Top 25 non-electric cars
Don’t want a car that needs plugging in? Well, worry not: there are lots of really talented models to choose from. And here we count down the 50 best...
As our run down of the 50 best cars not powered by electricity continues, we turn to a mix of affordable models, premium saloons and even a few performance giants. All prove that there's still life left in the petrol and diesel engine, and all will prove extremely capable regardless of how you use your car.
On this page, we count down the cars in 25th to sixth place...
25. Audi A4
Our pick 35 TDI Sport List price £39,800 Target Price £36,884 Target PCP £414 Engine 4cyl, 1968cc, diesel Gearbox 7-spd automatic 0-62mph 8.2sec Top speed 130mph MPG 58.9 CO2 126g/km
As an executive car for covering long distances, the A4 remains one of the best options around. And while diesel power isn’t as widely popular as it used to be, it still makes plenty of sense here.
The 35 TDI engine we recommend is smooth and quiet, plus it provides plenty of power while remaining very efficient (it returned more than 52mpg in our real-world True MPG test).
In true Audi style, the A4 has a classy, solidly-built interior that’s a pleasant place to be as you soak up the miles. Plus, our chosen Sport trim gets Comfort Dynamic suspension, giving it the most forgiving ride in the range.
Our pick 1.0 TSI 110 Life List price £25,070 Target Price £24,105 Target PCP £250 Engine 3cyl, 999cc, petrol Gearbox 6-spd manual 0-62mph 10.4sec Top speed 119mph MPG 52.3 CO2 123g/km
If you’re looking for a small SUV that’s a little more stylish than the others, the Taigo – with its tapered roofline – might just catch your eye. There’s more to this model than just its looks, though. It offers more rear leg room than the Ford Puma, and its ride is soft enough for comfort on bumpy roads without bouncing you around.
You might struggle to get excited by the performance figures of this 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol model, but the Taigo can keep up with traffic without a fuss. It’s economical too, officially managing more than 50mpg.
Read our full Volkswagen Taigo review or see the latest Volkswagen Taigo deals
23. Range Rover Evoque
Our pick D200 S List price £44,720 Target Price £43,840 Target PCP £494 Engine 4cyl, 1998cc, diesel Gearbox 9-spd automatic 0-62mph 7.9sec Top speed 120mph MPG 44.0 CO2 168g/km
The Range Rover Evoque takes the popular family SUV format and cranks up the luxury.
Its classy exterior follows through to a posh interior, lined with soft materials and well laid out controls that are easy to use. Our favourite D200 diesel engine allows for easy progress, and the suspension does a great job of combining tidy body control with a cosseting ride.
This is also one of the more capable off-roaders in the class, with various drive modes to make the most of the D200's four-wheel drive system on any surface. Evoque resale values are very good, too, so you should see a decent return when you come to sell.
Read our full Range Rover Evoque review or see the latest Range Rover Evoque deals
22. Alpine A110
Our pick 1.8 Turbo List price £52,490 Target Price £52,490 Target PCP NA Engine 4cyl, 1798cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic 0-62mph 5.1sec Top speed 155mph MPG 42.2 CO2 152g/km
Made predominantly from aluminium, the A110 weighs a whopping quarter of a tonne less than the rival Porsche Cayman GTS. That means it doesn’t need particularly stiff suspension, wide tyres or a massively powerful engine to perform well. And boy does it perform.
It can’t match the Cayman GTS for sheer pace around a track, but its incredible body control and beautiful handling balance make it intoxicatingly engaging on a country road. With a characterful engine and steering that chatters continuously about the road surface, the A110 is very tough to beat in this price range.
Read our full Alpine A110 review or see the latest Alpine A110 deals
21. Range Rover LWB 7 Seat
Our pick D350 HSE List price £118,320 Target Price £118,320 Target PCP £1464 Engine 6cyl, 2997cc, diesel Gearbox 8-spd automatic 0-62mph 6.4sec Top speed 145mph MPG 35.2 CO2 210g/km
Now into its fifth generation, the full-fat Range Rover has enjoyed a loyal following for more than 50 years, and it’s easy to see why. Few cars can equal it for road presence, plus you get a truly opulent interior and a wonderfully plush ride. And now, for the first time, you can share that experience with six passengers if you opt for the long-wheelbase (LWB) version.
Pair this bodystyle with Land Rover’s smooth 345bhp D350 diesel engine and we can’t think of a more comfortable way – barring a private jet – to take you, six guests and their ski gear on a winter break in the mountains.
Read our full Range Rover review or see the latest Range Rover deals
20. BMW M3 Touring
Our pick Competition List price £86,570 Target Price £86,570 Target PCP £1254 Engine 6cyl, 2993cc, twin-turbo, petrol Gearbox 8-spd automatic 0-62mph 3.6sec Top speed 174mph MPG 27.4 CO2 232g/km
If money was no object but we had space to keep only one car, we’d be ordering one of these. Why? Well, no car better combines supercar driving thrills with real everyday practicality.
With a 503bhp twin-turbo six-cylinder engine under the bonnet, the M3 Touring has the pace to worry unsuspecting Ferrari drivers (0-62mph takes 3.6sec), and thanks to a clever four-wheel drive system, you can use all of that power even when the roads are greasy. In fact, from behind the wheel, it’s easy to forget you’re driving an estate; you’ll want to bear this in mind when your four-legged friend is riding along in the 500-litre boot.
Read our full BMW M3 review or see the latest BMW M3 deals
19. BMW 5 Series Touring
Our pick 520d xDrive MHT SE List price £46,800 Target Price £44,175 Target PCP £522 Engine 4cyl, 1995cc, diesel Gearbox 8-spd automatic 0-62mph 7.6sec Top speed 140mph MPG 55.4 CO2 134g/km
Speaking of cars with diverse talents, few cars are as well rounded as the BMW 5 Series Touring. Its ride is incredibly comfy, yet it’s fun to drive when the mood takes you and you’re on the right road. Then there’s its interior, which has lots of space for four, an alluring mix of plush materials and the best infotainment system in the class, plus it’s quieter at a cruise than some luxury cars that cost twice as much.
Perhaps best of all is that the entry-level 520d’s 2.0-litre diesel is an absolute gem. It has plenty of low-down pulling power and delivers startling real-world efficiency; 50mpg is easily achievable on a long motorway journey.
Read our full BMW 5 Series Touring review or see the latest BMW 5 Series Touring deals
18. Toyota Corolla
Our pick 1.8 Hybrid Icon List price £30,225 Target Price £28,028 Target PCP £289 Engine 4cyl, 1798cc, petrol, plus electric motor Gearbox CVT automatic 0-62mph 9.6sec Top speed 111mph MPG 57.7 CO2 110g/km
In its latest iteration, Toyota’s long-running family car is a more tempting proposition than ever before. Courtesy of its hybrid technology, the entry-level 1.8-litre petrol engine returned an impressive real-world economy figure of 50.5mpg in our True MPG test – this despite it being more than punchy enough for everyday driving.
It also lands blows on its closest rival, the Honda Civic, by delivering a more comfortable ride, quieter cruising manners and a lower list price. We wish the Corolla was a little more generous when it comes to rear seat space, but as long as you don’t have 6ft-plus children, it’s a fantastic buy.
Read our full Toyota Corolla review or see the latest Toyota Corolla deals
17. Hyundai i20 N
Our pick 1.6 T-GDi 204 List price £26,530 Target Price £25,965 Target PCP £364 Engine 4cyl, 1598cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 6-spd manual 0-62mph 6.2sec Top speed 143mph MPG 40.4 CO2 158g/km
If hot hatches are supposed to be cheap and exciting alternatives to sports cars, the i20 N nails the brief. Its 1.6-litre turbocharged engine sends 201bhp to the front wheels, with much of that power in the upper reaches of the rev range; you’ll be making plenty of gearshifts to make the most of it, but that’s all part of the fun.
The rest of the fun can be found on a twisty road, where the i20 N finds masses of grip and imparts a real sense of confidence through a string of corners.
Read our full Hyundai i20 N review or see the latest Hyundai i20 N deals
16. Audi Q7
Our pick 55 TFSI S line List price £68,610 Target Price £64,013 Target PCP £703 Engine 6cyl, 2995cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 8-spd automatic 0-62mph 5.9sec Top speed 155mph MPG 27.4 CO2 233g/km
In our chosen S line trim and with the smooth 55 TFSI engine, the Audi Q7 makes a compelling case as one of the best luxury SUVs you can buy. Not only is it fast and well equipped, but air suspension also makes it relaxing to waft around in – more so than even the Land Rover Discovery.
Inside, it’s suitably plush; there are soft materials, glossy wood veneers or smart brushed metals everywhere you can touch. Of course, this would all be for nothing if passengers didn’t have space to stretch out, and that’s another thing the Q7 has in spades.
Read our full Audi Q7 review or see the latest Audi Q7 deals
15. Skoda Karoq
Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SEL List price £30,660 Target Price £29,247 Target PCP £319 Engine 4cyl, 1498cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 6-spd manual 0-62mph 9.0sec Top speed 131mph MPG 46.2 CO2 138g/km
Compared with other family SUVs in this list, the Skoda Karoq’s main strength is its clever interior. Where many rivals allow you to simply split and fold their rear seats, the VarioFlex seats that come as standard in our chosen Karoq SEL also allow you to recline them and slide each one forwards and backwards independently. You can even remove them altogether if you need to carry masses of luggage, but we fitted nine carry-on cases in with them in place.
Beyond practicality, the Karoq is good to drive and great value for money. You can’t have it as a hybrid, though, like you can the family SUV topping our list.
Read our full Skoda Karoq review or see the latest Skoda Karoq deals
14. Audi TT Coupé
Our pick 40 TFSI Sport Edition List price £37,725 Target Price £35,179 Target PCP £408 Engine 4cyl, 1984cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic 0-62mph 6.6sec Top speed 153mph MPG 41.5 CO2 154g/km
The TT is sadly leaving us soon, and as one of the most decorated models in the history of the What Car? Car of the Year Awards, it’ll be sadly missed. In fact, it added the Best Coupé for Value gong to its trophy cabinet only this year.
It’s much more than just a pretty price tag, though; even this entry-level version has plenty of power to entertain, and its light, accurate steering gels with well-judged suspension for fantastic handling without being uncomfortable on a bumpy road. What’s more, the TT’s interior is beautifully crafted, and it’s even relatively practical; its boot is bigger than a Ford Fiesta’s.
Read our full Audi TT review or see the latest Audi TT deals
13. Volvo XC40
Our pick B3 Plus List price £39,445 Target Price £37,168 Target PCP £403 Engine 4cyl, 1969cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 7-spd automatic 0-62mph 8.6sec Top speed 112mph MPG 42.2 CO2 152g/km
A former What Car? Car of the Year, the Volvo XC40 has long been among our favourite family SUVs. Among its strongest attributes is a smooth, compliant ride; it breezes over potholes and expansion joints that you would find jarring in its BMW X1 rival. Indeed, it even betters the plush Range Rover Evoque in this regard.
On top of that, few rivals can top the XC40’s classy interior for build quality, and only the tallest of families will find any shortage of space, plus the boot can hold lots of holiday luggage. It’s packed with safety kit, too – arguably the most important virtue a family SUV can have.
Read our full Volvo XC40 review or see the latest Volvo XC40 deals
12. Skoda Fabia
Our pick 1.0 TSI 95 SE Comfort List price £19,150 Target Price £18,693 Target PCP £224 Engine 3cyl, 999cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 5-spd manual 0-62mph 10.7sec Top speed 118mph MPG 55.7mpg CO2 115g/km
The latest Fabia substantially undercuts most other small hatchbacks, with the obvious exception of the cheap-as-chips Dacia Sandero, but the Fabia is a much more sophisticated machine than that rival. It’s comfier to travel in, even matching the pricier Volkswagen Polo on ride quality, and it offers appealing features such as centre air vents in the back (something of a rarity in the class).
The Fabia is impressively spacious, too, and – crucially – it scores much higher for safety than the Sandero; the independent experts at Euro NCAP awarded the Fabia five stars out of five, versus just two stars for the Sandero.
Our pick D300 Dynamic SE List price £86,620 Target Price £86,620 Target PCP £994 Engine 6cyl, 2997cc, diesel Gearbox 8-spd automatic 0-62mph 6.3sec Top speed 135mph MPG 37.2 CO2 199g/km
The Sport offers a lot of what we like about its full-size Range Rover sibling, but for a much lower price. It has a similarly well-finished interior with as much space in every dimension except head room; there’s still lots, though.
True, we think the Sport makes most sense in its plug-in hybrid form, but the much cheaper entry-level D300 diesel is also well worth considering – particularly if you’re a private buyer rather than a company car driver. Its 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine is smooth, quiet and punchy. Plus, you can still expect it to deliver more than 30mpg in real-world driving conditions.
Read our full Range Rover Sport review or see the latest Range Rover Sport deals
10. Honda Jazz
Our pick e:HEV Elegance List price £25,900 Target Price £25,217 Target PCP £302 Engine 4cyl, 1499cc, petrol, plus electric motor Gearbox 8-spd automatic 0-62mph 9.4sec Top speed 108mph MPG 62.8 CO2 102g/km
The Jazz’s space and seating flexibility put other small cars to shame, but this is anything but just a box on wheels.
Its hybrid engine delivers strong performance and excellent real-world fuel economy without ever needing electricity from a socket. And slow depreciation makes up for the fairly punchy list prices while ensuring PCP finance rates are competitive.
The Jazz also offers the best driving position and visibility of any car in its class, and a soothing ride and generous luxury and safety equipment add further to its appeal. All in all, the Jazz has plenty to trumpet about.
Our pick 1.0 Ecoboost MHEV 155 ST-Line List price £26,640 Target Price £24,993 Target PCP £265 Engine 3cyl, 999cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 6-spd manual 0-62mph 9.6sec Top speed 118mph MPG 51.5 CO2 124g/km
The Puma will put a bigger smile on a keen driver’s face than most other small SUVs, thanks to its agile handling and surprisingly nippy performance. However, that driver can also choose the Puma with their sensible hat on, because it’s great value for money and its clever mild hybrid technology brings great real-world fuel economy.
Families will love the Puma, too; there’s lots of room for four to stretch out inside, and the huge storage cubby under the boot floor even offers a solution to tackling muddy boots; a plug in the bottom means you can hose it out when you arrive home.
Read our full Ford Puma review or see the latest Ford Puma deals
8. BMW X7
Our pick xDrive40i MHT M Sport List price £90,050 Target Price £86,984 Target PCP £1160 Engine 6cyl, 2998cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 8-spd automatic 0-62mph 5.8sec Top speed 155mph MPG 29.4 CO2 217g/km
As befits the X7’s status as BMW’s biggest and most luxurious SUV, its interior is beautifully made, with sumptuous materials throughout. It also gets seven seats as standard (unlike its Range Rover rival), and adults will have enough space no matter which of these seats they occupy. They’ll also be impressed by how quiet and comfortable the X7 is.
M Sport trim comes loaded with kit, and the xDrive40i petrol engine is quiet at a cruise, yet punchy, with an appealing snarl when you’re in the mood for pressing on. The xDrive40d diesel is just as impressive, and is our pick for those who cover big miles.
Our pick 1.5 TSI 150 SE L DSG List price £35,765 Target Price £35,765 Target PCP NA Engine 4cyl, 1498cc, turbo, petrol Gearbox 7-spd automatic 0-62mph 9.3sec Top speed 133mph MPG 43.9 CO2 121g/km
The Superb punches well above its price, especially in estate form. For starters, rear seat passengers get the sort of leg room that’s usually reserved for something chauffeur-driven. Its boot, too, is not only enormous but also packs useful touches such as bag hooks, a 12V charging port and even a rechargeable torch.
What’s more, the suspension soaks up urban potholes with ease yet provides a composed ride at speed, while our favoured 1.5-litre petrol engine is quiet enough that it won’t disturb slumbering passengers.
Read our full Skoda Superb Estate review or see the latest Skoda Superb Estate deals
6. Hyundai Santa Fe
Our pick 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid Premium List price £43,240 Target Price £39,896 Target PCP £494 Engine 4cyl, 1598cc, turbo, petrol, plus electric motor Gearbox 6-spd automatic 0-62mph 8.9sec Top speed 116mph MPG 44.1 CO2 145g/km
The Santa Fe does everything a large SUV should. It’s spacious and practical, with seats for seven, and its hybrid tech gives it the potential for low running costs; even the non-plug-in version officially returns 44mpg while also delivering strong performance.
We reckon Premium trim makes more sense than range-topping Ultimate. It’s much cheaper, but you still get loads of standard kit, including adaptive cruise control, four heated leather seats and keyless entry. It also makes the Santa Fe significantly cheaper than the closely related Kia Sorento, and that’s why we rate the former higher.
Read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review or see the latest Hyundai Santa Fe deals
<< Previous | Next: The top 5 non-electric cars >>
Best plug-in hybrid cars 2024 – best and worst PHEVs named
Plug-in hybrid cars can reduce fuel consumption to an absolute minimum, but which models are the best all-rounders and which ones should you avoid?
