Daily Archives: September 10, 2017

The best new hybrid cars 2017

Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment

Conventional petrol and diesel cars will be banned from sale in the UK from 2040.

Therefore, electrified hybrid cars will be the only models available that still feature some sort of internal combustion engine. The choice of these electrified ‘mild hybrid’ and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is now wider than ever, as our selection here shows. All quoted ‘on the road’ prices include VAT, but do not include the government’s Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG) – where applicable.

Volkswagen Golf GTE: £30,635 – £32,135

The Golf GTE is Volkswagen’s idea of a fleet-friendly electrified performance Golf in the vein of the legendary GTI. With a combined output of 204hp from its 148bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine and 75kW electric motor, the plug-in hybrid Golf does the 0-62mph dash in 7.6 seconds, yet has CO2 emissions from just 38g/km. Electric-only range is 31 miles, while five electric and hybrid modes allow the plug-in Golf to be tailored to the prevailing driving conditions for the best performance or economy.

Hyundai Ioniq HEV: £20,585 – £24,185 / Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid: £27,495 – £29,295

The Ioniq is Hyundai’s new flagship range of electrified cars. Available in all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and ‘mild’ non-plug-in hybrid versions, the latter car has an official total range of 700 miles. With a low drag coefficient figure of 0.24, the plug-in version of the hybrid Hyundai boasts a combined economy figure of 256.8mpg and CO2 emissions from 29g/km. The interior is a step up from Hyundais of old, while blue accents inside and out point to the hybrid version.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: £34,305 – £46,055

Want a hybrid more suited for the rough and tumble? The 41g/km Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV and has proved very popular in the UK thanks to its low company car tax costs at launch. As well as more than enough space for families, the big SUV from Japan mates a 2.0-litre petrol engine to a pair of electric motors for up to 166mpg, and has the extra option of four-wheel-drive capability.

Read more: Motoring Research

Hyundai and PSA announce trade-in bonuses in Germany

Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Sales

Following in the footsteps of their German competitors and fellow importers, Hyundai and the PSA Group have now also introduced discounts on the purchase of new vehicles in Germany when an old Euro-1 to Euro-4 diesel car is traded in.

In the case of Hyundai, a bonus of between €2,500 and €10,000 is available until the end of 2017 when an older diesel car which conforms to the Euro-1 to Euro-4 emission standards is traded in. The only key condition of the ‘Green Deal’ scheme is that the car to be traded in must have been registered in its owner’s name for at least six months. All petrol and diesel Euro-6 compliant Hyundai cars are eligible for the bonus, including the hybrid version of the Ioniq. However, in an approach which mirrors that taken by other brands such as Ford and Opel, Hyundai’s electric vehicles (EV) – namely the plug-in hybrid and pure electric versions of the Ioniq – are not included in the offer. Nevertheless, these vehicles are of course still entitled to the German electric vehicle incentives, which amount to €3,285 for the Ioniq plug-in-hybrid and €4,380 for the fully electric variant.

The incentives on offer start at €2,500 for a Hyundai i10 and an ix20 and rise to €3,800 and €4,000 respectively for the i20 and Ioniq hybrid. For the Hyundai i30, Tucson and H-1, customers are entitled to a discount of €5,000 on the purchase price and the maximum €10,000 discount is available for buyers of the Hyundai i40 estate and Santa Fe or Grand Santa Fe SUVS. As with most other schemes, the bigger the car the greater the incentive. One additional noteworthy point, however, is that customers who trade in a Euro-4 compliant diesel are, according to the Hyundai press release, entitled to ‘a fair market value for the end-of-life vehicle from the participating Hyundai dealer beyond the promotional premium.’

Markus Schrick, managing director of Hyundai Motor Deutschland GmbH, said in Wednesday’s release that:

‘Environmentally-minded drivers are guaranteed to find the right vehicle at Hyundai. Whether you choose a petrol, diesel or hybrid powertrain. A modern powertrain is part of the DNA of every new Hyundai. And in comparison to many other manufacturers, our customers can top up the campaign bonus with the trade-in payment for their old Euro 4 diesel.’

Read more: Autovista Group