Buying chargable hybrid petrol 4x4 any recommendations pls?
Buying chargable hybrid petrol 4x4 any recommendations pls?
Author
Discussion

UncleAlbert

Original Poster:

5 posts

Yesterday (12:42)
quotequote all
Hi

Time for a new-ish car, 3-5 years old, low-ish mileage under 30k or so. £15k-£20k budget at a stretch.

Need a 4x4 as live on a hill and when it snows, it is an ice rink and even taxi won't come to our street.

So, was looking at Cupra Fermentor 1.4 with plug-in hybrid that would give me 29 miles on that give or take. But then found out it has dread wet chain?

What are your thoughts on above model and any alternatives you'd recommend?

ashenfie

1,661 posts

63 months

Yesterday (12:51)
quotequote all
Save your money and buy a good set of winter tyres. Will solve all your problems and not cost a fortune.

Funky Squirrel

452 posts

89 months

Yesterday (12:55)
quotequote all
Second the winter or good all season tyres. 4wd with the wrong tyres just means you have four wheels spinning or sliding out instead of two

UncleAlbert

Original Poster:

5 posts

Yesterday (12:56)
quotequote all
Forget to add that last car died so really need a new set of wheels.

Jimbo.

4,109 posts

206 months

Yesterday (13:55)
quotequote all
My understanding is the Formentor is FWD only in hybrid trim.

The only 4WD PHEV I can think of within spec is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. You should be able to get one of the later 2.4 engined ones before Mitsubishi left the UK, however I don t believe you d get 30+ miles, and the air-cooled batteries suffer from degradation. On the flip side, Mitsubishi know their 4x4 onions!

EDIT: Prius or RAV4, p haps? Believe they were available with PHEV and 4WD, with the rears powered by a separated electric motor at low speeds only.

Edited by Jimbo. on Sunday 14th September 13:58


Edited by Jimbo. on Sunday 14th September 14:02

Pica-Pica

15,390 posts

101 months

Yesterday (14:02)
quotequote all
If you want a hybrid, I would not suggest a plug-in, buy a normal hybrid.
If you want winter or hill grip, buy winter/all-season tyres.
If you need the ground clearance, there are several SUVs that are 2 or 4WD, and are hybrid. Honda or Toyota come to mind.

Amateurish

8,151 posts

239 months

Yesterday (14:07)
quotequote all
Suzuki Across / Toyota Rav4? You can get them for £20k for a 4 year old model.

UncleAlbert

Original Poster:

5 posts

Yesterday (14:43)
quotequote all
Don't like Toyota Rav4s.

What are issues with plug-in hybrids, any real life experiences.

Smint

2,486 posts

52 months

Yesterday (14:56)
quotequote all
UncleAlbert said:
Don't like Toyota Rav4s.

What are issues with plug-in hybrids, any real life experiences.
I have reservations about the front end of the Toyota version, the Suzuki Across clone looks far better and cheaper too, still gets a 10 years warranty depending on having it serviced at the dealer, faster cars than they look.

UncleAlbert

Original Poster:

5 posts

Yesterday (14:59)
quotequote all
Don't want brand new to be honest. Too much depreciation. 3-5 years old would be a sweet spot.

Why are plug-in hybrids bad? Are they really that bad? Range is low-30 miles advertised, but what does one get in real life?

Would love to hear thoughts of those who drive these cars.

S1bs

87 posts

84 months

Yesterday (15:21)
quotequote all
How about a Hyundai Tucson NX4 PHEV ?

4WD and around 36 to 40miles EV range.

All the original plug in versions (2020 to late 2023 ?) are 4WD.

The newer facelift version however comes in 2WD as standard and 4WD is an option.

If it has a separate infotainment screen built into the dash and a push button gear selector on the centre console - it's the non-facelift version. If the infotainment screen is higher up and the gear change is on the steering column, it's the facelift version.

I have had one for 3 years - economical, reliable and reasonably fast.

UncleAlbert

Original Poster:

5 posts

Yesterday (15:29)
quotequote all
Thank you good insight there, will take a look now.

Does it come with 'wet belt' at all?

frisbee

5,372 posts

127 months

Yesterday (16:31)
quotequote all
You potentially need to be careful with PHEV 4x4, they may be 4x4 forward only.

I haven't looked into it in detail, however my twin motor EV is only 4x4 forward so it wouldn't surprise me if some hybrid 4x4s are similar.

Ardennes92

664 posts

97 months

Yesterday (16:37)
quotequote all
Mazda CX60 PHEV can also run in AWD, but has only been available for 3 years

Snow and Rocks

2,900 posts

44 months

Yesterday (17:46)
quotequote all
Is there a reason for avoiding the Rav4/Across? If you want an all wheel drive PHEV SUV then they really are excellent.

Over 300 bhp, 60 in 5.5s, will do 50+ mpg all day long even if you don't plug it in, 45m real world range with 180 bhp as an EV. 10 year/100k overall warranty with 15 years unlimited mileage on the battery.

Take one for a drive, the drivetrain instantly makes the other options feel pretty old fashioned and weedy. Nice and robustly designed and feels like it'll last indefinitely too.

I live up a track on a hillside in Aberdeenshire and it does pretty well for what it is - you can definitely find it's limits compared to a proper heavy duty 4x4 but with decent winter tyres it'll generally go anywhere the ground clearance allows.

Edited by Snow and Rocks on Sunday 14th September 17:52

RotorRambler

422 posts

7 months

Yesterday (18:05)
quotequote all
£15-£20k budget

The only cars in that price range seem to be the Mitsubishi, which look a risky option..

stevemcs

9,590 posts

110 months

Yesterday (18:11)
quotequote all
UncleAlbert said:
Thank you good insight there, will take a look now.

Does it come with 'wet belt' at all?
Why the obsession with wet belt ? Serviced correctly the Ford is fine, with the Stellantis 1.2, change the belt and service it with the new 5w30 and it will probably still go bang

Bmw x3 comes as phev, as does the Range Rover Evoque and disco sport


Snow and Rocks

2,900 posts

44 months

Yesterday (18:12)
quotequote all
I paid £20k last October for an 21 plate Across with 45k miles from a Suzuki main dealer so these should be an option too.

The Outlander really seems pretty crap in comparison - slow with limited EV range, terrible fuel economy once the EV range runs out and none of the low maintenance/reliability benefits of the Toyota Hybrid system.