-cars… Officially, it gets 353mpg, but obviously that’s a ridiculous lab-based number. On a long drive with a flat battery you should average more like 26mpg, which is hardly that great, but just maybe a price worth paying for how well the X5 drives.
Which is to say, it’s really good to drive. If an ultra-sporty Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is at one end of this spectrum, and a softly-softly Range Rover at the other, the BMW is smack-bang in the middle, offering an impressive combination of comfort and cornering capability. The only drawbacks are that it’s pretty expensive, and it has a smaller boot than a regular diesel X5 (down to just 500 litres).
2025
Car of the Year Award
Best for: sheer interior space
The Hyundai Santa Fe is the modern motoring equivalent of Rory Bremner, which is to say it’s a great impressionist. It’s limited to just the one impression — looking a lot like a Land Rover Defender — but boy, is it really good at that one thing.
Actually, the Santa Fe is good at lots other stuff too. For a start, its plug-in hybrid powertrain means that it can offer at least a little bit of electric-only motoring (albeit, at 38 miles, maybe not as much as we’d like) and it manages to mix PHEV power with seats for seven, which is something that not all others in this class can do (we’re looking at you, Skoda Kodiaq).
The Santa Fe’s big, upright, boxy body is almost anti-fashion in how square it looks, but the benefit is masses of cabin space, with proper lounging room in the first two rows. The third row isn’t quite so roomy, with space reserved really only for kids, but at least you have the option of squeezing two extra people in.
The 1.6-litre petrol engine is paired with a 13.8kWh battery, which is what powers the electric motor, but there’s a significant downside to this — it only charges at a lowly 3.7kW, not much more than the power you get from a three-pin plug. The Skoda Kodiaq PHEV might not be able to carry seven people, but it can fast-charge at up to 50kW and runs for up to 75 miles on electric power. Long range fuel economy should work out at around 35mpg.
Still, the Hyundai has its compensations. The cabin is just as upright and rugged-looking as the exterior, but it’s also really well-made, full of high-quality materials, and the big-screen dashboard layout is easy to find your way around (thanks to the fact that Hyundai hasn’t thrown out all the physical switches).
It’s also a nice car to drive, but only ‘nice’ — it’s not for anyone looking for an enthusiastic driving experience, in spite of having 253hp.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is the modern motoring equivalent of Rory Bremner, which is to say it’s a great impressionist. It’s limited to just the one impression — looking a lot like a Land Rover Defender — but boy, is it really good at that one thing.
Actually, the Santa Fe is good at lots other stuff too. For a start, its plug-in hybrid powertrain means that it can offer at least a little bit of electric-only motoring (albeit, at 38 miles, maybe not as much as we’d like) and it manages to mix PHEV power with seats for seven, which is something that not all others in this class can do (we’re looking at you, Skoda Kodiaq).
The Santa Fe’s big, upright, boxy body is almost anti-fashion in how square it looks, but the benefit is masses of cabin space, with proper lounging room in the first two rows. The third row isn’t quite so roomy, with space reserved really only for kids, but at least you have the option of squeezing two extra people in.
The 1.6-litre petrol engine is paired with a 13.8kWh battery, which is what powers the electric motor, but there’s a significant downside to this — it only charges at a lowly 3.7kW, not much more than the power you get from a three-pin plug. The Skoda Kodiaq PHEV might not be able to carry seven people, but it can fast-charge at up to 50kW and runs for up to 75 miles on electric power. Long range fuel economy should work out at around 35mpg.
Still, the Hyundai has its compensations. The cabin is just as upright and rugged-looking as the exterior, but it’s also really well-made, full of high-quality materials, and the big-screen dashboard layout is easy to find your way around (thanks to the fact that Hyundai hasn’t thrown out all the physical switches).
It’s also a nice car to drive, but only ‘nice’ — it’s not for anyone looking for an enthusiastic driving experience, in spite of having 253hp.
Best for: ultimate SUV luxury
Well, if you’re going to buy an SUV, it may as well be the pinnacle. The Range Rover may not be quite as posh as a Bentley Bentayga or a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, but it has the beating of both when it comes to understated style, and some serious off-road ability.
Of probably more importance to most Range Rover buyers is that this plug-in hybrid model means they can duck around city-centre clean air zones and drive right up to the door of their posh house, or posh business, or posh shop. The P460e plug-in hybrid mixes a 3.0-litre turbo straight-six petrol engine with a massive 31.8kWh battery that produces a combined 460hp (hence the badge) and allows the Range Rover to claim an electric-only range of up to 75 miles.
More like 60 miles seems realistic, but that’s not bad going, and the impressive thing about the Range Rover PHEV is that it doesn’t become wildly thirsty on a long run. Head out onto the motorway with a flat battery, and you should still see between 25 and 30mpg, which is about what you’d expect from the diesel version.
Of course, you can have more power… There’s a P550e model with, guess what, 550hp and a 0-62mph time of just 5.0 seconds, which feels pretty impressive when you’re driving what feels like a luxury penthouse on wheels.
The Range Rover has its reliability issues, and no shortage thereof, but it makes up for those by being quietly handsome, incredibly smooth to drive (bar a slight pattering sensation at low speeds), and astonishingly comfortable inside that roomy, minimalist cabin.
And that’s without even mentioning that it’s a proper off-road champ, able to tackle some seriously tough terrain that would pull the wheels of a lesser car. That’s a capability that only a handful of owners will ever use (the 3,000kg towing weight is probably more useful to more people) but it’s nice to know that it’s there, and that behind the luxury and the electric power, this is still a proper Range Rover.
Well, if you’re going to buy an SUV, it may as well be the pinnacle. The Range Rover may not be quite as posh as a Bentley Bentayga or a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, but it has the beating of both when it comes to understated style, and some serious off-road ability.
Of probably more importance to most Range Rover buyers is that this plug-in hybrid model means they can duck around city-centre clean air zones and drive right up to the door of their posh house, or posh business, or posh shop. The P460e plug-in hybrid mixes a 3.0-litre turbo straight-six petrol engine with a massive 31.8kWh battery that produces a combined 460hp (hence the badge) and allows the Range Rover to claim an electric-only range of up to 75 miles.
More like 60 miles seems realistic, but that’s not bad going, and the impressive thing about the Range Rover PHEV is that it doesn’t become wildly thirsty on a long run. Head out onto the motorway with a flat battery, and you should still see between 25 and 30mpg, which is about what you’d expect from the diesel version.
Of course, you can have more power… There’s a P550e model with, guess what, 550hp and a 0-62mph time of just 5.0 seconds, which feels pretty impressive when you’re driving what feels like a luxury penthouse on wheels.
The Range Rover has its reliability issues, and no shortage thereof, but it makes up for those by being quietly handsome, incredibly smooth to drive (bar a slight pattering sensation at low speeds), and astonishingly comfortable inside that roomy, minimalist cabin.
And that’s without even mentioning that it’s a proper off-road champ, able to tackle some seriously tough terrain that would pull the wheels of a lesser car. That’s a capability that only a handful of owners will ever use (the 3,000kg towing weight is probably more useful to more people) but it’s nice to know that it’s there, and that behind the luxury and the electric power, this is still a proper Range Rover.
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2025
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended
Best for: comfort on a budget
You might expect something enormous and expensive to be the clear choice for the most comfortable SUV on sale, but Citroen has done a fantastic job of proving that you don’t need to break the bank to get a smooth ride with the C5 Aircross. It even won came highly commended in the ‘Comfortable Cruiser’ category in our 2025 awards.
It’s the ride quality of the C5 which really stands out, having been set up to absorb bumps and blows on broken roads in a way that few of its alternatives can. Not only that, big, comfy seats are the cherry on top when it comes to cosseting you and your passengers.
Rear space is a little tight, though you get a big boot as a result, and the interior quality leaves a little to be desired. It’s not an ugly interior by any means, the dash layout and funky steering wheel are actually quite chic, but the plastics are a little scratchy in places and the infotainment isn’t very slick.
Only available on the ‘Max’ trim level, the plug-in hybrid combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 13.2kWh battery for 225hp and a 0-62 time of 8.7 seconds. Citroen claims it’ll travel 36 miles on a single charge, which isn’t very far - but for a commute in the city, where the C5 excels, that could be plenty.
The downside to the C5 Aircross having soft, comfy suspension is that it feels a little out of place on a twisty road. It’s not a car to carve corners with, but for a comfy family SUV it’s hard to go wrong with the Citroen SUV. The new Citroen C5 Aircross is due to go on sale really soon, so now is a great time to nab a fantastic deal on this outgoing model.
You might expect something enormous and expensive to be the clear choice for the most comfortable SUV on sale, but Citroen has done a fantastic job of proving that you don’t need to break the bank to get a smooth ride with the C5 Aircross. It even won came highly commended in the ‘Comfortable Cruiser’ category in our 2025 awards.
It’s the ride quality of the C5 which really stands out, having been set up to absorb bumps and blows on broken roads in a way that few of its alternatives can. Not only that, big, comfy seats are the cherry on top when it comes to cosseting you and your passengers.
Rear space is a little tight, though you get a big boot as a result, and the interior quality leaves a little to be desired. It’s not an ugly interior by any means, the dash layout and funky steering wheel are actually quite chic, but the plastics are a little scratchy in places and the infotainment isn’t very slick.
Only available on the ‘Max’ trim level, the plug-in hybrid combines a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 13.2kWh battery for 225hp and a 0-62 time of 8.7 seconds. Citroen claims it’ll travel 36 miles on a single charge, which isn’t very far - but for a commute in the city, where the C5 excels, that could be plenty.
The downside to the C5 Aircross having soft, comfy suspension is that it feels a little out of place on a twisty road. It’s not a car to carve corners with, but for a comfy family SUV it’s hard to go wrong with the Citroen SUV. The new Citroen C5 Aircross is due to go on sale really soon, so now is a great time to nab a fantastic deal on this outgoing model.
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award
Highly Commended
Best for: boot space
The latest Skoda Kodiaq puts you in a bit of a quandary. It’s a tall and chunky SUV, so you’ll be assuming that it comes with seven seats. Which is does, as long as you go for the petrol or diesel powered models, but this PHEV version makes do with just five seats, because the big battery takes up so much space.
However, that does mean you get the promise of a 75 mile electric range (60-ish in reality) and a PHEV setup that doesn’t mug you at the fuel pumps when you need to go on a longer journey. The 1.5-litre turbo engine, with its electric motor, gives decent performance and for a big, heavy car, the Kodiaq e-Hybrid feels fairly light on its toes, even if you’d never describe it as a sports car.
Plus, even without the extra seats, the Kodiaq is massive inside so the five people you can carry will have loads of room, and no little comfort. Plus, there’s a huge 745 litre boot (although that’s well behind the 845 litres offered by a petrol or diesel model). The Kodiaq’s interior quality has also taken a bit of a hit compared to the original version — it still looks nice, but some of the plastics now feel really cheap.
The latest Skoda Kodiaq puts you in a bit of a quandary. It’s a tall and chunky SUV, so you’ll be assuming that it comes with seven seats. Which is does, as long as you go for the petrol or diesel powered models, but this PHEV version makes do with just five seats, because the big battery takes up so much space.
However, that does mean you get the promise of a 75 mile electric range (60-ish in reality) and a PHEV setup that doesn’t mug you at the fuel pumps when you need to go on a longer journey. The 1.5-litre turbo engine, with its electric motor, gives decent performance and for a big, heavy car, the Kodiaq e-Hybrid feels fairly light on its toes, even if you’d never describe it as a sports car.
Plus, even without the extra seats, the Kodiaq is massive inside so the five people you can carry will have loads of room, and no little comfort. Plus, there’s a huge 745 litre boot (although that’s well behind the 845 litres offered by a petrol or diesel model). The Kodiaq’s interior quality has also taken a bit of a hit compared to the original version — it still looks nice, but some of the plastics now feel really cheap.
2025
Family Values Award
Highly Commended
Best for: big-screen tech
The VW Tiguan’s cabin is dominated by the massive TV-style screen in the centre of the dash, which stretches to a full 15-inches if you tick the right options box. We’ve owned cars with smaller wheels than that. Thankfully, it’s a good screen — much better than what VW was offering with previous models — which is easy to use, and comes with handy shortcuts so you don’t notice the lack of physical buttons quite so much. Shame about the cheap-looking ‘Atmosphere’ colour changes.
The rest of the Tiguan e-Hybrid is pretty good too. It shares the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and 19kWh battery with the bigger Skoda Kodiaq, but because the Tiguan only ever has five seats, there’s no need to agonise about whether to sacrifice extra seats for the hybrid system (that’s the bigger VW Tayron’s problem). There’s an impressive 75 mile electric range on a full charge (although that will most likely fall to more like 60 miles in real world driving) and the Tiguan e-Hybrid should break the 40mpg barrier on longer journeys with a flat battery.
The Tiguan’s not a barrel of fun to drive, and the cabin does feel a bit worryingly cheap in places, but it’s a decent family SUV with plenty of space (although the PHEV suffers from small-boot syndrome, at 490 litres) and a smooth driving experience.
The VW Tiguan’s cabin is dominated by the massive TV-style screen in the centre of the dash, which stretches to a full 15-inches if you tick the right options box. We’ve owned cars with smaller wheels than that. Thankfully, it’s a good screen — much better than what VW was offering with previous models — which is easy to use, and comes with handy shortcuts so you don’t notice the lack of physical buttons quite so much. Shame about the cheap-looking ‘Atmosphere’ colour changes.
The rest of the Tiguan e-Hybrid is pretty good too. It shares the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and 19kWh battery with the bigger Skoda Kodiaq, but because the Tiguan only ever has five seats, there’s no need to agonise about whether to sacrifice extra seats for the hybrid system (that’s the bigger VW Tayron’s problem). There’s an impressive 75 mile electric range on a full charge (although that will most likely fall to more like 60 miles in real world driving) and the Tiguan e-Hybrid should break the 40mpg barrier on longer journeys with a flat battery.
The Tiguan’s not a barrel of fun to drive, and the cabin does feel a bit worryingly cheap in places, but it’s a decent family SUV with plenty of space (although the PHEV suffers from small-boot syndrome, at 490 litres) and a smooth driving experience.
7. Mercedes GLE
Mercedes-Benz GLE review
Battery range up to 57 miles
Best for: reliability
The big Mercedes GLE PHEV is probably the most reliable car on this list. How do we know this? Because the big Merc topped the most recent Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list, with a stunning performance that saw it come top in almost every category, not least the one that covers Reliability And Build Quality. A big, luxury SUV that doesn’t give you any breakdown woes? That’s a massive win for Mercedes.
When it comes to plug-in hybrid power, you actually get to choose between petrol and diesel plug-in hybrids, both of which boast more than 70 miles of electric-only range. The diesel is the better of the two, though, because the petrol engine is on the noisy side so you may as well go DERV and enjoy the superior long-range fuel economy.
Either way, you get a massive, comfortable, well-made cabin and a boot that holds up to 630 litres of luggage, considerably more than you get in a BMW X5 xDrive50 PHEV. While there are big screens in the cabin (of course there are) Mercedes has made these easier to live with by keeping plenty of physical buttons too. The downside is that the GLE isn’t much fun to drive when the road becomes twisty, but it makes up for that with an exceptionally comfortable ride comfort.
The big Mercedes GLE PHEV is probably the most reliable car on this list. How do we know this? Because the big Merc topped the most recent Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list, with a stunning performance that saw it come top in almost every category, not least the one that covers Reliability And Build Quality. A big, luxury SUV that doesn’t give you any breakdown woes? That’s a massive win for Mercedes.
When it comes to plug-in hybrid power, you actually get to choose between petrol and diesel plug-in hybrids, both of which boast more than 70 miles of electric-only range. The diesel is the better of the two, though, because the petrol engine is on the noisy side so you may as well go DERV and enjoy the superior long-range fuel economy.
Either way, you get a massive, comfortable, well-made cabin and a boot that holds up to 630 litres of luggage, considerably more than you get in a BMW X5 xDrive50 PHEV. While there are big screens in the cabin (of course there are) Mercedes has made these easier to live with by keeping plenty of physical buttons too. The downside is that the GLE isn’t much fun to drive when the road becomes twisty, but it makes up for that with an exceptionally comfortable ride comfort.
Best for: space and value
The MG HS does one very important thing. Which is that when you sit into it for the first time, you suddenly realise that MG has stopped buying its interior fixtures from Temu. Seriously though, the HS represents a big step up for MG in terms of cabin quality and comfort, and while you will still find plenty of cheap bits and pieces, it looks and feels much smarter than previous MG models, especially if you go for the tan leather upholstery option.
If the HS looks a bit dull on the outside (it’s very generic mid-size SUV) then it makes up for that with an efficient plug-in hybrid system, which promises 75 miles of electric range thanks to a big 24.7kWh battery pack. That’s not an unrealistic figure, either — we managed close to 60 miles of EV range on test with the HS. That’s not just good, it’s really good for a car with pricing this sharp.
It’s a roomy car too, the big MG. The boot measures 507 litres, which isn’t bad (even if it’s not quite as generous as some others), and there’s plenty of space in the rear seats. It’s quick too, hitting 62mph in 6.8 seconds. It’s just not a lot of fun to drive, is all. The steering feels quite good, but the chassis is a bit wooden in how it responds, and this PHEV model feels quite stiff over bumps.
The MG HS does one very important thing. Which is that when you sit into it for the first time, you suddenly realise that MG has stopped buying its interior fixtures from Temu. Seriously though, the HS represents a big step up for MG in terms of cabin quality and comfort, and while you will still find plenty of cheap bits and pieces, it looks and feels much smarter than previous MG models, especially if you go for the tan leather upholstery option.
If the HS looks a bit dull on the outside (it’s very generic mid-size SUV) then it makes up for that with an efficient plug-in hybrid system, which promises 75 miles of electric range thanks to a big 24.7kWh battery pack. That’s not an unrealistic figure, either — we managed close to 60 miles of EV range on test with the HS. That’s not just good, it’s really good for a car with pricing this sharp.
It’s a roomy car too, the big MG. The boot measures 507 litres, which isn’t bad (even if it’s not quite as generous as some others), and there’s plenty of space in the rear seats. It’s quick too, hitting 62mph in 6.8 seconds. It’s just not a lot of fun to drive, is all. The steering feels quite good, but the chassis is a bit wooden in how it responds, and this PHEV model feels quite stiff over bumps.
Best for: efficiency
The Toyota C-HR PHEV is the smallest plug-in hybrid SUV on this list, to the point where it’s almost closer to being a hatchback. Still, you’d have to say that it’s properly good to look at, especially if you go for a higher-spec model with the contrast-painted black rear end, while the needle-like nose looks almost Ferrari-like from some angles. We said some…
The C-HR uses the same 2.0-litre PHEV setup as the lower, sleeker Prius saloon, so you get a respectable 223hp to play with, and the C-HR feels pretty quick, with a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds. It’s even quite nice to drive, thanks to sharper steering than you might expect, and the long-range fuel economy is decent too — you should do better than 40mpg on a long motorway run, while the electric range is a solid 40 miles.
However, where the C-HR falls down is on the inside. It’s just too cramped up front, especially for the front seat passenger, and while adults will fit in the back, they won’t be too happy about it. With the PHEV’s battery taking up space, there’s also even less boot space than in the standard hybrid C-HR, with just 310 litres on offer.
The Toyota C-HR PHEV is the smallest plug-in hybrid SUV on this list, to the point where it’s almost closer to being a hatchback. Still, you’d have to say that it’s properly good to look at, especially if you go for a higher-spec model with the contrast-painted black rear end, while the needle-like nose looks almost Ferrari-like from some angles. We said some…
The C-HR uses the same 2.0-litre PHEV setup as the lower, sleeker Prius saloon, so you get a respectable 223hp to play with, and the C-HR feels pretty quick, with a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds. It’s even quite nice to drive, thanks to sharper steering than you might expect, and the long-range fuel economy is decent too — you should do better than 40mpg on a long motorway run, while the electric range is a solid 40 miles.
However, where the C-HR falls down is on the inside. It’s just too cramped up front, especially for the front seat passenger, and while adults will fit in the back, they won’t be too happy about it. With the PHEV’s battery taking up space, there’s also even less boot space than in the standard hybrid C-HR, with just 310 litres on offer.
Best for: do-it all convenience
The Hyundai Tucson is a hugely popular car, and it’s been a lynchpin for the massive growth of the Hyundai brand over the past decade. It’s not hard to see why — while the styling won’t be for everyone, it’s distinctive enough to look smart, but not so challenging that your elderly relatives might get an attack of the vapours. It’s roomy and usefully practical (even if the 558 litre boot is a bit on the shallow side) and you can buy it in a sporty-looking N-Line version if you want to give it that frisson of BMW M-Sport-ness.
The hybrid system is good too, based around a 1.6-litre turbo engine with a 67kW electric motor and a 13.8kWh battery. That’s enough to give the Tucson PHEV an electric range of almost 40 miles (more like 30 miles in real life) which is decent, but the problem is that its fuel economy tends to fall apart a bit on longer journeys. You’ll probably average around 35mpg with a long run, which isn’t all that good.
What is good is the interior, which is well-made, and looks smart, plus its big touchscreen is easy to use because Hyundai is one of those car makers that remembers physical buttons make life better.
The Hyundai Tucson is a hugely popular car, and it’s been a lynchpin for the massive growth of the Hyundai brand over the past decade. It’s not hard to see why — while the styling won’t be for everyone, it’s distinctive enough to look smart, but not so challenging that your elderly relatives might get an attack of the vapours. It’s roomy and usefully practical (even if the 558 litre boot is a bit on the shallow side) and you can buy it in a sporty-looking N-Line version if you want to give it that frisson of BMW M-Sport-ness.
The hybrid system is good too, based around a 1.6-litre turbo engine with a 67kW electric motor and a 13.8kWh battery. That’s enough to give the Tucson PHEV an electric range of almost 40 miles (more like 30 miles in real life) which is decent, but the problem is that its fuel economy tends to fall apart a bit on longer journeys. You’ll probably average around 35mpg with a long run, which isn’t all that good.
What is good is the interior, which is well-made, and looks smart, plus its big touchscreen is easy to use because Hyundai is one of those car makers that remembers physical buttons make life better.
Factors to consider when buying a plug-in hybrid SUV
If you’re thinking of going for a plug-in hybrid SUV, you almost have to think like you’re buying an electric car, and that’s because the basic requirement is to have a driveway and a home charging point.
You don’t technically need that to run a PHEV of course — you can just keep putting more fuel in — but if you’ve decided on a PHEV, then it’s likely you want to make the use of its electric range, and so having a home charging point is a must.
Make full use of that, and you can score some astonishing economy figures with a good PHEV SUV, even if the three-figure MPG figures that appear on the official paperwork will probably be out of reach.
PHEV SUVs vary in their electric ranges, with some offering at little as 30 miles of useable EV range, while others can double that. Choosing the right one for you means working out what your driving style is, how long your commute might be, and how many longer journeys you do. If you do lots of long journeys, it can be helpful to pick a PHEV SUV that fast-charges from a DC public charger, such as a VW Tiguan or Skoda Kodiaq.
PHEV SUVs to avoid
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