In the past, if you wanted a hybrid SUV, you could buy a Lexus, and that was about it. But in 2017, the number of hybrid SUVs for sale in the UK has grown, and the market is still getting bigger. The sheer variety on offer means there's bound to be a hybrid SUV for you, from compact models to full-size 7-seaters, you can get them all, and whether they're plug-in or a closed hybrid, they all deliver the kind of efficiency that can be on a par with diesel SUVs.
The first hybrid SUV to go on sale in the UK was the Lexus RX 400h, which arrived in 2005. It featured a V6 petrol engine, battery pack and electric motor, and was very much like an enlarged, luxury adaptation of the Toyota Prius. The Lexus RX is still with us, and the fourth generation still very much relies on hybrid drive.
The vast majority of hybrid SUVs on sale feature a petrol engine to go with the electric motor and battery pack. That's because while diesel is popular in Europe, countries like Japan, China and the USA, where hybrid models are also sold, still prefer petrol.
Plug-in hybrids are designed to deliver the efficiency of a diesel, but with the smoothness of a petrol engine. The latest models feature a battery pack that's good for up to 20 miles of electric running, and as long as you keep the battery charged up, you should be able to return decent fuel figures to match or beat a diesel model. Fail to keep it charged, and you're presented with a false economy, because a depleted hybrid that relies on its petrol engine will be no more efficient than a standalone petrol model. THat's especially true when you factor in the usually higher purchase price of a hybrid model.
One benefit of the hybrid SUV is that their size means there's not much compromise in terms of passenger space. The hybrid system usually takes up space under the boot floor, and many makers fit a smaller fuel tank to make room for it, the reasoning being that the charged battery and electric motor will more than make up for the smaller fuel tank range. As a result, there are a few seven-seat hybrid SUVs on sale that feature a third row in the boot.
If you're looking for a hybrid SUV or crossover, your options are wider than ever. At the lower end of the range in terms of size, the Kia Niro is more of a hatchback with SUV styling cues than a full crossover, but is the least expensive non-plugin hybrid on sale. Beyond that, the Toyota RAV4, Lexus NX 300h and RX 450h all use petrol engines with battery and electric motors.
Where the real expansion is taking place is in the plug-in hybrid market. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was the first to arrive in 2012, but since then it's been joined by the Volvo XC90 Twin Engine, Audi Q7 etron, Porsche Cayenne E-hybrid, BMW X5 40e, Mercedes GLE 500e and, most recently, the MINI Countryman S E.
But which hybrid SUVs are our favourites? Check out our top 10.
- 1. Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine
- 2. Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
- 3. BMW X5 xDrive 40e
- 4. Audi Q7 e-tron
- 5. MINI Countryman S E
- 6. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- 7. Lexus RX 450h
- 8. Kia Niro
- 9. Mercedes-Benz GLE 500e
- 10. Lexus NX 300h
Read more of our best car recommendations...
from Featured Articles http://ift.tt/2tbyeUt
No comments:
Post a Comment