If you’ve already read reviews of the hybrid Golf, Octavia or Leon, there will be no great surprises with the A3. It also claims a similar EV range (43 miles) from its 12.4kWh battery and slots into the wallet-friendly 8% BIK banding. The Vauxhall also handles with crisp precision thanks to its accurate steering and good body control, but it doesn't flow down the road with quite the panache of its Gallic cousin.Įlsewhere, you get similar strengths and weaknesses as the 308, so the Astra rides quietly and cuts through the air cleanly, but the rear seats are a little cramped by class standards. #Best plug in hybrid crossover 2022 plus#It's relatively smooth and refined, plus the electronics do a decent job of seamlessly shuffling between the two power sources. Like the 308, the Astra gets a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine that's mated to an electric motor and drives the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, although currently you can buy only the 178bhp version. The Vauxhall's sharp-edged 'Vizor' design treatment arguably gives it the edge in showroom appeal, but the French car's fractionally more fluid ride and handling help it finish a place ahead in this list. #Best plug in hybrid crossover 2022 skin#In many ways, the Astra and Peugeot 308 are interchangeable in this list, not least because under the skin they're largely the same car. Save money on new 308 deals from What Car? 4. #Best plug in hybrid crossover 2022 crack#Either way, the Peugeot claims to crack the important 40-mile threshold for EV range, meaning it qualifies for a BIK rate of just 8%. However, while the additional power is nice to have, it does inflate the price to a point where the 308 struggles to justify itself. We have also tried the 308 Hybrid 225 and found the same qualities reflected. Nonetheless, this car acts as a welcome reminder that the compact family hatch template is still hard to beat when it comes to melding practicality, value and dynamic sparkle to the man or woman on the street. The infotainment system leaves something to be desired, though, and rear-seat space is cramped. Our experience of the car has been positive: the 308 ably balances ride and handling, and the hybrid powertrain is quite refined. The Hybrid 180 version starts from £33,000, undercutting the Golf eHybrid. Tempted by the DS 4, but put off by its high price? Peugeot is putting the same plug-in hybrid powertrain in the new 308, but is offering it with a lower-power output and cheaper entry price. Save money on new Octavia deals from What Car? #Best plug in hybrid crossover 2022 drivers#As usual with plug-in hybrids, the 43-mile electric will be hard to replicate in the real world, but at least it will bag company car drivers a tidy 8% BIK rate, in the lower-powered car at least. Stick with the standard one and it’ll be the kind of car you’d think nothing of covering big miles in, from where you’d be enjoying a superb interior. The Golf shares its powertrain with some of the other cars here, but it also manages to form the most cohesive package because it’s one of the more entertaining plug-in hybrids without becoming unduly harsh in its ride quality. (Lower-rate earners will save around £50 per month compared with the GTE. That said, bear in mind that the lower-powered car has a claimed electric range of over 40 miles so qualifies for 8% BIK, which adds up to quite a saving on your monthly tax. A cheaper Golf eHybrid is available with just 201bhp, but the price difference is small enough that the GTE is the better buy. Still, that figure combined with a CO2 rating of 26g/km means the GTE slots into the 12% benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax band.Īdmittedly, with a price of just over £37,000, the GTE is one of the pricier cars on this list. This means its claimed electric range is up to 38 miles on the WLTP cycle, although you’d be hard-pressed to achieve that in the real world. It now has a 13kWh battery too, as opposed to the 8.8kWh one that appeared in the last version. Make no mistake: it’s still not quite as focused as its purely petrol-powered stablemate, but by PHEV standards, the new GTE has enough talent about it to keep keener drivers interested. Grip levels are good, its steering accurate and responsive, and body control usefully tight. This new Mk8 version retains a healthy amount of what made the last Golf GTE a good PHEV but brings an additional smattering of athleticism and engagement to the table too. What it lacked, though, was some of the dynamic pep that was essential for it to be taken seriously as an eco-friendly alternative to the excellent Mk7 Golf GTI. When it came to the job of being a refined, easy-driving plug-in hybrid, the previous Golf GTE was a pretty slick operator.
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