The best plug-in hybrid SUVs can be a great option if you’re looking for a car that has tough looks and a raised driving position yet gives you the potential for low running costs and electric-only driving for short distances. By combining a traditional petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery, plug-in hybrids can offer the best of both worlds: quiet, zero-emissions electric running for daily commutes and school runs with the reassurance of a combustion engine for longer journeys. And no need for range anxiety.
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV can make a lot of financial sense for some people, too. Not only do they attract significantly lower company car tax rates than traditional petrol or diesel models, but they can dramatically reduce fuel costs if you're able to charge the battery regularly at home or work. Most modern PHEVs offer more than 40 miles of electric-only range (according to official figures) and some offer about 80 miles, so you may be able to cover most daily driving needs without using a drop of fuel.
Here’s our guide to the best plug-in hybrid SUVs you can buy in 2025. Our recommendations are based on a combination of thorough road tests by expert reviewers, CarGurus user ratings and CarGurus UK market data showing which models offer the best value.
We update this list regularly and there are options to suit various needs and budgets. One thing to note – if you're not able to plug in regularly, you might be better served by our guide to the Best Self-Charging Hybrid SUVs.
The Best Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) SUVs
- 1. Mercedes-Benz GLC
- 2. Ford Kuga
- 3. Volvo XC90
- 4. Hyundai Santa Fe
- 5. MG HS
- 6. Volkswagen Tiguan
- 7. Lexus NX450h+
- 8. Volvo XC60
- 9. Kia Niro
- 10. BMW X5
1. Mercedes-Benz GLC (2023-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 3.75 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.55 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £50,349 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 48.82%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-quality cabin | Expensive, even by the standards of the class |
| Well-equipped as standard | Adaptive cruise control costs extra |
| Huge electric-only range | PHEV versions have a small boot |
The Mercedes GLC is a standout option if you're a company car driver looking to reduce your Benefit-in-Kind tax bills. That's because an official electric-only range of more than 70 miles that puts it in a lower band than many rival cars. Unusually, you also get a choice or petrol or diesel PHEV models – and both have all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard. As well as a lengthy electric range, the GLC has an interior with a glitzy, high-end sheen and it comes with lots of high-tech features as standard, with many more available as optional extras.
However, this excellence comes at a price. New PHEV models start at around £60,000, and the GLC commands a hefty premium over key rivals. Despite that, Mercedes reserves adaptive cruise control for the most expensive top-trim models. And the plug-in hybrid variants sacrifice some practicality, offering 470 litres of boot space compared with 600-620 litres in mild-hybrid models. But the GLC is a classy customer and it's classically Mercedes in the way it drives: quiet, comfortable and reassuring.
"For company car drivers, the Mercedes GLC PHEVs are as good as it gets in this class and should be top of your premium plug-in hybrid SUV shopping list." - Vicky Parrott, contributing editor
Read our full Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class review
2. Ford Kuga (2020-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.51 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £25,902 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 47.05%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good to drive, as you'd expect of a Ford | The interior is a bit low-rent in places |
| Roomy and practical cabin | Some rivals have bigger boots |
| The plug-in hybrid is a great choice for company car drivers | It's hard to apply the plug-in hybrid's brakes smoothly |
The Ford Kuga Plug-in Hybrid represents exceptional value, with its plug-in powertrain transforming it into one of the most cost-effective ways to run a family SUV - especially if you can charge regularly at home. A pure-electric range of about 43 miles isn't class-leading but it's enough to put the Kuga into a competitive benefit-in-kind tax bracket and the PHEV model gives sprightly performance that's a good match for the Kuga's dynamic character. True to Ford's reputation you can enjoy driving the Kuga thanks to its direct steering and a controlled feel through corners, yet it manages to maintain a comfortable ride that keeps everyone on board happy.
The cabin features practical sliding rear seats that boost versatility, although the PHEV model's boot space is a meagre 411 litres – down on the already below-average 475 litres in standard models. There are some low-rent interior plastics, too, but the dashboard is user-friendly and the Kuga's keen pricing and likeable character make it a sound choice.
"The PHEV is the star of the range, with a generous electric-only range. Running costs will be rock-bottom for the right kind of driver, especially if you are choosing the Kuga as a company car." - David Motton, contributor
Read our full Ford Kuga review
3. Volvo XC90 (2015-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.65 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £56,826 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 44.69%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Tastefully designed interior | Slightly noisy engines |
| Hugely comfortable over long distances | Infotainment system not the best |
| Practical, spacious and safe | Audi, Mercedes or BMW rivals feel better built |
The Volvo XC90 has, for a long time, been a favourite for anyone that wants a safe, luxurious, family car and although there’s now an all-electric equivalent called the EX90, the XC90 remains a great option if you want space for up to seven and the potential for zero-emissions journeys. Updated in 2024 with a subtly redesigned interior and exterior, the XC90 is getting on in years yet has a capacity to make big family trips effortless that some newer rivals can’t match.
Above all, it's the XC90's elegant Scandinavian design and lounge-like interior that set it apart from its competitors. Inside there's a beguiling mix of high-end tech and tactile materials. The plug-in model is fast and comfortable, too, although the XC90 lacks the driving engagement of rivals like the BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne. For buyers prioritising long-distance comfort and family practicality over dynamic thrills, however, the XC90 remains an excellent choice.
"The sheen of quality and cool, and the composed and subtle look of the XC90, may swing the balance for some, particularly when coupled with its sensible running costs." - Lewis Kingston, contributor
Read our full Volvo XC90 review
4. Hyundai Santa Fe (2024-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 4.25 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.5 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £42,041 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 42.79%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Huge space and versatility | Disappointingly low towing limit |
| Pleasantly trimmed interior | Cabin storage could be cleverer |
| Lots of standard equipment | Limited electric range on PHEV |
The latest Hyundai Santa Fe is a brilliant family car, providing exceptional comfort and a touch of luxury for up to seven adults. Even the cheapest versions have features that make it a pleasure to own and travel in – things such as a powered tailgate, self-levelling suspension, rear window blinds, wireless phone charging and electric front seat adjustment. The interior has a high-quality look and feel, and higher-spec models have extras such as heated second-row seats and a double sunroof.
A smooth ride adds to the relaxing ambience and the Santa Fe is easy and surprisingly enjoyable to drive. It’s available as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, with the PHEV version adding four-wheel drive and an official pure-electric range of 33.6 miles. That’s below-average, as is a towing capacity of just 1,110kg, but the Santa Fe excels in just about every other respect and it comes with the reassurance of Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty.
"The Santa Fe is a truly brilliant and peculiarly lovable seven-seat SUV. If you want something that’s useful and rugged, but that doesn’t cost the earth and promises great reliability, this is well worth considering." - Vicky Parrott, contributing editor
Read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review
5. MG HS (2024-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 3.75 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.8 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £24,698 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 60.39%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Amazing value for money | MG has a poor reputation for reliability |
| 75-mile official range for plug-in hybrid model | Underwhelming petrol engine |
| Long warranty | Over-eager safety assist systems |
Value, value, value – that’s what the MG HS offers in spades. Compared with rivals such as the Ford Kuga or Kia Niro PHEV models, the MG HS Plug-in Hybrid is vastly more affordable, whether you’re leasing one or buying outright. Thanks to its large battery it has a whopping electric-only range of 75 miles that very few plug-in hybrid SUVs can match. It’s also quite fast, with a 0-62mph time of less than seven seconds, and although it’s not a thrilling drive it does everything you’d want a mid-size SUV to do.
That’s not all the HS has to offer. It’s bigger than your usual mid-size SUV, which means it’s roomy inside, with enough space and practicality on offer to serve as a bona fide family SUV. It’s well-equipped, too, especially if you go for higher-spec Trophy trim (which still undercuts most rivals on price). MG’s recent reliability record isn’t great, but you do get a seven-year/80,000-mile warranty from new.
"The MG HS offers a great value proposition in the family SUV market. It’s spacious, well-equipped, and priced significantly lower than its rivals." - Chris Knapman, editorial director
6. Volkswagen Tiguan (2024-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 3.75 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.5 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £34,333 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 26.94%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Brilliant for practicality and versatility | Infotainment system is way too complex |
| Nicely trimmed interior | Firm ride on larger alloy wheels |
| Good looks and desirable image | Many versions look rather expensive |
If you’re in the market for a plug-in hybrid, it’s worth paying attention to the Volkswagen Tiguan because it’s one of the few SUVs that could make more sense with a plug-in hybrid powertrain under its bonnet. Why? Well, according to the official WLTP figures, it’s good for an electric-only range of 72-75 miles (depending on trim) – once upon a time that sort of range was the preserve of a fully electric car, let alone a PHEV.
But that isn’t all the Tiguan has going for it – it’s also a thoroughly capable family SUV with practicality in spades thanks to its spacious interior and sliding/reclining rear seats. It’s impressively smooth when you’re pottering around on battery power and if you raise the tempo the Tiguan’s responsive steering and controlled feel through corners inspire lots of confidence. Every version comes loaded with kit, so one of the lower-priced, lower-spec models is your best bet if you want value for money.
"We reckon family car buyers will love the Tiguan SUV for its generous interior space, big boot and cleverly designed rear seats." - Ivan Aistrop, senior editor
Read our full Volkswagen Tiguan Review
7. Lexus NX450h+ (2022-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £39,243 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 25.71%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Smooth, comfortable ride | Petrol engine sounds thrashy when pushed |
| Feels refreshingly different from German rivals | Too much body lean in corners |
| Enviable reputation for reliability | Rear-seat area is a little dark |
The Lexus NX is available as a plug-in hybrid and as a full hybrid, and it’s a really quiet, smooth, comfortable car to spend time in whichever option you go for. The Lexus NX 450h+ PHEV will officially manage about 40 miles of electric running, and you should be able to get close to this in real-world driving. It’s especially smooth and strong when running on battery power, which adds to an easygoing driving experience.
There’s plenty of room in the NX for rear passengers, and the boot has a useful 520 litres of space, which makes this one of the bigger boots of these mid-sized PHEV SUVs. Up-front are extremely comfortable seats and an interesting-looking dashboard stacked with high-tech features. Lexus’ reputation for reliability is second to none, and provided you have the car serviced at an official dealership, the NX also comes with a very compelling 100,000 mile, 10-year warranty.
"If you value comfort over sportiness and enjoy a slightly different way of doing things, then the Lexus NX is well worth a look." - Matt Rigby, contributor
Read our full Lexus NX450h+ review
8. Volvo XC60 (2017-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.59 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £46,850 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 34.57%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Classy styling inside and out | No seven-seat option |
| Strong engine range | Not exciting to drive |
| Practical enough for family use | Expensive to buy |
The Volvo XC60's standout feature is its interior, which is crafted with top-quality materials and has a minimalist, high-end appearance. Another appealing aspect is an especially smooth and quiet ride, with the XC60 effortlessly glossing over bumps and road imperfections in near-silence. The plug-in hybrid T6 and T8 models both have four-wheel drive as standard and a useful, if not class-leading, electric-only battery range of 51 miles. Both versions are impressively powerful, giving a 0-62mph time of less than six seconds for the T6 and less than five seconds for the T8.
The 468-litre boot space is slightly less than you get in mild hybrid models, although there’s not such a big penalty for choosing the plug-in as there is with some similar cars. As with most Volvos the XC60 is rather pricey but also rather well-equipped. Standard kit includes lots of advanced safety features, with some designed to protect everyone on board and others that aim to make a collision less likely to happen in the first place.
"In short, the XC60 is an upmarket, cosseting and largely family-friendly SUV that hits the spot where it matters most." - Ivan Aistrop, senior editor
Read our full Volvo XC60 review
9. Kia Niro (2022-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.29 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £25,527 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 34.82%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very low running costs | PHEV loses some boot space |
| Roomy for passengers | Not exciting to drive |
| Lots of equipment as standard | Styling won't be to all tastes |
The Niro is of Kia's more affordable routes into plug-in hybrid SUV ownership, with prices for new versions of the PHEV model starting at just over £35,000 – not bad for a mid-size SUV that’s packed with standard features.
In truth, the Niro is arguably more of a crossover than an SUV, but despite its comparatively compact dimensions and low(ish) roofline the Niro PHEV is practical enough for families. Even if it's a shame that the PHEV model’s boot is so much smaller than that of the full-hybrid model. The interior has all the design flair we’ve come to expect from Kia, with crisp digital displays and a smart-looking touchscreen, and it all feels nicely put together. There’s nothing remarkable about the way the Niro drives, but it’s competent and comfortable and an electric-only range of up to 40 miles is par for the course. What is out of the norm – in a good way – is Kia’s excellent reliability record and seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.
"This is a really complete and highly recommendable family car whether you go for the hybrid or plug-in hybrid." - Vicky Parrott, contributing editor
10. BMW X5 (2019-present)
CarGurus expert rating: 4.5 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.59 out of 5 Average price on CarGurus for last three model years: £66,165 Good/Great deals available on CarGurus: 33.62%
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Far more enjoyable to drive than most large SUVs | Not as capable off road as a Land Rover Discovery |
| Brilliant plug-in hybrid version | Expensive to buy |
| Staggering performance of X5 M | Not everyone will take to the styling |
The BMW X5 is a big, expensive SUV that gives you the best of just about everything. That includes pure-electric range, because thanks to its larger-than-average battery the latest version can manage up to 64 miles on a full charge – a real achievement for such a large, heavy car. Despite its considerable bulk the X5 is also freakishly good to drive, balancing the refinement you expect of a luxury SUV with the handling of something much smaller and sportier. Performance, as you might expect of a car with 482bhp, is effortless.
As well as being beautifully designed and built, the interior is stuffed with the latest gadgets, easy to use and hugely spacious. Boot space isn’t as vast as in non-PHEV models but a capacity of 500 litres is ample by most standards and there’s a split tailgate that looks cool and makes it easy to slide heavy items in and out. All this comes at a considerable price, with new models starting at more than £80,000. This is a car that feels expensive, though, and there are some good-value used examples out there.
"If you just want a rewarding upmarket SUV that's effortless to live with, you won't go far wrong with a BMW X5." - Lewis Kingston, contributor
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs FAQs
What is a plug-in hybrid SUV?
A plug-in hybrid SUV is a vehicle that combines a traditional combustion engine with an electric motor and a larger battery pack that can be charged from an external power source. Unlike regular hybrids, PHEVs can travel meaningful distances on electric power alone.
How far can plug-in hybrid SUVs travel on electric power?
Plug-in hybrid SUVs offer varying electric-only ranges, from around 25 miles in older models to nearly 80 miles in newer models such as the MG HS and Volkswagen Tiguan. Those are official figures, of course, and you might get slightly less in real-world driving. The majority of PHEVs provide a real-world range of at least 25 miles, which could be enough for many peoples' daily commutes.
Are plug-in hybrid SUVs worth it?
A plug-in hybrid SUV can be a good option, depending on your driving habits and charging options. If you have a home charger with the right energy tariff and keep the battery topped up you could slash your fuel bills. If you rely on more expensive public chargers or let the battery run flat, however, a PHEV could cost more in fuel costs than a petrol or full-hybid car.
If you're a company car driver, a PHEV is a good way to reduce your benefit-in-kind tax, although the same is true of electric cars.
Do I need a home charger for a plug-in hybrid SUV?
While not essential, a home charger is likely to make a big difference in ownership costs if you buy a plug-in hybrid SUV. Charging costs are generally considerably lower if you use a home charger rather than a public charger, especially if you have a tariff that lets you charge at off-peak rates. Most PHEVs can charge from a standard three-pin plug overnight, but a dedicated home charger reduces charging time to 3-4 hours.
What happens when the battery runs out in a plug-in hybrid?
When a plug-in hybrid's battery pack depletes, it will switch to hybrid mode, using the petrol engine with some electric assistance. Fuel economy is likely to be worse than an equivalent full-hybrid (self-charging hybrid) car, however, because the PHEV has the extra weight of a large battery pack to carry around.
What Makes CarGurus Best Cars Guides Different
Most car buying websites publish lists of the best cars across a variety of categories, with recommendations generally driven by editorial expertise. Here's what makes our best cars guides different: we combine the insights and verdicts of our team of car-testing experts with other factors that we know matter to buyers - real owner experiences and current market value.
To that end, our expert reviewers come from some of the UK's most trusted automotive publications including What Car?, The Telegraph, Auto Trader, Electrifying.com, and Carbuyer. They put each car through real-world testing, and create detailed reviews noting performance in a range of categories, from practicality and driving manners, to running costs and reliability.
But we don't stop there when it comes to creating our best cars guides; we also analyse hundreds of thousands of used car listings on CarGurus UK to track which models consistently offer the best deals. Then we factor in reviews from owners - people who actually live with these cars every day. Our best cars algorithm then creates a final score that combines expert ratings, user reviews, and the percentage of listings on CarGurus UK rated as good or great deals. This three-way approach reveals not just which cars excel on paper, but which ones deliver satisfaction and value when you're ready to buy.
The CarGurus UK market data in this guide was last updated in October 2025. Values were accurate at time of publication and should be used as a guide only.