Top 10: 2023’s best plug-in hybrid company cars
Plug-in hybrid powertrains have been a lifeline for company car drivers in a world of ever-increasing taxation. With current company car tax rates favouring vehicles with CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km, even bigger savings can be made when opting for vehicles with longer zero-emission ranges.
We've selected 10 plug-in hybrid cars, using data from the Fleet News Car Running Costs Tool[1], that are cost effective for both businesses and drivers.
BMW’s popular compact SUV has undergone a significant transformation in its latest guise, offering a blend of practicality, efficiency and driver engagement.
There are two plug-in hybrid engines available, both using a 14.2kWh battery, giving a zero-emissions range of around 50 miles. In each application the electric motor drives the car’s rear wheels, while a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine powers the fronts.
The 245PS xDrive25e is our pick of the line-up, priced from £41,245. Running costs are as low as 40p per mile, over a typical cycle, and drivers will pay benefit-in-kind (BiK) tax at just 8%.
Ford’s stylish and practical Kuga SUV comes with a variety of powertrain options, but it’s the plug-in hybrid that makes the most sense for fleets.
Pairing a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and 14.4kWh battery, the car blends potent acceleration with high levels of efficiency.
It doesn’t quite manage the 40-mile EV range threshold, so attracts a 12% BiK tax rate, but it does have the lowest running costs in its class, at 35p per mile and a low entry price point of £37,700.
As an all-rounder, they don’t come much better than the Kia Sportage. In its latest generation the popular SUV has taken a step upmarket, bringing a premium interior, impressive technology and great driveability to the segment.
Using a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor, the powertrain delivers 265PS and can accelerate the car from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.
The car’s 13.8kWh battery gives a 43-mile zero-emission range and can be charged in less than two hours, using a 7.2kW charger. Drivers will pay 8% BiK tax and prices start at £40,000.
Hybrid powertrains have powered Lexus models for more than a decade, but it has only just started to offer plug-in hybrid power.
The NX is a premium mid-size SUV with an impressive powertrain. It can cover up to 47 miles on a single battery charge and uses Toyota’s clever self-charging technology to ensure there is always zero-emissions capability available.
It also offers the practicality you would expect from an SUV of this size. There’s plenty of space on board and a large boot.
The A-Class has been a firm fleet favourite since it launched in 2018 and the addition of a plug-in hybrid variant helped to boost its appeal
A recent revamp has seen the electric range of the Mercedes A250e boosted to 50 miles, while also benefiting from faster charging.
The car’s electric motor is able to draw more power, too, improving driveability in EV mode. An uprated on-board charger now supports AC charging at up to 11kW.
Now offered only as a saloon, the A250e is priced from £41,340 and as a BiK rate of 8%.
Mercedes has trumped its key rivals with the C300e by fitting a gigantic 25.4kWh battery to the car, enabling a zero-emission range of more than 60 miles.
Prices start at less than £50,000 and running costs are below 50p per mile, making the C300e a cost-effective choice. In real-world driving the car will happily return more than 70mpg.
It offers strong performance and impressive driving dynamics, while packing in the latest infotainment and driver assistance technologies.
While it may only be available to a small pool of drivers, the Range Rover Sport is a plug-in hybrid that is hard to overlook. That’s why it was given the Driver’s Choice Award at the 2023 Fleet News Awards[9].
It’s one of only a few cars to attract 5% BiK tax, which means a 40% taxpayer will pay just £140 per month for the privilege of having one on their driveway.
A 38.2kWh battery gives a zero-emission range of 70 miles and the car also features 50kW rapid charging, allowing a re-charge in less than an hour.
The Skoda Octavia is a car that ticks a lot of boxes for company car drivers. Its large, comfortable and easy to drive.
The plug-in hybrid powertrain is capable of more than 40 zero-emissions miles, meaning company car tax of 8%, while low pricing, from £33,110, make it accessible for a large pool of drivers.
Both a hatchback and estate body are available, along with a suite of safety and comfort features to suit long distance travel. The 204PS powertrain is smooth and efficient, providing running costs of 35p per mile.
Vauxhall’s latest Astra has taken a significant step up in terms of technology and drivability. Offered with a Stellantis-derived plug-in hybrid engine, the Astra PHEV manages 43 miles of zero-emission driving on a single charge.
Combined with the Astra’s renewed focus on refinement and handling, the PHEV’s 180PS power output makes for a great all-rounder with impressive running costs of less than 40p per mile.
The XC60 may be slightly older than its direct rivals, but a recent round of updates have helped it maintain its place as a solid company car choice.
Key to the car’s appeal is its T6 powertrain, which pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with a new 18.8kWh battery. The zero-emission range is 48 miles and Volvo recently upgraded the on-board charger to 6.4kW, cutting charging times to three hours.
Volvo also introduced a new infotainment system, powered by Google, to provide an enhanced on-board experience.
References
- ^ Fleet News Car Running Costs Tool (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ BMW X1 xDrive 25e (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Ford Kuga PHEV (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Kia Sportage PHEV (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Lexus NX 450h (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Mercedes A250e (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Mercedes C300e (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Range Rover Sport P460e (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Driver’s Choice Award at the 2023 Fleet News Awards (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Skoda Octavia iV (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Vauxhall Astra PHEV (www.fleetnews.co.uk)
- ^ Volvo XC60 Recharge T6 (www.fleetnews.co.uk)