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It’ s time to find out which is the top Korean PHEV PLUS We name 10 more top plug-in hybrid SUVs
Jaguar F-Pace
Land Rover Defender
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Prices: £60,420-£67,035 Powertrain: 2.0-litre petrol/e-motor, 19.2kWh battery, 398bhp EV Range: 33 miles Economy: 128.4mpg CO2: 49g/km 0-62mph: 5.3 seconds Trims: R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE, R-Dynamic HSE, R-Dynamic Black
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F-PaceP400e R-DynamicSE
ONE disadvantage of plug-in hybrids is that they’re relatively heavy cars. Carrying a combustion engine and a battery will pile on the pounds, and that often means that they’re not the most fun things to drive.
Not so the Jaguar F-Pace P400e. Sure, it’s not quite as responsive as the regular petrol models, but Jaguar’s engineers have done a fantastic job of disguising that extra mass, delivering a plug-in SUV that’s engaging to drive, with a neutral handling balance and sharp, well weighted steering.
Power comes from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is teamed up with an electric motor for a combined output of 398bhp. The resulting 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds makes the P400e the quickest-accelerating car in our top 10.
The F-Pace has another ace up its sleeve, too. Most PHEVs can only accept AC charging through a Type 2 socket, but the Jaguar is available with 50kW DC charging through a CCS connection. That means it’s possible to top up the battery from 0-80 per cent in about 30 minutes – so you can benefit from more of that zero-emission range even on longer journeys.
Prices: £72,200-£91,820 Powertrain: 2.0-litre petrol/e-motor, 19.2kWh battery, 398bhp EV Range: 32 miles Economy: 106mpg CO2: 61g/km 0-62mph: 5.6 seconds Trims: X-Dynamic, XS Edition, X, Premium
WHILE the Jaguar side of JLR makes one of the most engaging PHEV SUVs to drive (above), its colleagues over at Land Rover make one of the most practical and rugged, in the form of the Defender P400e.
Land Rover had a tough task when it came to replacing its iconic Defender. Pushing the new model in a more luxurious direction might not have been what the die-hard purists wanted, but it’s a fantastic machine nonetheless.
At 5,018mm long, 2,008mm wide and 1,967mm tall, and weighing comfortably over two tonnes, the Defender is never going to win any efficiency awards – but the P400e plug-in model at least gives it a fighting chance. The Land Rover’s powertrain is shared with the F-Pace P400e, so that means a hefty 398bhp and 640Nm of torque. Performance is strong, and there’s scope for up to 32 miles of electric range between charges. So depending on the type of journey you’re taking, you might just be able to reach mpg figures as lofty as the driving position.
Sitting as high as many van drivers, you’re granted a commanding view of the road in the Defender, a vantage point which also gives you a great view of the dashboard’s contemporary yet industrial-looking layout. The infotainment system is great, while further back, there are few other plug-in hybrids that are quite so spacious. www.autoexpress.co.uk
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DefenderP400e X-Dynamic
Vauxhall Grandland
Mercedes GLA
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GrandlandHybrid-e GSLine
UNDER the skin, the Vauxhall Grandland Hybrid-e is mechanically similar to the 3008 (opposite), but we’re giving the nod to the Grandland here because as it stands, the version we’d go for is very slightly cheaper than its French counterpart on finance.
While the Grandland made its debut back in 2017, recent updates have really boosted its appeal – and we’re not just talking about the handsome new front end. The spacious cabin gains a refreshed and better-finished dashboard, plus it benefits from improved infotainment and safety tech. Top-spec models come with a 360-degree parking camera, blind-spot monitoring and LED matrix headlights.
The 1.6-litre petrol engine works in harmony with the electrical set-up. Officially, the car covers the 0-62mph dash in 8.9 seconds, achieves 192mpg, and its 13.2kWh battery is good for 39 miles on a charge.
The suspension is slightly firmer than the Peugeot’s which, combined with marginally less assisted steering (through a regular-sized wheel) makes the Vauxhall a little more enjoyable to drive – albeit less smooth-riding than the 3008.
Prices: £42,185-£45,185 Powertrain: 1.3-litre petrol/e-motor, 10.9kWh battery, 180bhp EV Range: 37-39 miles Economy: 188.4-201.8mpg CO2: 31-34g/km 0-62mph: 7.1 seconds Trims: AMG Line Exec, Premium, Premium Plus Night Ed.
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GLA250eAMGLine PremiumExecutive
GIVEN that efficiency is at the heart of why plug-in hybrids exist, installing the complex tech into a large, heavy SUV seems at odds with the whole point. But thanks to the Mercedes GLA 250 e, it’s possible to drive a relatively compact PHEV, yet still benefit from all the technology and luxury that buyers of larger, posher SUVs demand.
To that end, Mercedes has crammed some fabulous infotainment tech into the GLA; a pair of gorgeous hi-res displays sit in front of the driver, and on some models these feature an augmented-reality navigation system, which guides you through your next junction with arrows superimposed onto images from a front-mounted camera in real time.
What’s under the skin is just as advanced, too. The GLA 250 e’s combustion element is taken care of by a 158bhp 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but that needn’t be called into action too often, because the electric motor makes 101bhp on its own. In other words, over the 39 miles or so that can be driven in EV mode you still have more than enough pace to keep up with commuter traffic.
When you need more, petrol and electric work together to give a 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds. Beyond that, the GLA rides and handles well, has plenty of space inside, and comes with the added draw of that three-pointed star on the nose. www.autoexpress.co.uk
BMW X5
REGARDLESS of what is lurking under the bonnet, the BMW X5 is one of the finest SUVs money can buy. However, we reckon it’s at its very best in xDrive45e form.
The powertrain is something of a masterpiece and, in some ways, quite a rarity in PHEV terms. For the electric part, BMW has fitted a 111bhp electric motor, but it draws its energy from a whopping 24kWh battery – the same capacity as the unit fitted to the original Nissan Leaf EV.
On a good day, that means you can expect a zero-emission mileage in the high forties (the official WLTP range is 50-54 miles). That figure is far more than in many other plug in-rivals, so you’ll need to call on the petrol engine much less often – and use much less fuel – as a result. It’s particularly worth thinking about this if you plan to do many longer journeys, because it really helps to trim your petrol costs.
It’s almost a shame that the petrol engine sits on the sidelines as much as it does, though, because it’s an absolute peach. While many PHEVs make do with a small four-cylinder engine, there’s no such compromise here; the xDrive45e gets a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol unit.
When this is working in harmony with the electric motor, the X5 offers up a heavyhitting 389bhp – enough for a 5.6-second 0-62mph time accompanied by a rich sixcylinder soundtrack that’s befitting of a luxurious vehicle such as this.
All of the usual X5 strengths apply in this plug-in model, too. It offers a fabulously comfortable ride, but this does not come at the expense of body control, because it behaves impeccably through the turns.
The hushed cabin is a wonderfully relaxing place to while away longer trips; there’s also acres of space inside, and the whole package is backed up by a flawless infotainment system and superb build quality. If money is no object, this is one of the finest SUV all-rounders on the market.
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X5xDrive45eMSport
