Fast hybrid that's economical on the motorway

[Chestrockwell]

I have a new job that I have to drive back and forth to and I didn't know what burning money meant until I spent 70% of my commute in traffic and the rest doing the speed limit

My M240i just can't seem to beat 25 mpg and that's if I'm lucky, I've always known how thirsty it is/can be however I never commuted in it, so it wasn't an issue as driving it was an event.

My mum had a couple Hybrid Toyota RAV4's and I love the way they work and think they're brisk enough with 220 bhp.

One issue is that unless you're doing 70 mpg, they're not very good on fuel and I intend on doing a few trips to Germany in the summer.

I also want the option of cruising at 120mph on the Autobahn and every electrified car I have seen has a top speed of 110 mph

I love the look of the Corolla GR sport, with its 2.0 hybrid set up, it appears to be quick enough with the advantage of being super economical if i want it to be however, I just wish the engine wouln't be screaming above 80 mph.

Any idea's? I feel like what I want doesn't exist

[georgeyboy12345]

What about a diesel hybrid?

These Mercedes C300dh can 152 mph and will get you a real world 50 - 80 mpg on the motorway. All euro 6 compliant so no issues in clean air zones.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409184...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502028...

Pre 2017 cars are £0 tax

[kiethton]

Does it have to be hybrid, 330d/430d should be perfect (M440d/M340d also works)

[Quattr04.]

There’s loads, the 112mph thing is a new law isn’t it?

Volvo s60 or any of their SUVs
BMW330e
Mercedes c350h
Audi A6 TFSIe / Q5
Golf GTE/ A3, cupra Leon or formetor all do 140mph
VW Arteon or Passat GTE
Ford kuga 2.5t plug in hybrid

Edited by Quattr04. on Sunday 9th February 20:41

[Evanivitch]

Chestrockwell said:

I also want the option of cruising at 120mph on the Autobahn and every electrified car I have seen has a top speed of 110 mph

....

Any idea's? I feel like what I want doesn't exist

Model 3 Performance top speed is 162 mph.
i4 M50 is 140 mph
Polestar 2 is 130 mph

[Chestrockwell]

kiethton said:

Does it have to be hybrid, 330d/430d should be perfect (M440d/M340d also works)

I used to have a 430d years ago and it was the same thing, cold mornings and stop start traffic made it very uneconomical.

My current car isn't too bad, especially being manual where I can coast a lot. It's just the stop start traffic thats killing me which is why I want hybrid, my mothers RAV4 would go up to 20mph on electric and when the battery run out, the engine would idle to charge the battery, genius. I'm close to just going for one of those but want to try the RX450h first, want to see what real world mpg is

[kiethton]

Chestrockwell said:

kiethton said:

Does it have to be hybrid, 330d/430d should be perfect (M440d/M340d also works)

I used to have a 430d years ago and it was the same thing, cold mornings and stop start traffic made it very uneconomical.

My current car isn't too bad, especially being manual where I can coast a lot. It's just the stop start traffic thats killing me which is why I want hybrid, my mothers RAV4 would go up to 20mph on electric and when the battery run out, the engine would idle to charge the battery, genius. I'm close to just going for one of those but want to try the RX450h first, want to see what real world mpg is

Ah fair, we've got a X5 45e, near-400bhp and seen 145mph before easing off but it's not that great on fuel when the battery has depleted

[sixor8]

georgeyboy12345 said:

What about a diesel hybrid?

Pre 2017 cars are £0 tax

From April 1st, all Band A VED cars pre April 2017 become £20 (band B rate). Almost zero.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Chestrockwell said:

I have a new job that I have to drive back and forth to and I didn't know what burning money meant until I spent 70% of my commute in traffic and the rest doing the speed limit

My M240i just can't seem to beat 25 mpg and that's if I'm lucky, I've always known how thirsty it is/can be however I never commuted in it, so it wasn't an issue as driving it was an event.

My mum had a couple Hybrid Toyota RAV4's and I love the way they work and think they're brisk enough with 220 bhp.

One issue is that unless you're doing 70 mpg, they're not very good on fuel and I intend on doing a few trips to Germany in the summer.

I also want the option of cruising at 120mph on the Autobahn and every electrified car I have seen has a top speed of 110 mph

I love the look of the Corolla GR sport, with its 2.0 hybrid set up, it appears to be quick enough with the advantage of being super economical if i want it to be however, I just wish the engine wouln't be screaming above 80 mph.

Any idea's? I feel like what I want doesn't exist

i8?

[Tindersticks]

That’s particularly poor for a B58. Heavy right foot?

[ChocolateFrog]

330e will do 143mph apparently and a 19.5kWh battery is a useful size for a hybrid.

Never driven one though.

[rix]

Tindersticks said:

That’s particularly poor for a B58. Heavy right foot?

Thinking the same. 35mog should be achievable. Often touched 40 in my m340i on my dull commute.

If it's driving style, or nature of the route, then you might need to factor down expectations of any alternatives by the same degree

[georgeyboy12345]

rix said:

Tindersticks said:

That’s particularly poor for a B58. Heavy right foot?

Thinking the same. 35mog should be achievable. Often touched 40 in my m340i on my dull commute.

If it's driving style, or nature of the route, then you might need to factor down expectations of any alternatives by the same degree

You probably don’t have to drive them in heavy traffic very often. I can absolutely believe 25 mpg in heavy stop-start traffic

[CG2020UK]

We had a G21 330e and it will do 120mph though you’re basically just a 320i at these speeds so I’d want a stronger engine if a requirement.

The Toyotas won’t if you check Toyotas website only 112mph.

While a lot of cars might hit your 120mph limit in theory on the autobahn actually sitting there can be extremely uncomfortable and downright dangerous/stupid. Very much the remit of German cars.

Used Tesla Model 3 Long Range or Performance (provided you can home charge) is the main answer for performance, cost and range while actually being refined at 120mph.

Failing that drop the 120mph thing and just buy whatever car you like but drive slower but as appropriate when on the Autobahn.

[eth2190]

Lexus GS450h, 2012 onwards. 345bhp, mid 5 sec to 60 and should manage 37-40mpg.

[Chestrockwell]

This was todays drive home which is usually better than the drive to work as its cooler, I do have a heavy foot but right now if its not cold and wet, its icy and even if it wasnt, there would be no opportunity to do so.

Thanks all for the suggestions, I am edging towards Japanese as my budgets around 20k and the german offerings are probably mostly ex lease poverty specs

[Quattr04.]

I just don’t get self charging hybrids, I’ve got a Kia Nero in a long term hire at the moment and it only seems to drive in EV mode when either going down hill or on cruise control on a perfectly flat road, as soon as I touch the pedal the engine cuts back in, any hill and the engines back in, pull off from a roundabout and it pulls off in EV mode for about 2 seconds then the engine cuts back in

I did a 75 mile motorway trip today and it got 47mpg, my TT 2.0TFSI can do that at the same sort of speeds (mostly 70, about 15 miles of 50mph)

And it doesn’t use the battery the feed the heaters when the cars cold

The plug in hybrids I’ve driven are much better and will stay in EV only mode for ages.


When you say the Germans will be poverty spec, all MK7.5 or MK8 golfs get, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, car play etc, not much more you could need apart from maybe a panoramic roof.

[Evanivitch]

Quattr04. said:

I just don’t get self charging hybrids,

If you call them that then you're bound to be disappointed!

It's a 1.5kWh battery with very little to give!

[Chuffedmonkey]

Chestrockwell said:

I have a new job that I have to drive back and forth to and I didn't know what burning money meant until I spent 70% of my commute in traffic and the rest doing the speed limit

My M240i just can't seem to beat 25 mpg and that's if I'm lucky, I've always known how thirsty it is/can be however I never commuted in it, so it wasn't an issue as driving it was an event.

My mum had a couple Hybrid Toyota RAV4's and I love the way they work and think they're brisk enough with 220 bhp.

One issue is that unless you're doing 70 mpg, they're not very good on fuel and I intend on doing a few trips to Germany in the summer.

I also want the option of cruising at 120mph on the Autobahn and every electrified car I have seen has a top speed of 110 mph

I love the look of the Corolla GR sport, with its 2.0 hybrid set up, it appears to be quick enough with the advantage of being super economical if i want it to be however, I just wish the engine wouln't be screaming above 80 mph.

Any idea's? I feel like what I want doesn't exist

I cant comment on the other models you have listed but I can on the Corolla 2.0L. The engine at 80mph is silent and is barely reaching 2k RPM. The noise comes from the ECVT gear box getting up to that speed quickly but once at cruising speed both are pretty much silent.

[jaydeeuk1]

Motorway driving is kryptonite to Hybrids.

As for EV, as mentioned a model 3 performance (Autopilot perfect for motorway driving), maybe a taycan turbo S (depreciation has been horrific on these), both will make the beemer feel like your mum's corsa from standstill to motorway speeds. Plus you'll save £100's in fuel costs each month, and other than tyres and washer fluid the tesla won't need servicing.