Best hybrid SUV 2022
If you’re driving a large and heavy SUV, the last thing you want is a hard-working petrol engine under the bonnet. Pretty soon, the result will be eye-watering fuel bills.
However, as diesel vehicles increasingly become a no-no, how do you save fuel with an SUV? Choose a hybrid model, that’s how. The clever electrified tech is just the job for slashing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
There are two types available. The first are regular hybrid SUVs (sometimes known as ‘self-charging hybrids’), which you don’t need to plug in. The second are plug-in hybrid SUVs, also known as PHEVs.
We’ve included both types in our rundown of the best hybrid SUVs, to make sure there’s something for everyone, no matter what your budget or vehicle size requirements.
Britain is a nation in love with SUVs, so the choice on the market is enormous right now. Here, we help you pick out the ones to test-drive and buy, in our guide to the best hybrid SUVs.
BMW X5 xDrive45e
The BMW X5 xDrive45e is a seriously impressive plug-in hybrid. It pairs a silky six-cylinder petrol engine with a punchy electric motor and 24kWh battery. That all adds up to 389hp, an electric driving range of up to 54 miles, plus official fuel economy of 201-235mpg. The EV range is enough for most to complete their everyday commute in pure electric mode, with the engine reserved for longer trips. You’ll relish them, because the big BMW X5 has a high-quality cabin, plenty of technology and a driver-focused nature that won’t fail to raise a smile. Business users will smile when they see how low their tax return is, too – CO2 emissions are just 27-32g/km. It’s just a pity the electric batteries eat into boot space, making the hybrid less practical than a standard X5.
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Kia Sorento PHEV
The Kia Sorento is proving popular here in the UK, particularly in plug-in hybrid guise. Modern, distinctive styling gives this large SUV status, and the interior is very roomy and comfortable. It comes with seven seats as standard, which fold flat into the floor when not in use. The plug-in hybrid setup combines an electric motor with a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, giving an impressive 261hp overall. A 13.8kWh battery offers an EV range of around 32 miles, while CO2 emissions of 38g/km keep tax bills low. Good-value list prices help here, too: the Sorento PHEV is a bit of a bargain hybrid SUV, given its space, equipment and e-drive capability.
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Renault Captur E-Tech
The Renault Captur small SUV offers two types of E-Tech hybrid; either a ‘self-charging’ hybrid system, or a plug-in hybrid with an electric driving range of 30 miles. The latter system produces 160hp, making it the most powerful Captur yet, and claimed fuel economy is almost 220mpg (aiding a low CO2 figure of 30g/km). It further enhances the well-liked, good-looking Captur, which is one of Europe’s most popular small SUVs. List prices starting from just over £31,000 are offset by how much fuel you can save. And if that’s still too expensive, the regular Captur E-Tech hybrid is available at a more affordable price.
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Toyota RAV4 PHEV
Toyota has offered a hybrid version of its RAV4 compact SUV for some time. Now the Japanese firm has taken the logical next step and added a plug-in hybrid version, too. The 2.5-litre petrol engine, 18.1kWh battery and electric motor combine to give a 46-mile EV range, 282mpg and CO2 emissions of 22g/km. The RAV4 has a rugged and well-built interior, offers plenty of space front and rear, and also has a commodious 520-litre boot. Toyota still offers the regular RAV4 hybrid, but growing numbers of buyers are spending the extra to get the plug-in version and slash their fuel costs.
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Land Rover Discovery Sport
The Discovery Sport has long been Land Rover’s most popular model. It is now offered in plug-in hybrid guise, called the P300e. The headline figure is a 37-mile pure electric range: impressive for an off-road-optimised seven-seat SUV. The company has equipped it with fast-charge technology, so topping up the batteries from a 7kW home wallbox takes just over two hours. It can also charge to 80 percent capacity in half an hour with a 32kW DC public charger. Owners love the high-up seating position and the Discovery Sport’s impenetrable feeling of confidence on the road. The latest Pivi Pro infotainment system is also winning plaudits.
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Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge
The Volvo XC40 is a very popular compact SUV here in the UK. The Swedish company is building on this success with two electrified range-topping models, branded Recharge. One is a pure electric version (in P6 and P8 forms), while the T5 Recharge is a plug-in hybrid. Take it in either 211hp T4 or 262hp T5 formats; both have a three-cylinder petrol engine that officially gives up to 134mpg, plus CO2 emissions from 47-57g/km. An electric range of 28 miles isn’t the greatest, but will be enough for most daily trips, and it means the XC40’s famed practicality and space efficiency remain uncompromised. The high-quality cabin and portrait-style infotainment screen still look good, too.
Ford Kuga PHEV
Ford sells the Kuga both as a regular hybrid and this plug-in Kuga PHEV. It has an ample 225hp and officially averages up to 282mpg, while a 14.4kWh battery gives an electric driving range of 39 miles. It’s just as space-efficient as all other Ford Kugas and shares the same sleek bodystyle, which we think carries more than a hint of Aston Martin DBX. Ford has been careful to ensure the maximum towing weight is still a decent 1,500kg as well; many buy SUVs with towing in mind and the Kuga is relatively uncompromised in this respect, despite its eco makeover.
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Audi Q5 TFSI e
British car buyers really rate the Audi Q5, and it’s now able to take on premium plug-in hybrid rivals such as the BMW X3 xDrive30e with this TFSI e variant. The Q5 50 TFSI e, which is offered in a broad range of trims including Sport, S line and fully-loaded Vorsprung, packs a punch with its 299hp drivetrain. It also has a generous 17.9kWh battery, giving a pure electric range of 37 miles. The petrol engine takes over for longer trips, which the Q5 will conduct with effortless ease. Audi’s famed build quality is evident throughout and the good-looking, family-sized Q5 hybrid will bring an air of classy kudos to your driveway.
Mercedes-Benz GLA 250e
Even the smallest Mercedes-Benz SUV feels built to last. And the GLA is now doing its bit for the environment, in GLA 250 e plug-in hybrid form. A good-looking SUV with all the style of its larger siblings, the 250 e is a particularly efficient PHEV. A compact 10.6kWh battery nevertheless gives a 37-mile pure electric driving range, and CO2 emissions for tax purposes are just 32g/km. We also love the high-tech displays that feature inside the family-friendly GLA, with futuristic features such as augmented reality sat-nav available on the options list. If you want to go even further than this hybrid SUV on the journey to electrification, Mercedes-Benz will soon launch the pure electric EQA as well.
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Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid
The latest Hyundai Tucson is a very distinctive-looking SUV. It has the firm’s latest angular design style, and includes a remarkable LED light array built into the patterned grille. A similarly modern drivetrain is available in the line-up: the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid. Its 1.6-litre turbo engine and electric motor combine to deliver 265hp to all four wheels, and a 13.8kWh battery gives a 31-mile pure electric range. Hyundai also offers a cheaper Tucson hybrid, along with even more affordable petrol and diesel mild-hybrid models. All of them benefit from Hyundai’s superb five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
What is the best mid-size hybrid?
As diesels decline, the mid-size hybrid SUV sector is growing fast. Today, competitive models such as the Ford Kuga PHEV, Toyota RAV4 PHEV and Volvo XC40 Recharge all impress, and there are plenty more vehicles on the horizon to ensure hybrid SUV buyers will soon be spoilt for choice. At present, the Volvo is probably our pick.
What is the best hybrid 4x4 in the UK?
Some of the hybrid SUV models here, such as the Ford Kuga PHEV, do not offer all-wheel drive. This limits their usefulness for those who live in remote areas, or want to travel off-road. Buyers who need genuine 4x4 traction should look to heavy-duty machines such as the Kia Sorento, Land Rover Discovery Sport and even the all-wheel-drive Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid.
Are hybrid SUVs reliable?
Years of development have gone into the latest hybrid SUV systems to ensure they are strong and reliable. Many manufacturers offer comprehensive eight-year warranties on plug-in hybrid components – longer than the overall car warranty – which is very reassuring. This is likely to make them even more reliable than their petrol and diesel SUV equivalents.
