So then, the new Volkswagen Passat eHybrid is a really good plug-in hybrid. It will do 73 miles on electric power at 3.6mpkWh, then carry on using its petrol engine while still doing over 50mpg a lot of the time, and it’s pretty hard to argue with that, right? Allow me…
I’m not about to dispute any of the findings of that test – because I wrote it – but in my view, the concept of a PHEV is fundamentally flawed. That new VW system is pretty remarkable and makes the Passat a very competitive PHEV. But even this one just seems like the worst of the electric and pure-ICE worlds.
Some people choose a PHEV as a company car to get the low BIK tax even though they can’t slow charge it while doing something else (like sleeping or working).
If that’s you, I don’t blame you, because that’s how our tax system operates at the moment (although it will become much less favourable to PHEVs from 2028).
But at that point, it’s a loophole rather than the right solution. After all, the mild-hybrid version of that Passat is several thousands cheaper, gets about the same fuel economy and is overall slightly more natural to drive.
The Passat can use DC rapid chargers, but those are so expensive that you would be better off just running it on petrol.
If you do have the ability to charge it regularly, then why not get a proper electric car? You’re going to be running the hybrid on the battery and electric motor most of the time anyway, while carting around a redundant engine.
In the case of the Passat, that means you have 108bhp at your disposal – adequate, but not exactly a near-£50,000 experience. Meanwhile, the Passat’s electric counterpart, the ID 7 Tourer, has more than double, at 282bhp.
I’m as partial as anyone to a flat six and a manual gearbox, but I’ve no love lost for a thrashy four-cylinder with an automatic – that’s just a means to an end.
With more power that’s smooth and silent to boot, as well as a more entertaining rear-drive chassis, the ID 7 is a better driving experience all round.
Ah, “but the range and the charging infrastructure”, you say. In our road test, we found the ID 7 will do a real 277 miles on the motorway, after which it will charge back up to 80% in less than half an hour.
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Because PHEVs are far cheaper than EVs, depreciate far less and are actually usable on road trips without having to keep a second car around for that purpose. There'll be a day when EVs can do everything including replacing my diesel estate, but it won't be for least another 10-15 years.
Fully agree with some of the earlier comments. We have had a full EV and 3 PHEVs in our household, (and lots of different petrol cars). We got rid of the EV because of shocking depreciation, (thankfully, we had bought it on PCP, so were partially protected from the depreciation), and shockingly poor winter motorway range. The PHEVs have all been the perfect balance for us. Might go full electric one day, but not yet.
Just how much is the motoring press paid to constantly insist that the EV is the right choice?
It's almost embarrasing seeing the main magazines talking EVs up all the time, it must be costing the manufacturers a great deal to get this narrative spouted by these 'unbiased professional journalists'.
They must think that we're all stupid. Every test is for the new EV, and how brilliant it is. And how well priced it is and how easy it is to live with. Never any mention of depreciation or the fact that over 60% of the population can neither park at home or have a charger.
Hybrids are probably the only viable choice for many. Stop with this rhetoric now.
Just checked the last 20 first drive ratings of EVs in Autocar: the average was 3.82. For the last 20 ICE articles the average was...3.82! So if Autocar are biased to EVs it isn't showing in their test scores. I have no idea where you got that figure about driveway access from but it's wrong: 60% of UK homes have off-street parking, though not all of those without have cars. About 75% of UK drivers have access to off street parking.