The longest-range plug-in hybrids
Like the idea of a plug-in hybrid car, but want to spend as much time as possible on electric power? Here are the top 10 models with the longest electric ranges...
If you need a car to help minimise your fuel costs, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can make a lot of sense. That’s because they essentially offer the best of both worlds; combining a combustion engine with an electric motor and a battery to give you the option of running on electric power for short journeys, and the engine on longer ones.
So, if you regularly cover a 30-mile round trip to work or to drop your kids off at school, for example, a PHEV could be the ideal choice for you. A PHEV can also be a good option if you're a company car driver, because their often low official CO2 emissions result in low benefit-in-kind (BIK) ratings.
The Omoda 9 SUV has the longest electric-only range of any PHEV, with an official range of 93 miles from its 34.5kWh (usable capacity) battery. This, combined with a 70-litre fuel tank, means it’s capable of as much as 700 miles of running between fill ups. But given we’re yet to drive that car, which are the other longest-range PHEVs you can buy in the UK?
We’ve put together a list of 10, and revealed how much you can save on each with our Target Price deal and free New Car Deals service. In each case, we've used the official WLTP electric-only ranges of each model, although we have also revealed real-world range figures where appropriate.
If you like the idea of a PHEV and you want to reap the financial rewards, we have a top tip for you: you must charge it regularly. Otherwise, they can be quite inefficient, because the engine works harder to pull the weight of the motor and battery.
Strengths
- Long electric-only range
- Strong performance
- Very well equipped
Weaknesses
- Tight third row seats
- Fidgety ride
- Lack of physical buttons
Version Summit | Electric-only range 91 miles | List price £43,105 | Best Price £43,105
The Tiggo 9 landed in UK showrooms last winter, and its affordable price point makes the 91-mile electric-only range all the more impressive. By comparison, the Skoda Kodiaq can only muster up 76 miles on its electric motor, while the Hyundai Santa Fe falls well short at just 33 miles. The Tiggo 9 can also complete a 30-80% charge in around 20 minutes, and comes with vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology as standard – a rarity for a PHEV.
Power is provided by Chery’s Super Hybrid System (SHS), which combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors to send 422bhp to all four wheels. Statistically the Tiggo 9 is very impressive, but it is somewhat flawed dynamically. The handling isn’t as composed as, say, a VW Tayron, while even the smallest road imperfections highlight the tall SUV’s sub-par comfort.
However, considering the Tiggo 9 undercuts almost all of its rivals, and comes with a wonderfully minimalist interior that still claims a 15.6in touchscreen and head-up display, it’s undoubtedly a lot of car for the money.
Read our in-depth Chery Tiggo 9 review
Strengths
- Sharp handling
- Excellent driving position
- Punchy but frugal engines
Weaknesses
- Audi's unimpressive reliability record
- BMW 1 Series has a better interior
- Expensive top trims and optional packages
Version TFSIe Sport | Electric-only range 88 miles | List price £39,290 | Best Price £35,889
The Audi A3 features a spate of engine options, including this plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version that pairs a 1.5-litre petrol unit with an electric motor and a 19.7kWh (usable) battery. This means it has a vast official electric-only range of 88 miles, which is the same as the Volkswagen Golf eHybrid. As such, these two cars are right up there with the longest-range PHEVs on sale.
For context, the A3 TFSI e and Golf eHybrid can travel significantly farther than a Toyota Prius (44 miles), as well as larger SUVs with bigger batteries, such as the Range Rover Sport (76 miles). While we are yet to drive the TFSI e version of the new A3, the regular model is great to drive, with tidy handling and a comfortable driving position.
One area where the A3 steps ahead of the Golf is with its interior, because it's slightly more intuitive to use, thanks to its use of physical controls for the volume and climate controls. It also feels slightly more premium than the Golf, courtesy of its soft-touch plastics, fabric dashboard inserts and perforated door panels. Mind you, it is slightly more expensive to buy.
Read our in-depth Audi A3 review
Strengths
- Exceedingly comfortable ride with adaptive suspension
- Tidy handling
- Strong and frugal 1.5 TSI 150 engine
Weaknesses
- Automatic gearbox can be hesitant
- Interior quality could be better
- There are more spacious rivals
Version 1.5 TSI 204 eHybrid Style | Electric-only range 88 miles | List price £37,445 | Best Price £37,445
The updated Volkswagen Golf eHybrid shares its hybrid system with the new Audi A3, so as mentioned previously, it also has an enormous official electric-only range of 88 miles. We've already driven the Golf eHybrid and we can confirm it's very good; it's pleasant to drive and comfortable, particularly with the optional adaptive suspension fitted.
But what about fuel economy? Well, when we MPG tested the Golf against the new Toyota Prius with a depleted battery, we managed a real-world fuel economy figure of 48mpg (that's slightly less than the 53.8mpg the Prius achieved). However, the Golf is more efficient when running on battery power, so it costs less to run than the Prius when regularly topped up with electricity.
It's worth noting that you can have a PHEV Golf from the base-spec Match trim, but we'd suggest bumping up to Style for a small (£1k-ish) premium. That's because it adds sports seats, three-zone climate control and upgraded LED headlights.
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Golf review
Strengths
- Hugely spacious boot and interior
- Comfortable on adaptive (DCC) suspension
- Well equipped and priced – PHEV makes a cheap company car
Weaknesses
- Grabby brakes on the PHEV
- Interior quality not the best in places
- 3 Series Touring is more fun to drive
Version 1.5 TSI iV SE Technology | Electric-only range 84 miles | List price £41,575 | Best Price £40,575
Unlike the previous generation, the Skoda Superb is now only available as a PHEV in estate form. Mind you, that's not such a bad thing because it has a vast boot; even with the batteries located under the floor, there's 510 litres of space. That's the same as the Volkswagen Passat eHybrid and more than the Mercedes E-Class Estate E300e (460 litres).
Rear seat space is also impressive, because there's plenty of head and leg room for a couple of six-footers. Up front, the driving position is comfortable and the dashboard is easy to use thanks to its physical controls. Unfortunately, these controls do feel a bit cheap, as do some of the dashboard materials.
The hybrid system is similar to what you'll find in the Audi A3 TFSI e and VW Golf eHybrid; the Superb Estate iV comes with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor that develop 201bhp, as well as a 19.7kWh (usable) battery. When running in electric-only mode, the Superb can travel up to 84 miles officially – that's slightly higher than the Passat, and much farther than a BMW 5 Series Touring (60 miles) and the E-Class Estate (67 miles).
Read our in-depth Skoda Superb Estate review
Strengths
- Spacious interior and boot
- PHEVs are cheap to run as company cars
- A quiet and comfortable cruiser
Weaknesses
- Could be sharper to drive
- Not enough physical controls
- VW's reliability record is nothing special
Version 1.5 TSI eHybrid Elegance | Electric-only range 81 miles | List price £47,650 | Best Price £41,200
The ninth-generation Volkswagen Passat is the best one yet. It's comfortable, refined and enormously practical, plus the interior feels slightly better built than the closely-related Skoda Superb's.
The hybrid system in the Passat is very familiar, because it's the same as what you get in the Superb Estate. In this instance, the Passat can travel 81 miles on electric-only power officially, which is similar to the Superb, but more than a Citroën C5 X (39 miles) and Volvo V90 (52 miles).
The Passat PHEV's enormous electric-only range means it has potential for tiny fuel bills, particularly if you charge at home on a cheap overnight tariff. If you do need to use a public charger though, the Passat can accept up to 50kW DC, which makes topping on a longer journey much quicker than a BMW 330e Touring (which is limited to AC and a maximum charging rate of 3.7kW).
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Passat review
Strengths
- Long electric range for Comfort models
- Price undercuts most rivals
- Incredibly well equipped as standard
Weaknesses
- Unsettled ride
- Light and vague steering
- Rivals have more rear head room
Version 1.5 DM-i Comfort | Electric-only range 78 miles | List price £35,315 | Best Price £32,290
The Seal U DM-i is the first of a plethora of PHEVs being planned by BYD, and it makes for good reading on paper. We’d recommend the Comfort trim, which gets the same 214bhp setup as the base-level car (0-62mph in 8.9sec), but swaps an 18.3kWh battery for a larger 26.6kWh pack. The result is an all-electric range that’s almost double that of a Kia Niro PHEV, despite costing thousands of pounds less.
The Seal U is also extremely well-equipped, with highlights including a rotating 15.6in multimedia screen, digital driver’s display and a head-up display, as well as 360-degree cameras to help with parking. The interior itself is wrapped around lots of soft-touch materials that look both robust and elegant.
There are some flaws, however. Some rivals get even more head and legroom within, while offering a superior driving experience. Indeed, one of the Seal U’s drawbacks is a sometimes unsettled ride and light, vague steering.
Read our in-depth BYD Seal U review
Strengths
- Well-judged ride and handling balance
- Has a large boot and great seating flexibility
- Roomier than many rivals
Weaknesses
- Higher trims are as pricey as premium-badged rivals
- Option packs drive up the price
- 1.5-litre petrol engine is noisy when revved
Version 1.5 TSI eHybrid Match | Electric-only range 78 miles | List price £42,960 | Best Price £42,960
Volkswagen has been busy overhauling a lot of its line-up in recent times. As such, a new third-generation Tiguan has been launched with refreshed styling, upgraded interior tech and new engines. This means it features the same PHEV system as other VW Group cars on this list, including the VW Golf, Skoda Superb and VW Passat, although it can manage less miles on electric-only power because of its larger size.
Despite that, it still has a much longer electric-only range than most of its family SUV rivals, including the Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, all of which can travel between 42 and 44 miles officially on electric power.
Along with a long official range, the Tiguan has other strengths, including a spacious interior, a comfortable ride and a generous equipment list. Speaking of which, if you want the PHEV you have to step up to Match trim, which coincidentally is our favourite trim level. It comes with three-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, ambient interior lighting, wireless phone-charging and sat-nav as standard.
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Tiguan review
Strengths
- Comfortable ride and good to drive
- Spacious interior with a huge boot
- Good value if you stick to the cheaper trims
Weaknesses
- PHEVs not available in seven seat configuration
- Engines are a little coarse when revved
- Frustrating automatic gearbox
Version 1.5 TSI e-TEC SE | Electric-only range 76 miles | List price £38,140 | Best Price £37,140
The Skoda Kodiaq is a brilliant all-rounder. It offers lots of space, a comfortable ride and a competitive price, as well as a range of strong and efficient engines. In this instance, we're referring to the 204bhp PHEV version (which is the same system as other VW Group cars on this list, including the closely-related VW Tiguan).
While the PHEV can't be specified with seven seats because the battery is located under the boot floor, it's a great option if you want a spacious five-seater with a big boot. Indeed, it has a capacity of 745 litres – that's more than the PHEV versions of the VW Tiguan (652 litres) and Kia Sportage (540 litres).
Despite being the entry-level trim, the SE version quoted here is very well equipped. It comes with a long list of kit, including ambient interior lighting, keyless start, three-zone climate control, auto lights and wipers, power-folding door mirrors and heated front seats.
Read our in-depth Skoda Kodiaq review
Strengths
- Offers many ‘big’ Range Rover qualities for less
- Incredible off-road and comfy on-road
- PHEVs’ fantastic electric range
Weaknesses
- There are cheaper luxury SUVs
- Rivals are sharper to drive
- No seven-seat option
Version 3.0 P460e SE | Electric-only range 76 miles | List price £90,310 | Best Price £90,310
The silence offered by electric motor in the Range Rover Sport P460e makes it one of the most refined PHEVs out there. Not only that, but the enormous official electric-only range of 76 miles means you can maximise the serenity more than you can in the BMW X5 xDrive50e, which can manage 62 miles.
Having said that, a range of around 50 miles is more likely in the real world, although that's still longer than what you get officially in the Lexus RX 450h+ (43 miles). When the 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine does eventually kick in, it's incredibly quiet and smooth, and you'll hardly even notice it.
Of course, being a Range Rover Sport, the interior is as beautiful to look at as it is to touch, while the seats are comfortable and supportive. You also feel slightly more hunkered down in the Sport compared with its bigger Range Rover brother, thanks to the raised centre console.
Read our in-depth Range Rover Sport review
Strengths
- Fabulous driving position
- Fantastic off-road ability
- Useful seven-seat versatility
Weaknesses
- Very expensive
- Reliability is a concern
- More physical controls for the infotainment would be preferable
Version 3.0 P460e SE | Electric-only range 75 miles | List price £115,915 | Best Price £106,444
The Range Rover takes luxury to the next level, with its commanding driving position, effortless performance and super-soft ride making it the ultimate long-distance cruiser.
Like the Range Rover Sport, the P460e PHEV is a great option if you want to do big miles on electric-only power, with it only travelling one less mile officially between charges than its sibling. Despite that, it can still travel much farther than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E Hybrid (49 miles) and the Bentley Bentayga PHEV (28 miles).
It's also worth noting that while the Sport is only available with five seats, this larger model can be specified with up to seven seats, making it the ideal car for hauling lots of people around in big comfort and very little noise. You will have to part with a big sum of cash for it, though.
Read our in-depth Range Rover review
FAQs
The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport have an enormous 31.8kWh (usable) battery, which is one of the biggest of any PHEV. For context, that's bigger than the 24kWh (usable) battery you get with the entry-level version of the all-electric Fiat 500e.
The BYD Seal U was the best-selling PHEV in the UK in 2025, helping it also become Europe's best-selling PHEV with over 66,000 units sold across the year.
Plug-in hybrids offer many benefits, including the potential for cheap running costs if you're able to charge them regularly. CO2 emissions are generally very low, meaning that they can make for very cost-effective company cars due to the low benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rates they attract.
There are some disadvantages to buying a plug-in hybrid. If you're buying privately they are expensive, plus you need to plug them in regularly to maximise fuel efficiency. Other disadvantages include high maintenance costs, as well as a heavy weight because of the motor and battery, which can impact performance and handling.
