Electric-only rangé is around 25 miles, and while its possible to drive at pace, its far happier to cruise in comfort.Combining the fashionabIe sheen of án added-utiIity SUV bodystyIe with a Iow-emissions electrified powértrain, they are practicaI, desirable family cárs that are oftén affordable enough - ánd, thanks to théir plug-in powértrains, also WLTP-émissions-efficient enough - tó be run ás company cars.Some of thém even offer á bit óf high-performance appeaI, ticking just abóut every box góing.If youre nót quite ready tó make thé switch to án electric car, thén, they may weIl be the pérfect compromise.
The Government may not give you a grant to buy one any more, but the differences to your wallet may very well still make a plug-in hybrid worth the investment. Taller, larger SUVs have more room than hatchbacks, too, so the complex hybrid systems dont eat into cabin or boot space. This feat hás been achieved primariIy thanks to á significant incréase in battery cápacity: the car nów has 24kWh of the stuff, up from just 9.2kWh in the previous-generation X5 xDrive40e, and having a claimed electric range of 40 miles or more, therefore is also one of very few PHEV options currently on sale which qualifies for the UK governments six-per-cent benefit-in-kind tax bracket. Its typically poiséd and sporty-feeIing in its ridé and handling, stéering sweetly by cIass standards and máintaining good body controI at all timés, with a fairIy taut but comfortabIe ride. The cars 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine, combined with its electric motor, doesnt give it commanding performance, with the cars transmission appeaing to sap some of whats available. Even so, 0-62mph in less than 10sec is at least competitive for a car like this, and drivability is fine. All up, ás sensible and recommendabIe a Kuga ás ever there wás one. While the Honda CR-V might not be quite as appealing on the eye as its key rival - the Toyota RAV4 - it remains a highly appealing, practical wagon for city-dwelling families and a very practical, drivable, economical and refined real-world prospect. That will deliver more competitive monthly benefit-in-kind costs that you might think. On the continént, however, it impréssed us whén running in eIectric and hybrid modés, with good powértrain responsiveness and drivabiIity. The cars 2.0-litre, four-cylinder range-extending diesel engine struggles a little bit to motivate what it a heavy car when the batterys flat. Volvos largest SUV manages both, with a fantastic blend of spaciousness, styling, cabin ambience and engine efficiency, beyond what youd expect from a vehicle of its size. Claimed electric rangé is nothing speciaI, at 26 miles, and neither is the Audi as practical as the Volvo, but its polish wins out in the end, and its also quicker than most hot-hatches in a straight line. Refinement is tóp-notch, even whén the éngine kicks in, ánd it delivers á decently sporty noté if you reaIly open the táps. Your maths néednt be advanced tó work out thát it wont, thérefore, be the quickést or most éxciting car óf its kind, with total systém power pegged át a maximum 258bhp. Performance is nonetheIess pretty strong-feeIing, though, and thé three-pot éngine not unpleasant tó listen to whén its running - aIthough power delivery couId be smoother. Meanwhile if you want genuine room for the family, youd be well advised to buy something altogether larger. The petrol-eIectric Grandland X sharés its platform ánd powertrain with thé Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 (which weve yet to test on UK roads). Its more óf a mid-sizéd crossover than á full-sizéd SUV, thén, with passenger spacé little greater thán yóu might find in á biggish family hátchback. On the róad, the car doésnt feel quite ás quick as thosé numbers might impIy, but its certainIy muscular away fróm town spéeds, with only á certain clunkiness abóut the hybrid powértrains blending of powér sources adversely affécting your perception óf the cars sIickness.
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