Five Favourite PHEVS to Lease

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It doesn't take a genius to notice that Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (stand by for an acronym – or PHEV) have seen a rapid increase in popularity recently.

We can say that with some confidence because if it really did take a genius to notice then it's highly unlikely the government would have made any provision for the future of electric vehicles in the recent Queen's Speech.

They did. Therefore it must be blindingly obvious.

In fact the government intends to introduce an Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill during the course of the next Parliament. The aim is to promote investment and innovation, placing the UK at the forefront of technological developments, and improving the electric charging and hydrogen fuel network across the country.

In a nutshell the new Bill will seek to ensure that all motorway service areas and large fuel retailers install a sufficient number of charge points of a common standard to provide convenient and universal access to a charging network. Makes perfect sense really, build the infrastructure and more people will start to see the benefits of electric cars.

It's a shame that the same government completely restructured the VED bands a few months ago adding around £120 per year to the cost of taxing a PHEV, but no matter. That is done and ours is not the place to argue with the seemingly contradictory actions of Her Majesty's Government. There are after all many more reasons to choose a PHEV.

Car tax aside, a PHEV can offer many of the benefits of a pure-electric car but without the range and charging limitations that currently restrict the take up of all-electric vehicles. If you want an environmentally responsible vehicle but don't live anywhere near the necessary infrastructure then a Plug-in Hybrid is more than likely your best option.

Without the requirement to recharge every 70-100 miles or so a PHEV offers many of the benefits of electric power with fewer drawbacks. A PHEV can also offer a reasonable range purely on electric power so if you regularly make short journeys and recharge the battery via the plug rather than the engine it's conceivable that you could go for weeks, maybe even months, without having to top up the fuel tank.

PHEV owners can obviously benefit hugely from savings in fuel costs thanks to higher MPG figures – as long as you use the electric battery only mode around town - and if you are a company car driver the impact on your BIK tax code is often reduced thanks to the emissions benefits of running an electric hybrid vehicle.

So if a PHEV is the right choice for you, which one should you be looking at?

Like everything this is ultimately a question of budget and personal preference but we've highlighted a handful of PHEVs to give you some idea of the possibilities.

The lease prices are only a guide and will obviously vary from driver to driver so don't take them too literally. Likewise the manufacturer's economy figures are likely to differ in the real world and will depend on how you use the vehicle. We included them just to give you some idea of the benefits of leasing a PHEV.

1. BMW i3 eDrive 94Ah Range Extender

• Economy: 470mpg
• Emissions: 12g/km
• Lease Price from: £310 per month

For many people this is how the future of electric vehicles looks. The quirky design of the i3 isn't to everyone's taste but if you are going to drive a hybrid why not drive one that was specifically designed around an electric powertrain? It's neither the biggest nor the cheapest option but that doesn't make it any less sensible. It's two-cylinder, 650cc Range Extender petrol engine isn't connected to anything but the battery so when it's running it takes frugal little sips from the nine-litre fuel tank. True, that is tiny so it does need filling more often, however at current fuel prices you could fill the tank for around £10, and when was the last time you could say that?

2. Hyundai Ioniq PHEV

• Economy: 174mpg
• Emissions: 32g/km
• Lease Price from: £300 per month

 

If you aren't taken with the looks of the BMW then maybe Hyundai can offer an alternative. The Ioniq is the first car in the UK to come in hybrid, plug-in, and all-electric variants and offers more conventional hatchback looks. It also has a well equipped and surprisingly roomy interior. The 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor produce 139bhp which is about average for a car in this class regardless of how it's powered. Hyundai are quickly building a decent reputation and the Ioniq is definitely a decent rival to the Toyota Prius – and less likely to find its way to the taxi firms, too. Well worth a look if you're considering a hybrid in the near future.

Just a quick note: Technically the Plug-in version of the Hyundai Ioniq isn't available yet but as it's due to go on sale from this month we think it's safe to add it to the list a bit early.

View our latest Hyundai Ioniq offers.

 

3. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

• Economy: 166mpg
• Emissions: 41g/km
• Lease Price from: £220 per month

 

The first hybrid SUV in the UK and consequently incredibly popular the Outlander offers a practical, five-seat option for people looking for a bit more space and versatility. All the benefits of an SUV with potentially much lower running costs is an idea bound to be well received. A 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motors combine to provide a total of 200bhp and a decent balance of performance and economy. It's popularity may be based in part on the fact that it opened up the hybrid SUV market but don't let that detract from the fact that at heart the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a pretty good car too.

 

4. Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine

• Economy: 134mpg
• Emissions: 49g/km
• Lease Price from: £550 per month

 

If you are looking for a bit more luxury and refinement from your SUV but still want the PHEV benefits then the Volvo XC90 T8 is the car of choice. It outperforms hybrid rivals from Lexus and Porsche on both space and value for money. With its 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motors combining to produce nearly 400bhp, and with a list price around the £50k mark the Volvo is definitely not the budget option. On the plus side it's a comfortable seven-seat SUV with impressive trim levels and great looks. The Volvo XC90 is massively popular in any form and the PHEV is no exception. More expensive it may be but you most certainly get what you pay for. A great executive company car choice.

View our latest Volvo XC90 offers.

 

5. Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid

• Economy: 113mpg
• Emissions: 56g/km
• Lease Price from: £770 per month

 

No, we aren't suggesting that the Porsche Panamera is a car that will suit everyone but it does serve a purpose. Those looks aren't for everyone - although the former ugly duckling has now matured into a bit of a swan - and with its 3.0-litre V6 and premium price tag it will never be as economical to lease and run as the rest of the list. So what? The build quality is superb, the engineering is exquisite, it handles exactly as a Porsche should, and the E-Hybrid variant offers significant financial benefits over the more traditionally powered Panamera. Yes, it's a premium car that few will choose but it proves the very important point that being environmentally aware doesn't mean having to make sacrifices.

 

Obviously if we went into detail on all of the cars it would defeat the object of compiling a rough guide in the first place. So we won't. Hopefully it's enough to merely point out that for a lot of people a PHEV could represent a significant reduction in the cost of running a car.

If the spark of inspiration has been ignited and you would like to find out more about hybrid technology, or you simply like the sound of reducing the cost of running a car, we will gladly give you all the details you need to make the ideal choice.

Discover our range of PHEV's available to lease here: PHEV offers

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