Plug And Play: The Top 5 Hybrid SUVs For 2024
In the pursuit of pure maths, there are few more popular or practical cars than a hybrid SUV if, like many, leasing or company cars are your main methods of getting into a new set of wheels.
Thanks to their capacious interiors, low CO2 figures and good resale values, hybrid SUVs can offer remarkable value for money. Here are the best new models on sale right now.
Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Porsche has long been at the forefront of hybrid powertrain development, with no less than three different E-Hybrid models of its latest Cayenne now available. But we think it’s the V6-powered middle child, the S E-Hybrid, which matches economy and performance better than just about any rival.
Producing 511bhp and a mighty 750Nm of torque, the Cayenne’s real party trick is that it offers up to 45-50 miles of all-electric range.
Looking beyond the hybrid powertrain, the Cayenne’s recently been given a hefty update. The stylish new model looks and feels bang up to date, with blockier exterior styling, larger tyres and a tech-heavy new interior.
If you’re after a touch more style, the Coupe version is available. In either case, a trip to the options list is always a fun, if expensive, exercise – particularly if you want something a little more individual.
BMW X5 50e
Hot on the heels of the Porsche is BMW’s X5, which has recently been updated with its own cutting-edge hybrid tech. It, too, combines a six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and battery pack, but this time, it uses a BMW-typical straight-six.
Even so, the X5’s numbers are remarkably similar to those of the Porsche, giving up a little power at 483bhp but gaining a few extra miles of electric range at around 50 miles.
The BMW can also be equipped with expensive options, helping give it a luxurious edge over most of its direct competition. However, if you’re after a sleeker coupe-like model, you’ll find the equivalent X6 isn’t able to be equipped with the same hybrid powertrain.
The BMW drives a little softer than the Porsche but offers better comfort and refinement. Just watch out for the largest 22-inch wheels, which can give the ride a hard edge.
Lexus RX 350H
A hybrid Lexus SUV might not sound like a particularly appealing prospect to anyone looking for a fun or exciting driving experience. But much like the Porsche, Toyota’s expertise in hybrid powertrains is in full force with the RX, which makes a brilliant everyday driver.
The mid-level, non-plug-in RX 350H powertrain is powerful enough at 247bhp, but its chunky surplus of electrically-assisted torque makes light work of its comparatively light body.
Lexus has also been busy improving its interior tech, as seen in this car’s impressive new digital interfaces, which strike a fine balance between a clean design and physical switches. All of this is laid upon a typically high-quality Lexus experience, with superb materials and paint quality, impenetrable reliability and impressive levels of refinement.
Underestimate the new RX at your own peril.
Mercedes GLE400e
If you’re after an SUV that looks and drives with even more presence than the BMW and Porsche, Mercedes’ massive GLE400e fits the bill. Typically wider, taller and more comfort-oriented than its sportier rivals, the recently updated GLE is a tour-de-force when it comes to technology.
However, where many of the Merc’s rivals use a V6 hybrid system, the GLE makes do with four, meaning that even though its figures are only slightly behind its rivals at 388bhp combined, it feels noticeably less powerful.
Unfortunately, beyond the numbers, it also doesn’t feel quite as premium. Even though sound isolation is good, you’ll still occasionally hear the petrol engine straining to motivate the GLE’s considerable mass, in contrast to the roar of the more sophisticated sixes in BMW and Porsche’s offering.
Range Rover Sport P460E
If the GLE still isn’t big enough for you, then the Range Rover Sport P460E could well be the ticket, sitting on yet one more plane up in terms of size and luxury. Despite being on sale for a few years, the Range Rover still offers a design-led luxury experience. Inside and out, the Sport looks and feels like a luxury car, whereas the others on this list are merely premium.
The powertrain is also a peach, with an equally impressive all-electric range and sophisticated in-line six-cylinder engines augmented by an impressive plug-in hybrid module.
Unlike the V8s models, which share their powertrain hardware with various BMWs, the six-cylinder engines here are pure Land Rover and suit the added weight and off-roading requirements you’d expect from something with Range Rover written on the back of it.
And One That Got Away: Toyota Land Cruiser 250
If all of the cars listed above are a little too highly strung or upper class for you, might we suggest the new Toyota Land Cruiser 250 as a possible alternative? Technically, its inclusion in this list is allowed, as all Europeans will soon be available with a diesel powertrain mated to a mild-hybrid system. However, the model we’re talking about is the new full-hybrid version being rolled out in the US – one that might, eventually, make its way to Europe.
The new Land Cruiser looks big and tough largely because it is big and tough. In fact, it’s close to unbreakable. It rides on an old-school ladder frame chassis, and with that comes lots of compromises such as bouncy ride quality and high kerb weight. But what it gives you is a car that’ll traverse deserts, plains or mountainous off-road courses just as easily as it’ll mount a kerb at the local Waitrose.
