Best Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cars 2023: The Top 10 Complete Guide For The UK

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Overview

Like battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), have also witnessed a significant improvement in performance, electric range and availability. A few years ago, the choice of PHEVs were limited to a few automotive brands and models, like the, Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid launched in 2013. A decade later, the narrative could not be more different!

For those new to electric driving, a PHEV, couples an internal combustion engine (ICE), with an electric motor and an onboard EV battery. A plug-in hybrid electric car offers substantially more advantages, than a conventional petrol or diesel car. Some of these benefits include: lower cost of driving per mile, lower tailpipe emissions, smoother drive, higher vehicle efficiency and more!

The continued popularity of PHEVs, is clearly reflected in the increased market share of plug-in hybrid electric cars in the UK. According to the SMMT, in 2022, a total of 101,414 PHEVs were registered in the UK, achieving a 6.3 percent market share.

Let us put this in context. The total market share for diesel registrations in 2022 was 5.1% i.e. lower than the PHEV market share. This should not come as a surprise, as consumers opted for more environmentally-friendly forms of transportation. The increased popularity of electric driving is also evident in the registration of zero-emission pure electric cars, which was even higher than plug-in hybrid electric vehicle registrations.

Given the significant improvement in the electric range of pure electric cars, we at e-zoomed encourage choosing a BEV over a PHEV, as the advantages of pure electric cars are far greater than even plug-in hybrid electric cars. For those new to electric cars, a BEV is also referred to as a pure electric car. Of course, for those keen on a plug-in hybrid electric car, there are numerous options, but best to consider only those PHEVs that have low tailpipe emissions and a real-world practical electric range.

It is indeed impressive to witness the improvements made by automotive manufacturers in relation to the reduction of tailpipe emissions for PHEVs. Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo Cars are leading the pack, offering PHEVs with a practical e-range and low tailpipe emissions. As an example, the Mercedes-Benz C Class plug-in hybrid estate car has a claimed tailpipe emission as low as 13g (CO2/km)!

Road transportation contributes to 30% of air pollution. In fact, more than 40% of emissions of nitrogen oxides is a result of emissions from road transportation. Also, up to 40% of primary PM 2.5 emissions are also as a result of road transportation. Particulate matter (PM) is everything in the air that is not gas. Human made pollution, like smoke and dust from car exhausts, brakes and tyres, are examples of PM. Particulate matter significantly increases the health risks for an individual, as PM can be transported around the body, impacting the lungs, heart, brain and other organs. So, bottom-line, the lower the tailpipe emissions, the better for us all!

Apart from lower tailpipe emissions, aim for a PHEV that can offer an electric range of 40 miles and more! Do keep in mind that the real-world electric range will be lower than the manufactured quoted WLTP range. Electric range is impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, payload, weather, road surface, temperature and more. In most cases, a 40 mile WLTP range should be able to deliver a real-world electric range over 30 miles, which is more than sufficient for most day-to-day needs. In our list below, a number of plug-in hybrid electric cars offer an electric range of 50 miles and more!

When a PHEV is driven on electric mode, the tailpipe emissions are zero, and the driving cost per mile is lower, compared to driving using the internal combustion engine (ICE). The best way to drive a PHEV is to leverage the zero-emission electric range to its maximum. Best for the environment and the wallet!

Though DC charging is not as imperative for charging a plug-in hybrid, compared to charging a pure electric car, it is good to note that the PHEVs with a larger onboard EV battery, do offer DC charging capability. This is most helpful for those that want to take advantage of the electric mode when driving on the motorway or for longer journeys. Having said that, it is always best to charge the EV at home. Charging an electric car at home is cheaper and more convenient than public EV charging.

In our list of best plug-in hybrid electric cars, SUVs have taken prominence. This is not surprising, as automotive manufacturers have been keen to exploit the current popularity of SUVs, in particular, environmentally-friendly SUVs. Also on our list are estate and saloon plug-in hybrid electric cars.

Though tailpipe emissions and electric range, are key factors in assessing a PHEV, clearly, many other determinants are also important, to include: EV battery size, price, vehicle efficiency, practicality, space, onboard AC charger, DC charging, onboard technology, driving aids, build quality, use of sustainable materials, performance and a lot more.

Lastly, PHEVs are also a good option for company car drivers, given the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK %) tax charger for PHEVs, compared to conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. The UK government does not offer any grants/ incentives for the acquisition of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

To learn in more detail about the best plug-in hybrid electric cars 2023, simply follow the links below!

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Gallery

Best Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cars 2023

BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid, Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid, Lexus NX Plug-In Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz C Class Plug-In Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 de Plug-In Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz S Class Plug-In Hybrid, Range Rover Sport Plug-In Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid, Volvo S60 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid

Best Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cars: The Top 10

Brand/ Model	Battery Size (kWh)	Electric Range (WLTP)	Tailpipe Emissions (CO2/km)	Body Type
BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid	22.29 kWh	50 – 54 miles	31 – 27g (CO2/km)	SUV
Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid	11.1 kWh	40 miles	23g (CO2/km)	SUV
Lexus NX Plug-In Hybrid	18.1 kWh	40 miles	21 – 25g (CO2/km)	SUV
Mercedes-Benz C Class Plug-In Hybrid	25.4 kWh	65 miles	13g (CO2/km)	Estate
Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 de Plug-In Hybrid	31.2 kWh	54 – 58 miles	20g (CO2/km)	SUV
Mercedes-Benz S Class Plug-In Hybrid	28.6 kWh	62 – 63 miles	19g (CO2/km)	Saloon
Range Rover Sport Plug-In Hybrid	38.2 kWh	71 miles	20 – 18g (CO2/km)	SUV
Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid	18.1 kWh	46 miles	22g (CO2/km)	SUV
Volvo V60 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid	18.8 kWh	54.7 miles	18g (CO2/km)	Estate
Volvo S60 Recharge Plug-In Hybrid	18.8 kWh	55.9 miles	17g (CO2/km)	Saloon

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