Honda seem to be losing the plot in pricing their vehicles. I can’t see them selling many at £53k to retail customers or at £7k AP to Motability customers.
Much as I can see the attraction of PHEVs, and will consider one myself, the high upfront costs, whether as a private buyer or a Motability customer, must surely wipe out a lot (if not all, in the case of low mileage drivers) of the running cost savings? Where they seem to make the most sense is for the market that they were primarily designed for – the company car driver, who benefits massively from the lower benefit in kind taxation – and then rarely, if ever, plugs it in
If the majority of your journeys are within or a tad over the batteries range with the odd long journey say once a month. Then there is a potential for great saving, whils’t at the same time having the security of getting to your monthly destination, without charging.
However you would have to do the maths based on the upfront cost of a PHEV compared to ICE only fuel prices.
It costs me around £3.5-4k over 3 years for fuel in my ICE. The Kia Sportage ICE £2.5k AP, Hybrid £3.3k AP and PHEV £4,5k AP for example.
Sportage/Tuscon ICE £2.5k AP plus £3.5-4k fuel – Total over 3yrs around £6k
Sportage PHEV,would be cheaper to run over 3yrs, plus I’m already in pocket by £1.5k by not running an ICE.
On the end of the spectrum, the 3 series tourer for example would see me out of pocket over 3 years, where as the Honda would see me even or a little in pocket
Like I say, you need to do the maths 🙂