Best plug-in hybrid cars 2025

Hyundai Santa Fe 

What makes the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV stand out from most other plug-in hybrid models is that it has seven seats – a feature that very few have. This means you can take more people around and often have more boot space when seats are folded flat. 

Another reason you may want to consider the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV is because of its impressive electric range of 36 miles – helping it reach its 173.3mpg claimed figure.  

If you’re after a family car that can do it all while being economical, there are very few better than the Santa Fe.  

Sam Sheehan, motoring expert, said: "The Santa Fe is proof that if you need to carry six to seven passengers around on a regular basis, you don’t have to sell out and drive a utilitarian-looking vehicle.

"Far from it in fact, the Hyundai Santa Fe is super cool looking and lets you drive your family and friends around in style."

Peugeot 508

The Peugeot 508 PSE (Peugeot Sport Engineered) PHEV is the most powerful car the French brand has ever made, and it’s one of the more stylish models in its arsenal too. 

This four-wheel drive plug-in hybrid produces 360hp, with 200hp of that coming from its petrol engine and the rest from its two onboard electric motors. 

On electric power alone, the Peugeot 508 PSE can travel up to 39 miles, which is ideal for most city driving scenarios. It works alongside the petrol engine in other scenarios to maximise its overall mpg rating.  

Lexus NX 450h+ 

The NX 450h+ is Lexus’s mid-sized SUV that offers some of the best electric-only range found in any plug-in hybrid, sitting at 45 miles on a single charge – the equivalent of driving from London to Reading.

Mated to the electric motors is a 2.5-litre petrol engine, which together can launch the NX from 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds – very impressive for an SUV. 

Sam tested the Lexus NX and said: "With its distinctive styling, efficient hybrid powertrain, and generous equipment, being different is what the Lexus NX is all about.

"If you don't want to make the default choice when shopping for a mid-sized SUV, the NX is for you."

Volvo XC60 Recharge

If you’re looking for your next family car to be comfortable, fast, good-looking and economical, then the Volvo XC60 Recharge may just be the one for you. 

There are two different Volvo XC60 hybrid models on offer: the T6 and T8. The latter produces more power at 450hp and therefore is a little quicker off the line, posting a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds.  

In terms of its all-electric range, you should be able to get 49 miles on a single charge, adding to the XC60’s impressive overall 282.1mpg rating.  

BMW 330e  

When it comes to all-rounders, very few cars come close to what the BMW 3 Series offers. It's comfortable, quick, spacious, economical, and offers plenty of space for your family. 

But the one that’s really special is the BMW 300e, which has a very clever onboard plug-in hybrid system that offers a claimed 63 miles of all-electric range and a great overall mpg figure of 148.7. 

It’s also packed full of great interior technology like all other BMW models, making those longer journeys even more enjoyable. 

Volkswagen Golf GTE

While the fully-electric Volkswagen Golf didn’t have the success the company hoped for, the hybrid one certainly has. 

It’s called the Golf GTE, and it's basically a standard VW Golf with a 1.4-litre engine but with the addition of hybrid technology. 

This means you can travel up to 81 miles on the electric-only range.

We also like that it’s just so familiar. Being a Golf, there is nothing out of the ordinary, and that’s going to appeal to many people who don't want a futuristic-looking electric car. 

They can be slightly pricier than standard Golf models, but choosing a used Volkswagen can help keep costs down.

BMW X5 xDrive45e

When you think of a big and bulky SUV such as the X5, you don’t necessarily think about saving the environment, but in actual fact, that’s exactly what the BMW X5 xDrive45e PHEV is all about.  

Thanks to its punchy 112hp electric motor and 285hp 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged engine, the X5 hybrid is capable of travelling up to 66 miles on a single charge – something you don’t expect from a 2.5-tonne SUV. 

With it being an X5, it’s also very large and has more boot space than you could possibly need, sitting at 650 litres and growing to 1,720 litres when the rear seats are folded flat. 

Range Rover Sport P400e

The new Range Rover Sport hybrid came out a few years ago, and was a relief for those in big cities like London who were being butchered by the new ULEZ charge to drive around in their big V8 SUVs. 

The P400e, as it’s dubbed, still retains the standard Range Rover luxury but with a hefty hybrid system. 

Sitting alongside its 300hp 2.0-litre petrol engine is a 115hp electric motor, which not only offers impressive performance but also a 70-mile electric range – enough to drive across London and back again, then some.

Sam said: "The Land Rover Range Rover Sport is the ultimate all-roader.

"It combines great on-road performance, handling and refinement with supreme off-road prowess."

Toyota Prius

Ah yes, the trusty Toyota Prius. This is the pick of the bunch for all taxi drivers around the world, and it isn’t hard to see why. 

There’s one engine option on offer – a 2.0-litre petrol engine that’s mated to a small but mighty electric motor.  

This PHEV version can travel up to 53 miles on electric-only power.

Sam said: "The Toyota Prius comes close to a five-star verdict.

"The dated infotainment and drab finish lose it a mark. In other respects, though, the Prius is an easy car to recommend.

"The combination of petrol and electric power delivers solid performance and fuel economy."

BYD Seal U

One of the more recent additions to the PHEV world is the BYD Seal U – a hybrid SUV from the Chinese brand, BYD (also known as Build Your Dreams).

Using its clever hybrid setup the Seal U mates a 1.5-litre petrol engine to an electric motor and battery to achieve up to 78 miles on electric power alone – that's a massive amount for a two-tonne+ SUV.

It also has a handy 425-litre boot, with an extra 53-litre 'froot' (that's an extra storage space under the bonnet).