What's the best plug-in hybrid to replace my electric car?
Dear Alex,
I drive a new Hyundai Kona EV; my wife has a petrol Kia Venga. Due to the low annual mileage of each car, I would like to change the Venga for a Kia EV2 next year. I then wish to change my Hyundai to a plug-in hybrid for longer journeys, as I am still wary of limited charging options. Is a Toyota C-HR worth considering?
– DN
Dear DN,
I think I can follow your thought process; swapping a larger EV for a smaller, more town-friendly one, then adding a plug-in hybrid for ease of use over a longer range.
However I have to query whether all that upheaval is really necessary. Could you not simply use the petrol Kia for longer trips and the electric Hyundai for urban use?
Granted, the Venga isn't ideal for long distances, which is why I suspect you're thinking of making the switch. But I feel as though it's incumbent on me to point out that it would save time, hassle and money – and be more sustainable – to keep your existing cars, rather than ordering two new ones.
Yet if you're set on making this change, you could do worse than a C-HR. It's less convincing in plug-in hybrid form than as a full hybrid, as the boot is tiny and there's a bit of bump and shake to the ride, but the interior feels high-quality and it should be reliable.
As an alternative, it's hard to ignore the appeal of the latest MG HS. It won't do if you want to avoid buying Chinese, of course, but otherwise, the HS is impressive, with a huge electric-only range, lots of space and equipment, a less incendiary LFP battery and a very welcome seven-year warranty, all for considerably less than the cost of the Toyota. Its interior quality isn't quite as good, but for the price you might not care.
Finally, it would be remiss of me not to point out that you could buy your new plug-in hybrid at the same time as your wife's EV2 – from the same dealer. A Kia Sportage is very decent in plug-in form, also with greater space and a more comfortable ride than the C-HR. It's slightly larger, too, though not by much.
If you can secure suitably favourable terms on a two-car purchase from your Kia dealer, this might be the best course of action.
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