Cheapest New Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) Cars Under £35k

Whether it’s the rising cost of living, fluctuating fuel prices or your weekly food bill creeping up, it’s little wonder many of us out there are increasingly feeling the pinch.

Moreover, because it’s often factors far outside of our control – or simply, going on far away from here - that take their toll on our day-to-day living costs, it’s usually down to us as individuals to find ways to make savings.

While that might be something as simple as turning down the thermostat a notch or swapping to own brand products in the supermarket, a more longer-term solution is to upgrade to a more frugal car.

And we’re not just referring to electric vehicles, either...

Here we’re talking Plug-In Hybrids, which offer the convenience of a petrol engine but with the substantial savings of electric-assisted power too.

Why Choose a Plug-In Hybrid Car?

While pure EVs – which emit zero emissions and cost just pennies to recharge compared to fuel – are an excellent way to significantly change your monthly outgoings, it’s true that limitations, like not having regular access to recharging facilities or a high-mileage lifestyle, won’t suit a switch just yet.

Therefore, PHEVs – which are capable of using electric power only for large portions of a journey – represent an excellent compromise.

While it’s true that PHEVs still require physical recharging, these cars also have a conventional ICE (internal combustion engine) that takes over when the battery has emptied.

What is the Range of a PHEV?

The electric range of a PHEV will depend on the model and how you drive, but it is broadly designed cover the average daily mileage of a car – all without emitting a single emission or using a single drop of fuel.

PHEVs feature relatively small batteries of between 10-30kWh. This is compared to pure EVs, which can have anywhere between around 45-115kWh sized batteries, depending on the model.

While electric range is also more limited by comparison to a pure EV, many PHEVs can still drive around 50-80-miles on electric power alone. This should be sufficient if your daily drive consists of commuting, the school run and/or a trip to the shops.

If you do need to travel further or charging your vehicle overnight isn’t always convenient, you have the reassurance of the petrol engine to take you further.

Better yet, the assistance of electric power means most PHEVs return excellent overall fuel economy on an average cycle of EV/ICE use.

Moreover, total range – that being how far you can drive before your battery and your fuel tank empties – can be as much as 700-miles.

It isn’t just a straight switch between electric or petrol power, either. Indeed, many PHEVs can automatically work out what’s most economical to the car by utilising electric and petrol power at the same time to ensure you’re always getting the best value returns.

How Much is a PHEV Car?

On a scale of upfront affordability, PHEVs sit between conventional ICE (petrol) cars and pure electric cars in terms of price.

It pays to do your sums beforehand to figure out how many miles you’re likely to drive each day to determine whether you can offset any higher upfront costs by fully capitalising on the cheaper costs of running a PHEV.

Excitingly, there is now a wide range of quality plug-in hybrid cars on the market across a variety of model types.

Better yet, an increasing number of these are not only affordable to buy but also practical, refined, well-equipped and - of course - much cheaper to run.

Here are a selection of new Plug-In Hybrid cars you get at Vertu for less than £35,000* right now...

* Prices correct at the time of writing

Geely Starray EM-i PHEV

One of the UK’s newest brands, Geely Auto arrives on these shores with a convincing opening pitch in the Geely Starray EM-i – one of the cheapest and best value PHEVs on the market.

With a starting price below £30k for the entry-level PRO trim, the Starray makes a strong case as a family-friendly, value-for-money SUV complemented by a spacious interior for five, a 528-litre boot and lengthy specification list that includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and heated/electrically adjustable front seats.

Under the skin, you start with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and then have the choice of combining it with either a 18.4kWh (Pro and Max trims) or 29.8kWh (Ultra trim) battery.

The input of the 18.4kWh battery allows for more than 50-miles of driving on electric power only. Upgrade to the larger 29.8kWh battery (£34,990*) for 84-miles of electric driving and a total range (battery and fuel) of over 600-miles.

BYD Sealion 5 DM-i PHEV

Having been largely responsible for sparking the wave of newfound interest in PHEVs with its Seal U SUV (see below), BYD has now doubled (and tripled) down on the formula with its latest UK entrant, the BYD Sealion 5 DM-i.

Slotting in as the most affordable plug-in hybrid in BYD’s range at a starting price of just under £30,000, the Sealion 5 comes with the choice of either a 12.96kWh or 18.3kWh battery.

Paired with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, the Sealion 5 can toggle seamlessly between the battery and the ICE almost unnoticed, such is the smoothness of the clever DM-i powertrain.

In terms of electric range, the Sealion 5 12.96kWh will travel around 38-miles, while the 18.3kWh version manages 53-miles. Total EV/fuel range totals around 631-miles.

MG HS PHEV

One of the UK’s most popular cars, the MG HS strengthens its appeal as a practical, family SUV in super economical PHEV trim.

A manufacturer that has placed itself at the forefront of the electric motoring revolution with a growing range of quality EV options, the MG HS PHEV shows the firm can hit the sweet spot with hybrid models too.

As with the standard HS – the eighth best-selling car in the UK last year – the PHEV retains the hallmarks of what has made it so popular, namely its excellent value-for-money, generous standard equipment, 507-litre boot and refined driving performance.

With a 24.7kWh mated to the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, the HS PHEV has an electric-only range of 75-miles for a total of more than 500-miles, including the ICE.

BYD Seal U DM-I PHEV

BYD might have initially charged into the UK with a flurry of electric models, but it was the launch of its inaugural plug-in hybrid – the top-selling BYD Seal U DM-i – that would prove the driving force behind the firm’s rapid ascent.

It’s not hard to see why either, the Seal U convincingly blending impressive electric-assisted useability and strikingly low running costs in a hugely practical, superb value-for-money SUV package.

It’s comfortably the largest model in this ‘cheapest PHEV’ ranking, which translates to superior rear head and legroom, plus a 425-litre boot (or 1,400-litres with the seats down).

Electric range varies between 43-50-miles (18.3kWh) and 75-miles (26.6kWh), with BYD claiming the larger of the batteries can go 700-miles total alongside its 214bhp 1.5-litre engine.

BYD Seal 6 DM-i PHEV

While those in the know won’t be surprised to see this ranking dominated by SUVs, the BYD Seal 6 proves you can still combine PHEV technology in a sleek and affordable saloon (or estate) package.

Taking inspiration from the BYD Seal – the firm’s halo electric saloon – the Seal 6 offers similarly svelte and sophisticated looks, while the minimalist interior is comfortable, built to a high standard and bulges with lavish kit.

The choice of two batteries – 10kWh or 19kWh – can be mated to the Seal 6’s 1.5-litre petrol engine, delivering 31 or 62-miles of electric-only range respectively. According to BYD, the Seal 6 can travel up to 900-miles total (fuel and electric).

Better yet, the BYD Seal 6 Touring estate [pictured above] presents a great practical alternative with its 675-litre boot, all without ruining those attractive looks.

Kia Niro PHEV

While it may be difficult to pigeon-hole into one particular segment, that doesn’t mean the Kia Niro PHEV is a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ car… in fact, you’ll find it is arguably something of a ‘motoring master’.

Falling somewhere between a conventional hatchback, an estate, an SUV and an MPV, the Niro makes the best of its many ingredients to offer a litany of appealing strengths – not least value-for-money.

The Niro’s unorthodox shape makes it immensely practical, for instance, while it is also well-equipped, refined to drive and feels well screwed together.

The Niro PHEV mates a 1.6-litre engine with an 11.1kWh battery, which offers 40-miles of electric-only range and upwards of 344mpg overall.

One to watch…

MGS9 PHEV

Another value-oriented PHEV from MG, the MGS9 PHEV will arrive soon and when it does, not only will it be one of the best value plug-in hybrids out there, it’ll also come with seven seats.