The nine most popular hybrid SUVs

SUVs are hugely popular, and with their unique blend of style and practicality, it's easy to see why. Their extra weight and size means that SUVs tend to have higher fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to a sedan or hatchback, but there are now many SUV models that offer a solution: hybrid power. 

Hybrid SUVs combine an electric motor with a gasoline or diesel engine for greater fuel economy and reduced emissions. Whether you're talking about a hybrid that needs to be plugged in and charged, or a hybrid that charges itself, the efficiency benefits are clear. Here we pick some of the best hybrid SUVs.

1. Audi Q7 55 TFSIe

The Audi Q7 is such a good all-rounder that it's hard to go wrong in any one area. It's stylish, spacious, versatile, amazing to drive, well equipped, safe and competitively priced. So it ticks a lot.

The plug-in hybrid version also has all of these attributes, but adds incredible efficiency. It combines a 3.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor that not only delivers more power, but allows you to go up to 27 miles on zero-emissions electric power alone and gives you an average fuel economy of 88 mpg. As with any plug-in hybrid, your actual mpg will depend on where and how you drive, as well as whether you keep the battery fully charged. However, if you tend to make a lot of short trips and go online regularly, you may be driving in electric-only mode more often than you expect.

2. Honda CR-V

Honda was one of the first car brands to bring this technology to the mass market, so you can be sure the Japanese firm knows a thing or two about making good hybrids. 

CR-V is definitely it. The 2.0-litre petrol engine and a pair of electric motors combine to deliver a powerful and smooth ride, and while the performance numbers of this self-charging hybrid aren't quite as impressive as the plug-in hybrids on this list, the benefits are still there over conventional combustion-powered vehicles.

The CR-V is also an exceptional family car with a huge interior, large trunk and a durable feel throughout. It is comfortable and feels confident on the road.

Read our Honda CR-V review

3. BMW X5 xDrive45e.

The BMW X5 has always been a regular on school trips, and today this large SUV is able to make such trips without any fuel consumption. 

A full charge of the xDrive45e batteries, which is achieved by plugging the car in, gives you a range of 54 miles on electric alone, enough to take care of both a school run and most people's daily commute. Official figures give an average fuel consumption of over 200mpg and CO2 emissions of around 40g/km (that's less than half of most city cars, if a bit out of context). As with any plug-in hybrid, you're unlikely to achieve lab test results, but still get excellent fuel economy for such a large vehicle.

4.Toyota C-HR

Remember when we talked about how Honda was one of the first car brands to bring hybrid technology to the mass market? Well, Toyota was different, and while Honda has dabbled in hybrids for the past twenty years or so, Toyota has stuck with them all along the way, so the firm's expertise in this area is unmatched. 

The C-HR is a self-charging hybrid, so you can't charge the battery yourself, and it doesn't offer the incredible fuel efficiency of the plug-in cars on this list. However, it will still be very affordable as the official fuel economy figure is over 50 mpg. 

This is a very stylish little car and should prove to be a very reliable option. Compact and easy to park, the CH-R is also a pleasure to drive and surprisingly practical for its size.

Read our Toyota C-HR review

5. Lexus RX450h.

The Lexus RX is a true trailblazer on this list. While other SUVs on this list have only recently begun offering hybrid powertrain options, Lexus - Toyota's premium brand - has been doing so for years. 

Like some of the others on this list, this hybrid is self-charging, not plug-in, so it won't go all that far on electric alone and tempt you with such dazzling official fuel economy. This means you can enjoy its hybrid benefits if you don't have a driveway or garage, and it's also a very comfortable car to drive. 

You also get a lot of equipment for your money and bags of interior space, especially if you go for the "L" model, which is longer and has seven seats rather than five. Among other things, Lexus is famous for its reliability.

6. Hybrid Peugeot 3008

The Peugeot 3008 has been dazzling buyers for years with its good looks, futuristic interior and family-friendly features. More recently, this popular SUV has been made even more attractive with the addition of not one, but two plug-in hybrid models to the lineup.

The regular 3008 Hybrid has front-wheel drive and delivers good performance, while the Hybrid4 has all-wheel drive (thanks to the extra electric motor) and even more power. According to official figures, both can go up to 40 miles on electric power alone with a full battery charge, but while a conventional hybrid can reach up to 222 mpg, the Hybrid4 can reach up to 235 mpg.

7. Mercedes GLE350de

Mercedes is one of the few automotive brands to offer diesel-electric hybrids, but the GLE350de's official performance figures prove there's definitely something to be said for the technology. The combination of the 2.0-liter diesel engine and electric motor results in an official fuel economy figure of just over 250 mpg, while the car's maximum electric-only range is also very impressive at 66 miles. 

Numbers aside, the GLE has a luxurious, high-tech interior to recommend, and it makes long trips easier because it's so quiet and light at speed. It is also a very practical family car that will allow you to drive to school on electricity only.

8. Twin Engine Volvo XC90 T8

The Volvo XC90 demonstrates a trick that none of its competitors can do. You see, in other large seven-seat SUVs like the Audi Q7, Mercedes GLE, and Mitsubishi Outlander, the rearmost seats have to give way in the hybrid version to accommodate additional mechanical equipment, making them five-seat only. However, in Volvo you can have both a hybrid system and seven seats, which gives the car a unique appeal. 

The XC90 is an amazing car in other ways too. It is very stylish inside and out, has a real sense of quality and is equipped with smart technology. With plenty of room for people and luggage, it's as practical as you'd expect. And being a Volvo, it's as safe as cars.

Read our Volvo XC90 review

9. Range Rover P400e PHEV

Luxury SUVs are everywhere these days, but the Range Rover has always been their main leader. This huge, imposing XNUMXxXNUMX vehicle is more luxurious and desirable than ever before thanks to its incredible quality and cutting-edge technology, while its smooth ride and comfortable, beautifully designed interior make you feel like you're traveling in first class. . 

While the Range Rover used to cost you an arm and a leg in fuel, the latter is now available as a plug-in hybrid that, according to official figures, allows you to travel up to 25 miles on batteries alone and is capable of an average fuel return of up to 83 mpg. It's still an expensive car, but it's a true luxury car that, in hybrid form, is surprisingly cost-effective.

Thanks to the latest hybrid technology, SUVs these days are suitable not only for those who follow fashion, but also for those who care about the environment. So you can go and buy without feeling guilty.

Whether you choose a hybrid or not, at Cazoo you will find a wide selection of high quality SUVs. Find the one that's right for you, buy and finance it entirely online, then either have it delivered to your door or pick it up from one of our customer service centers.

We're constantly updating and restocking our stock, so if you can't find something within your budget today, check back soon to see what's available.