A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) car sounds like the perfect stepping stone from the traditional petrol and diesel models we've been driving for decades to an electric vehicle, doesn't it?
Designed to give motoring flexibility, PHEVs combine long driving distances and the convenience of fast petrol station fill ups with low emissions and cost savings of an EV - and without the worry of breaking down because of a flat battery.
Certainly, drivers seem to think PHEVs crack the range anxiety code. In the year-to-date, PHEV sales are up 41.8 per cent, with a market share of 13.1 per cent compared to 10.1 per cent in 2025.
It was only last year after all that Labour changed the rules around buying new plug-in hybrids, giving them an extension of life until 2035.
But are these 'best of both worlds' cars actually worth buying? Will they save you money? Are they cheaper than EVs to buy? And will the arrival of pay-per-mile road tax erode their cost-saving benefits?
