The popularity of hybrid cars has soared over recent years. These economical, eco-friendly vehicles enable you to make a valuable contribution to the environment whilst saving a great deal of money and make longer journeys a breeze. Hybrid cars have two power sources, which are an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Not all hybrid cars are right for everyone, but the greater range of options available to you today makes it easier to find something that will suit your tastes, needs and budget perfectly. Plug-in hybrids are now a prominent option alongside regular hybrids and have larger batteries, a better fuel economy and a longer range on electric power. However, they do tend to be more expensive than conventional hybrids.
Let’s take a look at ten of the most popular hybrid cars on the market today.
The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine has become one of the most popular SUVs on the plug-in hybrid market. The vehicle has the same 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the T6, with the addition of the electric motor giving power of 395bph. The car is able to travel 25 miles on a battery prior to the engine kicking in. You can recharge the battery whilst in motion via the petrol engine, whilst those who regularly carry sizeable loads will love the vast interior space from the vast boot and seven seats on offer. The car emits 49 g/km of CO2.
Indian manufacturer Mahindra has now launched its e20 in the UK. The car has a range of 89 miles and is aimed at urban commuters in particular. The UK version of the car offers a higher spec than its Indian counterpart including a bigger battery and an improved interior. It has a top speed of 63mph and takes several hours to charge, although the e20 TechX offers a fast charge option and takes just 90 minutes. The manufacturer claims average drivers can expect to pay less than £10 a month for fuel.
The four-wheel drive Outlander PHEV (Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) boasts a five-star safety rating and is the best-selling hybrid in the UK. It has CO2 emissions of lower than 50g/km and has a range of up to 30 miles on electric power. The car is a favourite amongst company car drivers as well as private users mainly making short journeys. It is also ideal for families.
The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is available as a fully electric vehicle as well as a plug-in hybrid and conventional hybrid. The car has been compared favourably to the Toyota Prius and is the manufacturer’s first-ever hybrid car. It has CO2 emissions of 79g/km and offers approximately 83mpg. The car is also noted for its highly-competitive price as well as its gearbox and driveability.
The i3 Range Extender is described by BMW as the globe’s first premium electric car and has a CO2 rating of just 13g/km. The range extender hybrid version of the i3 ensures the battery is replenished when it falls to 3.5% but you can also set the charge level to a percentage of your choice to ensure you’re not caught short.
The Volvo V60 Plug-in is well-suited to families in particular and has a 2.4-litre diesel engine and electric motor. You can reach up to 62mph in just seven seconds and benefit from a fuel economy of 155.2mpg. A CO2 output of 48g/km makes it ideal for the environmentally-conscious, whilst the car can comfortably hold a family of five. This vehicle is perhaps ideal for long-distance drivers, with its only real drawback being its rather high price.
The Yaris hybrid is compact enough for city drivers and has an automatic gearbox. It features a 1.5 litre petrol engine and an electrical motor and is a great match for city drivers. This Yaris model is one of the UK’s most affordable hybrids. 15-inch alloys will result in 86.6mpg, whilst 16-inch ones will offer 78.5mpg.
If you’re in a position to invest in a hybrid supercar, the BMW i8 could tick all your boxes. The car can reach 62mph in just over four seconds and has a maximum speed of 155mph. It is exempt from the London congestion charge thanks to its 49 CO2 emissions and offers an average fuel economy of over 130mpg. The car has a 1.5 litre three-cylinder petrol engine and a li-ion battery run electric motor. Four-wheel driveability is available, as are three driving modes, the Sport, Comfort and Eco Pro. Perhaps the only thing preventing the i8 from topping our list is the somewhat prohibitive six-figure price tag.
The new version of the Toyota Prius Plug-In now has a pure-electric mode speed of over 80mph and can reach 62mph in 11.1 seconds. It has a combined fuel economy of a stunning 283mpg and CO2 emissions of an extremely eco-friendly 22g/km. The car also boasts a 43-litre fuel tank, enabling you to cover a significant distance when your plug socket is unavailable.
Finally, the GTE version of the Volkswagen Golf is a plug-in hybrid with a 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine and a battery-run electric motor. It has a fuel economy of 166mpg as well as five different driving modes. The car can reach 62mph in 7.6 seconds and can help you make remarkable savings on fuel and tax. The GTE strongly resembles the GTI and has CO2 emissions of under 40g/km and is consistently cited as one of the most impressive hybrids currently on the market.
Originally published at bumblebeebatteries.com on February 13, 2017.