Best used plug-in hybrids for less than £20k – the bargain cars to lower your fuel bills

Small, but mighty – that’s exactly what the Audi A3 TFSIe is. It’s one of the smallest PHEVs you can buy – both new and used – but this doesn’t make it any less capable than its larger competition. It’s great to drive, with a comfortable ride and strong performance, while a 40-mile official electric-only range is competitive with the VW Golf eHybrid and larger alternatives, like the Hyundai Tucson PHEV.

Used prices for the A3 TFSIe are temptingly small. The 40 TFSIe is cheaper to buy than the Mercedes A250e, and yet it comes just as well equipped. Our favourite Sport trim offers auto lights and wipers, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, part-leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control as standard. It’s a small premium family car with a competitive price that, if regularly charged up, can be very cheap to run. 

"The A3 might be one of the smallest cars on this list, but as a six-footer, I still managed to fit comfortably in the back." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found 2022 Audi A3 TFSIe 40 Sport, 54,694 miles, £14,490

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When it comes to performance, practicality and buying costs, the Volkswagen Passat GTE is a very strong offering. Indeed, this PHEV produces a reasonably punchy 215bhp, while an official electric-only range of 31 miles (in the earlier models) should help to lower your fuel bills. That’s farther than what a BMW 330e Touring of a similar age can manage.

In estate form, the Passat GTE is a thoroughly practical thing. It’s filled with useful touches such as hooks, partitions and large storage areas, while the interior is spacious enough for a family of four to sit comfortably. To bolster its appeal, the Passat GTE comes in significantly cheaper than the 330e Touring and Skoda Superb Estate iV. And yet, it still has a high-quality interior, albeit one that’s not quite as smart or up-to-date as the Audi A3 TFSIe’s. 

"I had a Passat GTE on test for two weeks when it was new and I took it to Cornwall for a family holiday. It made the journey there and back an absolute breeze, with plenty of room for my wife, our two children and our four suitcases." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found 2021 Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI GTE, 54,057 miles, £16,000

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The unique selling point of the BMW 3 Series has always been the way it drives – and that’s no exception with the 330e. It’s one of the best PHEVs for driver enjoyment, with nimble handling, sharp steering and strong performance making it better to drive than a Mercedes C-Class C300e. 

Meanwhile, the 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor combine to produce a svelt 288bhp, which allows for a 0-62mph time of just 5.8sec. A 10.4kWh usable battery delivers an official electric-only range of 37 miles, which is similar to that of the C300e. Only a firm ride stops it from finishing further up the list.

"I get continuously frustrated by the lack of buttons in modern cars, but thankfully, the pre-facelift BMW 3 Series is a car that has lots of them. I’m particularly fond of the rotary control dial." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found 2020 BMW 330e SE Pro, 53,812 miles, £15,710

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For a PHEV of this size, the Mercedes A-Class A250e has a very competitive official range of 44 miles, which is farther than what the Audi A3 TFSIe can manage. Along with that, the A250e rides nicely, but it’s not quite as good as the A3 for overall comfort. It does win back some points for performance – it’s quicker than the A3 from 0-62mph.

Inside, the A250e has a very smart-looking interior, with ambient lighting, metal-effect trim and a crisp infotainment display that easily woo passengers. Space is very good for a family car, with just enough space for two six-footers to sit comfortably in the back. Used prices are in-line with the A3. 

"To get the larger 10.3in infotainment screen, I’d be tempted to look for cars with the optional Executive Pack, which was available on Sport and AMG Line cars from new.” – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found 2021 Mercedes A250e AMG Line, 62,925 miles, £14,920

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If you’re after a used PHEV family SUV, the Hyundai Tucson is one of your best options. It has an incredibly spacious interior, with back seats that will take two six-footers comfortably, even with the front seats slid really far back. The boot is absolutely vast, too; we managed to fit seven carry-on cases below the parcel shelf, which is up there with rivals like the Volvo XC40. 

Then there’s the value for money aspect, because a used Tucson undercuts nearly all of its rivals, including the Kia Sportage and XC40, by quite a margin. That’s not to say you’ll be short on standard equipment; our recommended Premium trim comes with ambient interior lighting, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, a wireless phone-charging pad and a Krell audio system.

"I was really surprised by the level of performance on offer with the Tucson PHEV. It produces a hefty 261bhp, with 0-62mph taking 8.6sec. The official range of 38 miles is good, too." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found 2021 Hyundai Tucson 1.6 T-GDi PHEV Premium, 51,705 miles, £17,476

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Not far behind the Hyundai Tucson is the closely-related Kia Sportage, with it only losing out to its sibling on pricing and boot space. Otherwise, this is a really good PHEV family SUV, with it being the more polished car to drive out of the two. The official electric-only range is slightly better too, at 43 miles.

While our budget limits you to GT-Line trim, it’s still well equipped for the money, with a 12.3in infotainment screen, part-leather upholstery and aluminium pedals offered as standard. Along with this, a used Sportage will come with the remainder of Kia’s competitive seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Not that you should need to use it often; the Sportage finished in a respectable 13th place out of 76 cars in the family SUV section of our latest What Car? Reliability Survey.

"I really like the Sportage’s interior. It looks and feels swish, with nicely damped switches and plenty of squidgy plastics that give it a high-quality feel." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found 2022 Kia Sportage T-GDi PHEV GT-Line, 60,750 miles, £19,295

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The Peugeot 3008 is a stylish family SUV with plenty of substance, especially in PHEV form. It’s available with varying degrees of power (up to 296bhp, if that’s what you desire), but all can manage a competitive 40 miles officially in electric-only mode. That slots it between the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage on this list when it comes to range. 

Meanwhile, the 3008 handles well, rides comfortably and is decently refined. We also appreciate its smart, high-quality and very practical interior – all for a price that’s significantly less than that of the Sportage. Only a mixed reliability record lets the side down. 

"I know the Peugeot i-Cockpit dashboard design isn’t to everyone’s tastes, but I’ve always got on quite well with it in the 3008. Having said that, I’d recommend trying it out before buying to see if it suits your driving position." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found 2022 Peugeot 3008 Plug-in Hybrid GT, 54,865 miles, £15,658

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The Volvo XC40 is a seriously impressive piece of kit, as noted by it winning our 2018 Car of the Year Award and our 2024 Used Car of the Year Award. While the PHEV isn’t our favourite version, it’s still a fine all-round package.

Indeed, it’s well-made, comfortable, spacious, practical and safe. It's a smooth and hushed performer too, with a low level of wind and road noise making it a very pleasant car to travel around in, especially in electric mode. Then there’s the Scandi-cool design inside and out which, even after a few years, still looks very modern. It’s a great used buy, with only a fiddly infotainment system, an average electric-only range and a mixed reliability record denting its appeal.

"There are a couple of PHEVs to choose from with the XC40, but I’d probably go for the 204bhp T4. It provides the best balance of performance and efficiency, without pushing the price up too much." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found 2021 Volvo XC40 1.5 T4 Recharge R-Design, 43,619 miles, £19,849

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Citroën is renowned for producing cars with pillowy-soft suspension – and that’s no exception with the Citroën C5 Aircross. It’s one of the best family SUVs to drive on the motorway, thanks to its smooth, supple ride. Unfortunately, this set-up does come at the cost of handling, where the C5 is quite cumbersome in the bends, especially compared with the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

Under the skin, the C5 Aircross shares its underpinnings with the Peugeot 3008. While it’s similarly practical, it’s not quite as plush inside. As for the PHEV engine, the C5 Aircross is available with a 222bhp PHEV. According to official tests, it can travel up to 41 miles on electric-only power, which is similar to the Sportage.

"A family SUV must be practical and the C5 Aircross is exactly that. I found the rear seats to be particularly clever, with three chairs that tilt, slide and fold individually." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found 2022 Citroën C5 Aircross 1.6 Plug-in Hybrid Shine Plus, 46,796 miles, £15,499

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It might sound like a cliché, but the Range Rover Evoque is a ‘mini me’ Range Rover, with an expensive-feeling interior, impressive refinement and a commanding driving position. It’s a fantastic package, which we think is at its best in P300e PHEV form, where it uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine, an electric motor and a 12.2kWh (usable capacity) battery to provide an official electric-only range of 34 miles. It’s particularly pleasant to drive in electric mode, where it’s impressively refined, but its range isn’t as good as the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage.

While the Evoque isn’t the cheapest car on this list (or the most reliable), it is very well-equipped. No matter the trim, all cars come with dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights, heated front seats and a 10.0in touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity (later cars get a larger 11.4in screen) as standard.

"In real-world driving, I managed to drive 25.3 miles in an Evoque P300e before the petrol engine kicked in. That’s not as good as some rivals, but it was perfect for my 10-mile commute to work.”  – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found 2021 Range Rover Evoque 1.5 P300e S, 62,442 miles, £18,049

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