Reasonably Priced Hybrid Vehicles (Kia-Merc)
In-between stages can sometimes get tricky. The next set of sit-ups before truly hitting your peak fitness regime. That gap year before study, or the six months prior to the new job contract starting. What about the EV world? We’re not capable of running a full fleet of EV cars yet, but maybe there’s an in-between vehicle that ticks all the right boxes before we go fully electric.
The truth is that the new hybrid vehicles are the best cars for this moment in time. They deliver the very best low fuel consumption figures and will also try to run pure electric as much of the time as is practical or possible.
Hybrids are great vehicles, usually well-priced, thus perfect for softening the blow to the wallet – there are some hideously expensive EVs available. Most desirable new EVs have price tags that, for most of us, will be well beyond our budget. So what hybrid vehicles are on the market for reasonable money? How much will they set you back when you buy new? And what sort of fuel consumption can you expect? Let’s have a look and see (Kia-Merc)…
Kia Niro Hybrid S
The Kia Niro comes in regular hybrid, plug-in PHEV hybrid, and also pure electric (EV) form. Hybrid variants of this small SUV use a 77 kW/147 Nm 1.6-litre ULP engine that is mated to a 44.5 kW electric motor. The PHEV version can run in EV mode for around 58 km, while the pure EV model has a 150 kW/395 Nm motor and a 455 km WLTP (World harmonised Light vehicle Testing Procedure) range. All variants are available in regular or Sport form – the Sport model adding more technology and luxury such as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, climate control and part-leather seat trim, as well as extra safety in the form of blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors and rear cross traffic alert. Drive away in one of these from around $45k. Boot space is 382 litres for the regular hybrid, while the PHEV drops to 324 litres.
Kia Sorento HEV GT-Line and PHEV GT-Line
Drive away from in a HEV Sorento for around $73k or a PHEV Sorento for around $88k. Being a spacious SUV, the Sorento is a very practical companion for the family. The HEV model runs with a 1.6 litre Turbo engine and an electric motor that puts out a healthy combine output of 169kW. The 6-speed auto is smooth and well-mapped. Expect a combined fuel consumption of around 5.5 litres/100 km. In PHEV form, the Sorento has 195 kW, Kia indicating a combined fuel consumption of 1.6 litres/100 km is possible, though it will likely be more than this in a real world commute. The 7-seat Kia Sorento SUV won the 2021 car sales Best Family SUV award. Festooned with sensors, cameras and digital screens, it can even park itself without anyone inside. Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance are all standard. The roomy cabin is enhanced by a boot that has over 600 litres, and when all-seats are folded, a whopping 2000 litres is possible.
Lexus ES 300h
One of the most luxurious hybrid sedans you can buy – let alone hybrid vehicles on the market – for under $70k new for the Luxury version or $90k new for the Sports Luxury version, this stylish car can be yours. Toyota indicate that a combined city/highway run can be as low as 4.8 litres/100 km. A combined 160 kW of power and five-star safety, what more could you want? Boot space is 454 litres, and the 0-100 km/h takes around 8.5 seconds.
Lexus UX 250h SUV
The company’s first EV, the UX 300e has a 150 kW/300 Nm FWD electric powertrain and a 54.3 kW/h battery pack, the Lexus UX 300e claims a 360 km range. But it is the Lexus UX 250h SUV Hybrid with the 2.0-litre 131 kW ULP regular hybrid engine that we’re particularly interested in here, which is available in Luxury, Crafted Edition, Sports Luxury and F Sport guise. The Luxury Lexus UX 250h version can be had for well under $60k, a very reasonably-priced luxury machine all things considered. These are five-star safe, FWD, extremely reliable, and very comfortable to drive. Toyota indicate around 4.5 litres/100 km for a combined highway/city cycle for hybrid versions. Boot space is 438 litres.
Mercedes Benz A250e Sedan and Hatch
Immensely low running costs can be had for this plug-in hybrid. If everything suits the PHEV commute, then Mercedes Benz indicates you could see as low as 1.6 litres/100 km on a combined cycle. Luxurious, safe, and fun to drive, these can be had for under $80k. A 1.3-litre Turbo ULP engine with a plug-in hybrid combo that produces 160 kW max through its smooth 8-speed automatic FWD system. The 2022 A-Class A250e runs the 0-100 km/h dash in less than 7 seconds, providing well for passengers and their luggage, driving with the poise and comfort that are hallmarks of the brand. Safety, quality, comfort, and premium equipment levels are all up to expected Mercedes Benz standards. Boot space is 315 litres for the Sedan and 310 litres for the Hatch.
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