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A few questions for those of you who have a Plug-in Hybrid.
Is it worth it?
What do you think of them?
Would you have another ?
My order window opens tomorrow and I did say I would stick with BEVs but I’m Disappointed with the way APs are going and the lack of range of those that are still available, so I’ve got to look at other options and It would be silly to not make use of the charger that I already have installed.
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I have the Tuscon PHEV, locally it is very economucal, as long as it’s kept charged. On a longer journey outside battery range, economy does suffer. I’d say if 75% or more of your driving is locall, it would likely be worth it.
I woudn’t have a Tucson again and if I were to choose one, it would be one thats capable of 50+ miles on electric range.
Are you looking at anything in particular?
I’ve got a Hyundai Tucson PHEV which replaced our petrol BMW X1. I’d go back to the petrol BMW in a heartbeat if it were possible (sadly it isn’t if we stay in the scheme). The PHEV is costing £20 a month less to run, but for me that’s not worth the hassle of charging it after every single time that I use it. It’s meant to have a 39 mile EV range but in reality I’m getting more like 32 miles max. Also, the fuel tank is smaller than a normal ICE car. Our petrol BMW could stretch to 600 miles range whereas the Tucson the maximum range, even with a full charge and full tank of petrol is more like 350 miles.
Where I think they score is for people who do mostly short journeys, can charge at home, but don’t want the range limitations of an EV or the need to use public chargers on longer journeys. The problem with PHEVs on longer journeys though is that when the battery is depleted you are propelling a heavy car (due to the battery) with a modest petrol engine. In the Tucson that means returning around 32-34 mpg, which is 10-15 mpg worse than I got from the previous petrol car on the same journey. That eats in to the saving that you make on the shorter journeys when running in EV mode.
Some PHEVs are better than others. Toyota seem to have the whole hybrid thing far better sorted than say Hyundai.
In your case, if you are used to having a BEV and it works for you, I’d personally try to stick with one. I think you’d find a PHEV to be a retrograde step. In our case, if we stick with Motability (which is looking unlikely) I would consider a BEV next time if the numbers stack up. If we leave the scheme then my preference would be to get an ICE car, although I’d consider a PHEV if it was something like the BMW X5 which has a better EV range and when that runs out it falls back to a 3.0 litre six cylinder petrol engine, which would be a darned sight nicer than the 1.6 litre Hyundai four cylinder!
First question what is your budget, we have a Suzuki Across/Toyota RAV4 PHEV 50 mpg plus even with a depleted battery, unfortunately the AP is nearly £7,000 financially it does not make sense.
Toyota Prius or BMW X1
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally say the wrong thing.
Cheers guys,
At the moment I’m looking at the BMW X1 Xdrive 25e, I miss my old X1, the BYD Seal U, MG HS and Jaecoo 7, I don’t know a lot about the last 3 but I’m doing some research.
The EVs are the Hyundai Ioniq 5, possibly the Audi Q4 but I doubt it, far to expensive, Skoda a maybe but the one I would have considered as been removed same as the Cupra Born and Tavascan and the Polestar 2 is a maybe but again expensive AP.
The favourites are the BMW X1 and Hyundai Ionic 5.
If you really like the BMW X1, I’d be tempted to order ASAP. If any of the speculation in the press is correct, BMWs may soon be a thing of the past for Motability customers!
The BMW X1 25e has a very fuel efficient 3 cylinder 1.5 ICE, the reviews are recording around 50 miles plus in EV mode and around 50 plus mpg with a depleted battery, it has a 1800kg towing capacity.
Question is would I pay £4999 AP for a 3 year only lease.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally say the wrong thing.
A neighbour a few doors down has recently had the HS PHEV and is getting over 70 miles in electric and circa low to mid 40’s battery depleted. It’s a very nice looking car in my mind and he seems very pleased with it. @ajn has recently had the hybrid+ version and is getting 50+ mpg, also seemingly pleased with it. It’s certainly worth having a look at!
However, they all fall in the £4.5 – £5k bracket, which isn’t cheap, especially when a MGS5 is upto £2k cheaper and Skoda Enyak mucg cheaper still.
MG has just come bottom in the latest What Car? reliability survey – a spot usually reserved for Land Rover!
- Good job my MG is only a rental @Glos Guy, must say at the moment I’m loving it, been away again in it, nice challenging drive must say handled well, put through its paces needing to arrive at a destination at a limited time, a very comfortable car..
As for surveys I must confess…
If I wasn’t on the motability scheme, I don’t think I would splash out that sort of cash on a newish car listed above, I’d go private on a much older vehicle..
This MG I’ve taken on, is an honest car for the motability scheme, it’s got cracking deals at the moment, I’m not going to praise it to much, just like I didn’t disrespect others I test drove, when in reality I would be easy to have done so, with the APs unwarranted imo.
Even top brands are lacking the reputation they may have once had, even more so the choices were left with on the scheme..
My advice is choose what’s right for you, after all it’s only transport and all the above will hopefully get you there on time..
If I goes wrong remember it’s not a massive deal, as you’ll be provided with transport, it’s not as if you own the vehicle, just using it..
Wise words @ajn Glad to hear that you are enjoying your new car. Long may it continue!
Wise words indeed ajn .
Glos Guy I have a Nissan Ariya at the moment and I’m not surprised Nissan is at the bottom of your list.
I don’t know about you guys but when you have a lot tech in your car ie 360 surround view, head up display. I’ve had head up display in the last two cars, it’s really hard to give up the tech especially if it helps to make driving easier. In my case I have Rheumatoid arthritis and the tech does make a difference.
Looking at it another way, it just goes show how two sided it can all be , when no other than whatcar very recently awarded the new MG HS Whatcar of the year in two categories and the ZS Hybrid+ recognized as the best hybrid and MG Motor UK has secured the Best Manufacturer title at the influential Autocar Awards 2025 😂😂
The good news I guess, MG are up on last years 76.9%, so maybe the new generation will see stronger results next year🤔
Though, like (any) these surveys, they are best taken with a pinch of salt, as with any car it’s the luck of the draw and with less than 10% seperating them, really isn’t as bigger deal, than is often made out and with little more than 1% seperating MG and european mainstrean (VW) and premium brand (Audi) really isn’t that bad at all, considering the £1,000’s seperating them.
Picked up my PHEV KIA Sportage GTLS last month and as mentioned above, if the majority of your journeys are within the EV range, then they’re economical. But, I’d guess most people with PHEVs want longer range, which in turn means that they prefer driving in EV mode. Therefore, a full EV may make more sense. For the top trim level Sportage in PHEV variety, the AP was low enough for that car to make the most financial sense.
It’s a boring vehicle, that does it’s job and has all the tech that I want. But yesterday, I put a deposit down on a used Mini JCW. 95% of the time we don’t require a second car, but I enjoy driving and needed something fun.
We’ve had a PHEV Peugeot 308SW for a couple of years now. Lovely car, great drive. However, the PHEV bit has been a total faff and we will not be getting another. Only getting around 20 miles EV range in summer and 15 or less in winter (manufacturer stated up to 37). We have no off-street parking, no home charger, so charging via three-pin plug across a pavement (with good cable management, so no trip hazard).
Longer journeys driving in hybrid, the battery soon runs out and you’re just ICE-ing it, lugging the battery along. Takes 6+ hours to charge via 3-pin. There are (more expensive) on-street charging points within 5-10 minutes walking distance, but you have to keep trying to get the absolutely p***poor app to update with the charging status, or hang around by the car, to avoid over-staying charges once charged. Also, I’m finding that some places now only have some great big plug that we can’t use (presumably for new EVs?), so can’t charge there anyway (for example at services mid-route, which would have been something).
So, absolutely disappointed. This was supposed to be our stepping stone to getting an EV, but next car will now only be an ICE or full hybrid. Sorry 🙁
Just one car, and one couple’s experience, so listen to everyone 🙂
I had Mazda’s cx-60 PHEV for 10 months or so. Very comfortable and looks posh (we took bright interior), but had so many issues. As to the PHEV part, it would make some 35-40 miles max purely on EV and I didn’t enjoy it: instead of over 300 BHP you get only 120 or so and then a hiccup to get the ICE working, when needed.
I didn’t like the concept of PHEV.
Years ago we rented Prius and it was brilliant and very economic car and I would consider this type of a hybrid instead of PHEV.
Or simply go to the BEV if you can charge at home and have a car you like on the scheme – no brainer, I think.
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Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer - Ombudsman pending)
Motability Mazda CX-60 July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)instead of over 300 BHP you get only 120 or so and then a hiccup to get the ICE working, when needed.
I’d hope it’s at least 50% of BHP and you shouldn’t be getting any hiccup, when ICE comes in. However, Mazda had a lot to learn from the CX60, with it being their first. Nice car though!
Picked up my PHEV KIA Sportage GTLS last month and as mentioned above, if the majority of your journeys are within the EV range, then they’re economical. But, I’d guess most people with PHEVs want longer range, which in turn means that they prefer driving in EV mode. Therefore, a full EV may make more sense. For the top trim level Sportage in PHEV variety, the AP was low enough for that car to make the most financial sense. It’s a boring vehicle, that does it’s job and has all the tech that I want. But yesterday, I put a deposit down on a used Mini JCW. 95% of the time we don’t require a second car, but I enjoy driving and needed something fun.
You need to get the Sportage in gas guzzling sport mode, for anything remotely fun.
228bhp or 302bhp JCW?
@Kezo are you hoping that at least 50% of the BHP is produced via the electric motor?
According to google (well it’s admittedly not very intelligent AI) The KIA Sportage’s total BHP of 261BHP is made up of 90BHP electric motor and 177BHP petrol engine. I do realise 90+177 does not equal 261, but I do believe that the motor is producing less than 50% of the overall power.@Kezo are you hoping that at least 50% of the BHP is produced via the electric motor? According to google (well it’s admittedly not very intelligent AI) The KIA Sportage’s total BHP of 261BHP is made up of 90BHP electric motor and 177BHP petrol engine. I do realise 90+177 does not equal 261, but I do believe that the motor is producing less than 50% of the overall power.
Of course you are correct however, 261bhp “180bhp” engine is long gone ours have 160bhp + 66.9kW (c.89.8bhp) electric motor and the 2025/6 Tucson & Sportage 72kW electric motor. No wonder I like sport mode on a run😂
Isn’t it interesting how many of us went down the PHEV route and haven’t been impressed?
I guess that we should keep in mind that PHEVs were primarily aimed at company car drivers who didn’t want BEVs. It saved them a lot of ‘benefit in kind’ taxation without having to suffer the limitations of a BEV, hence why many never even bother to charge them. If you don’t pay for your fuel you’re not bothered about the very poor mpg when the battery is depleted.
@gilders Your post sums up exactly how I feel about our Tucson PHEV. Has all the kit you could ever want and a very practical car (bings and ruddy bongs aside), but boring as hell to drive. I want to get some fun back into driving as well, so am considering options.
@Will I also find the need to charge after every journey a real faff, even though I charge at home in my garage. Public charging makes no sense whatsoever with a PHEV, as it takes too long for too little range, and if paying public charging costs it would probably be cheaper (and certainly ten times easier) to just do those miles on petrol.
@kdwolf The CX-60 was a close second when we were last looking. The size and stated bhp appealed but, now having a PHEV, I realise that the stated bhp is a bit of a joke as you only get it when you floor it with a charged battery and the engine kicks in. I think our PHEV is something like 260bhp but it doesn’t feel as quick as our previous petrol BMW 2.0i which had something like 177bhp which was, of course, always available!Like everyone else, I think it’s more likely to be a BEV or ICE car next time. I might consider a BMW PHEV as long as it’s one with a 3.0i six cylinder petrol engine, rather than the somewhat puny 1.5 / 1.6 petrol engines that most PHEVs have. Unfortunately that means leaving Motability but, unless we decide to go down the BEV route, that’s looking more and more likely by the week!
Now I love the Suzuki Across PHEV and hoping (touch wood) I can extend the lease.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally say the wrong thing.
Isn’t it interesting how many of us went down the PHEV route and haven’t been impressed?
Not really.
It just shows who couldn’t be bothered to read into it, which is on them. And somewhat proven here as well, with people not even knowing how much of the total propulsion is provided by the electric motor.
You really can’t complain or “not be impressed” with the power of the electric motor when you didn’t know how much power it has in the first place – before you order the car, preferably.
PHEVs have an admittedly narrower use case than other cars, that said..
The fact that people are insistent that something is bad, rather than accepting that their expectations are simply unrealistic or stupid is beyond funny nowadays. In this thread alone you have people complaining that the car in its most economical setting “doesn’t make 300bhp”, didn’t know how much power it has in the first place, are “bothered” by plugging the car in (a process that literally takes less than 15 seconds) etc.
It’s the same kind of people who buy a 330d, drive it 2 miles up town and back and wonder why they’re only averaging 17mpg, and the heater doesn’t work. Yeah, if you don’t use the car as intended, then who’d have thought, it’s not going to work out great. We didn’t get a diesel because it’d be moronic to do so in our use case – i cannot fathom why this is such a foreign concept to the vast majority of people here. Neither can i fathom how someone with our requirements looks at a diesel and goes “yeah, lets get this, makes sense”.
No, PHEVs aren’t bad. You bought the wrong car, because you didn’t “do your research” before/think it through.
PHEVs very much work for many people, over a total of 34 months of “ownership” we drove the GTE 16k miles, with a fuel bill (total) of around £870 – and that’s exclusively “Momentum” (and EV tariff).
This is the same nonsense as people who can’t charge at home, were warned that EVs aren’t economical to run on public chargers, bought them anyway and then complain about how expensive an EV is to run.
Own your mistakes. Things like this sentence:
I realise that the stated bhp is a bit of a joke as you only get it when you floor it with a charged battery and the engine kicks in
.. yeah? What else would you suggest? State the petrol only bhp? State the electric only bhp? What’s the alternative? You can’t give people like you the actual precise numbers either because then two days later you come back to the dealership complaining that on the dyno, the car made a noticeably smaller number than motor+engine numbers should add up to – naturally, considering they peak their power at different ranges on the revband – so the actual numbers are completely meaningless, what matters is the combined horsepower – and that’s the number you get quoted.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.@gilders Your post sums up exactly how I feel about our Tucson PHEV. Has all the kit you could ever want and a very practical car (bings and ruddy bongs aside), but boring as hell to drive. I want to get some fun back into driving as well, so am considering options.
They are good a to b family cars and thats where it ends and if you want anything that basically resembles a bit of pep, you need sports mode which defeats the object. Likewise slapping a turbo on 1.5/1.6l, also defeats the object of these cars and makes them little more than grande toys!
Ive learnt alot in just over a year and when looking at PHEV’s like the Rav4/Across, they all opt for NA engines of least 2.5l, electric motors of which provide more the 50% of the total power, that will quickly get up to speed and keep up with traffic in no more than 6s and on a bad day will get 5o miles and near 50mpg with a depleted battery!
I was so close choosing the Across but my heart opted for function over form, which I regret.
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