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Compare the best plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs

High-quality PHEV SUVs from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.6/5 from 53,645 reviews
silver mercedes gle phev driving

Best PHEV SUVs of 2024

Buying a big SUV right now might not look like the most sensible option — have you seen the price of petrol? — but you can kind of sidestep the rule book by buying a plug-in hybrid SUV, which can run around for plenty of miles on electric power, and keeps the petrol engine in reserve for longer journeys. Which is the best PHEV SUV? Have a look here…

Audi Q5

1. Audi Q5 PHEV

9/10
Audi Q5 review
Battery range up to 32 miles
Audi’s handsome Q5 gets a reasonably efficient TFSIe plug-in hybrid system, which can stretch to 37 miles of electric range and returns a claimed 188mpg on the combined cycle. That will fall to more like 40mpg on a long run with a flat battery, but if you’re plugging in lots you’ll do better, and either way you have that classy interior to enjoy.
BMW X3

2. BMW X3 PHEV

8/10
BMW X3 review
Battery range up to 27 miles
Want a hybrid SUV that’s genuinely sporty to drive? Well, the X3 PHEV is basically a BMW 330e Touring with a loft conversion, so you’ll definitely be left with a smile on your face when the roads get twisty. It only gets 30 miles on a full battery though, which means you’ll struggle to hit that claimed 134mpg number. It can also feel a little too firm when you’re driving around town.

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Kia Sportage

3. Kia Sportage

8/10
Kia Sportage review
We really like the Kia Sportage’s mix of practicality and interesting styling, plus the cabin looks really cool with its twin digital screens and usable touch-sensitive controls. The plug-in hybrid version scores an official 252mpg and can get up to 43 miles of electric driving on a full charge. It could be more fun to drive, we suppose, but it’s still a good car.
Volvo XC90

4. Volvo XC90 PHEV

8/10
Volvo XC90 review
Battery range up to 28 miles
The long-serving XC90 is one of the very safest cars you can drive, and the recently-improved plug-in hybrid system keeps it competitive. It’ll be hard to match that 217mpg figure with a car this big and heavy, but the 41-mile electric range on a full charge is good, and the cabin remains a thing of Scandi-cool beauty - despite the fact that this is one of the oldest cars on this list.
Kia Sorento

5. Kia Sorento PHEV

8/10
Kia Sorento review
The Sorento ticks an awful lot of boxes - it’s big and roomy, and manages to combine seven seats with the plug-in hybrid system. The 35 miles of range on electric power is only OK, but it’s good enough for something this big, and while the 176mpg combined cycle figure is a tough one to match, it’ll do 45mpg all day long on a longer journey. The cabin is gorgeous and well-made, and the exterior is rather handsome. It can feel a bit lumpy and wallowy on poor surfaces, though.
Volkswagen Tiguan (2020-2023)

6. Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV

8/10
Volkswagen Tiguan (2020-2023) review
While the Kia Sorento is big and sensible, then the Volkswagen Tiguan is smaller and more stylish. It uses the familiar VW Group 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine and electric motor combo, and can manage a claimed electric-only range of 30 miles. That’s not brilliant, perhaps, but regular charging and not too many long journeys will see you get close to the 148mpg claimed figure.
Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV

7. Mercedes GLE PHEV

7/10
Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV review
Battery range up to 57 miles
The GLE has that rarest of rare combinations — a diesel engine mixed in with a plug-in hybrid system. And it’s a plug-in hybrid system with a big battery, so on a full charge you can get as much as 62 miles out of it, and while the 353mpg figure might be hard to match, the diesel engine is frugal on a long run. You have to put up with a slightly smaller boot than standard, but the cabin is classy-looking and has great quality.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

8. Toyota RAV4 PHEV

7/10
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review
The RAV4 PHEV manages to squeeze as much as 44 miles out of a full charge of its battery, and possibly a bit more if you’re driving fairly gently around town. Take it on longer runs and its fuel economy doesn’t fall over, either — 282mpg might be a stretch, but you should get at least 50mpg, which is impressive. It can be a bit uncomfy over lumps and bumps, though.
Hyundai Tucson

9. Hyundai Tucson PHEV

7/10
Hyundai Tucson review
The Hyundai is an impressive thing, with striking styling and a pleasant cabin. The electric range of 38 miles is pretty good, too. It’s not the most exciting car to drive though, and it can feel a bit firm and uncomfy on particularly lumpy roads.
Land Rover Discovery Sport

10. Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV

7/10
Land Rover Discovery Sport review
The ever-popular Discovery Sport gets a neat little hybrid system that’s based around a dinky 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. There’s a decent range of 37 miles on a full charge of the battery, and while the 188mpg figure might be a stretch, the Disco Sport is one of those PHEVs that doesn’t get too thirsty on a long haul. The only problem is that you can’t have it as a seven-seater because of the battery’s size.

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Plug-in hybrid SUVs FAQs

A plug-in hybrid SUV uses two power sources — a petrol (or very occasionally a diesel) engine and an electric motor, which is powered by a large rechargeable battery. The idea is that you can combine the best of both electric and petrol worlds.

The concept behind a plug-in hybrid SUV is that you use the electric motor and battery for your regular, daily commute (or shopping trips, school runs, or sneaky lunchtime visits to the cinema — we’re not judging). You’ll need a driveway or garage with a charging point, as most plug-ins have only a fairly short range of between 30 and 45 miles, so you need to charge up frequently. Then, when you need to make a longer journey, you don’t have to worry about charging points — you just use the petrol engine and the fuel tank. The car will be thirstier on a long journey, of course, because it’s heavier (thanks to the battery and electric motor) but in theory, enough miles on electric power will more than balance out the extra thirst on longer journeys.

It will depend on the model. Older models, with smaller batteries, will generally manage around 30 miles. Never models with bigger batteries will go for between 40 and as much as 60 miles. The best, newest models can manage a claimed 70 miles.

From a home three-pin socket, you’re looking at around three-to-five hours to charge a plug-in hybrid with a notional 13kWh battery. From a 7.4kW charging point, that can fall to around two hours. Obviously, cars with bigger batteries will take much longer, but those with the biggest power-packs can often use fast 50kW DC public charging points, achieving an 80 per cent charge in as little as 20 minutes.

At the moment, the cheapest plug-in hybrid SUV on sale in the UK is the MG HS PHEV, which costs £31,095 and has a claimed 32-mile range on a full charge of its battery.

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