These are the plug-in hybrids with the longest ranges available today
Plug-in hybrids have been rising in popularity over recent years as they offer the ability to run on electric-only power for a portion of the time while still having a combustion engine to fall back on when you need to travel further afield.
In fact, many manufacturers see plug-in hybrids – or PHEVs – as a key part of their future electrification strategies, which is why we’re seeing more complex models arriving on the market that can travel on electric-only power for longer and longer periods. Here, we’re going to check out the PHEVs that can travel the furthest on battery power alone.
Newcomer Omoda has weighed in with a plug-in hybrid that offers the best possible electric-only range of up to 93 miles. It’s an impressive amount of electric distance and means that you can take this comfortable SUV on bigger trips without needing to call the 1.5-litre petrol engine into question too often.
The Omoda 9’s huge 34.46kWh battery is similar in size to the one found on compact electric vehicles, which helps this large SUV to deliver good levels of efficiency overall.
The Tiggo 9 also falls under the Chery banner – just as the Omoda 9 does – and it’ll come as no surprise that its large Tiggo 9 can also bring a very long electric-only range. Like the Omoda 9, the Tiggo 9 gets a big battery to help it bring up to 91 miles of electric-only range, while a maximum charging speed of 71kWh means that a 30 to 80 per cent top-up can be conducted in 18 minutes.
The Tiggo 9 also comes with a high level of standard equipment, with all cars getting features such as heated and ventilated seats, as well as dual-zone climate control.
It’s the China-based manufacturers which have been delivering in the plug-in hybrid, which is probably why the BYD Seal 6 DM-i is also one of the PHEVs with the longest electric range. At 87 miles, it’s a respectable distance, while top-spec Comfort cars can be charged at speeds of up to 26kW for a 15 to 100 per cent charge in 23 minutes.
The Seal 6 DM-i – available in both saloon and Touring layouts – has just gone on sale in the UK, too, with prices starting from £33,990.
It’s a first entry for a non-Chinese brand, with Skoda’s Superb PHEV coming in with a decent electric-only range of up to 84 miles. The Super’s great refinement and large, spacious cabin also make this model an excellent long-distance model.
Available in both hatchback and estate forms, the Super also comes with a very large boot and lots of high-quality materials inside.
It’s not much of a surprise to see Volkswagen’s Passat PHEV coming after the Superb – the two share a platform and many key technologies. Like the Superb, the Passat is a large, spacious and comfortable cruiser and, in PHEV form, one which can deliver up to 81 miles of electric-only range.
Volkswagen recently added Match and Black Edition specifications to the Passat eHybrid range, too, bringing a greater level of standard equipment to both trim levels.
Audi’s new Q3 might be a compact model but in e-hybrid form, it’s impressively electrified with a range of up to 73 miles coming from a single charge. The latest Q3 is by far the most tech-packed to date, too, alongside a new ‘steering wheel control unit’ which essentially integrates many key functions into one stalk. On the left-hand stalk, you now get wiper and light functions, while the one on the right looks after gears.
There’s a handy 488-litre boot, too, which can be expanded to 575 litres by sliding the rear seats forward as far as they can go.
Finally, we’ve got the Mercedes GLC300e. The GLC has been a mainstay in the Mercedes range for decades, occupying a handy space between smaller GLA and larger GLE models, bringing a ‘best of both worlds’ scenario for many drivers.
In GLC300e form, it gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine linked to a 31.2kWh battery, which can help it deliver up to 78 miles of electric-only range. Plus, it can charge at speeds of up to 60kW, meaning a full charge in just over 30 minutes.