Volkswagen plug-in hybrid for sale

Benefits of Volkswagen plug-in hybrid cars

The key benefit to owning a used Volkswagen plug-in hybrid car is the reduced fuel consumption – modern VW PHEVs can run on battery power for upwards of 30 miles, some more than double that, so you’ll get to benefit from cheap off-peak electricity rates.

You’ll also love the quiet electric driving experience, especially around town where you can go about your errands (or sit in traffic) in near silence.

Volkswagen PHEV vs. hybrid vs. MHEV

Volkswagen plug-in hybrid cars for sale have large batteries, up to 19.7kWh in the Tiguan, which means they can do more than just short trips on electric power alone.

You’ll need to charge them regularly to get the benefit; otherwise, you’ll just have a heavy hybrid, so you might not get the mpg figures you were hoping for.

VW doesn’t do regular hybrids, but it sells advanced mild hybrids, which bridge the gap exceptionally. They offer smooth driving experiences and advanced stop-start and coasting systems to make sure you use as little fuel as possible – but you won’t be able to drive for any real distance on electric power.

Volkswagen plug-in hybrid technology

Like Volkswagen’s electric cars, VW PHEVs for sale offer strong regenerative braking. Not only does this help add wasted energy back into the battery under deceleration, but it also makes for a more intuitive drive, because you’ll need to use the brake pedal less.

With a used Volkswagen plug-in hybrid car, you’ll also be able to select from different drive modes, including electric-only, battery preservation and performance.

Volkswagen PHEV running costs

Volkswagen claims upwards of 700mpg for the most economical Tiguan eHybrid, but that’s under test conditions where it mostly drives on the battery.

In reality, you can expect closer to 50-60mpg if you fail to keep the battery charged, but it's still respectable, but if you’re buying a PHEV, you should really be making the effort to charge it.

Charging at home offers the best value – a full charge of the Tiguan’s 19.7kWh battery on an off-peak rate (7p/kWh) costs around £1.40, and that’s for over 70 miles of range – 2p per mile sounds good, doesn’t it?

Who are Volkswagen plug-in hybrid cars suitable for?

Used Volkswagen plug-in hybrid cars for sale are ideal for short- to medium-distance commuters who typically drive less than 30 miles in one go, because they can benefit from the system’s electric-only range for cheaper running costs.

But, when the time comes to tackle that longer motorway trip, the efficient petrol engine kicks in for added range and flexibility.

They’re especially popular among company car drivers and business users who can benefit from the lower company car tax, but even used Volkswagen plug-in hybrid car buyers will love spending less time at the petrol pump.