Used hybrid SUVs for sale

Hybrid SUVs will be worth it for many buyers, depending on the type of driving they usually do.

If you cover an average annual mileage across a mix of urban and suburban roads with the occasional longer trip, a hybrid SUV could cut your running costs. This is especially true if you pick a plug-in hybrid and regularly recharge the battery either at home or at work, allowing you to complete entire trips on electricity alone.

You may feel less relative benefit from a hybrid SUV, however, if you cover high annual mileages with a greater proportion of motorway and higher-speed driving. In these situations, the electric power provides less assistance than it does around town, so you might be better off going for a diesel SUV that'll do its best work on longer, higher-speed journeys.

Yes. The majority of hybrid SUVs have a tow rating and can be used to pull a trailer. Broadly speaking, these engine options are rated a little lower than their diesel counterparts, however, so if you tow regularly or plan on pulling heavier trailers, you might be better off with a diesel SUV.

For example, the Peugeot 3008 is available with either a 225 or 300hp plug-in hybrid engine – both are rated to pull a braked trailer weighing 1,250kg. However, 1.5-litre diesel 3008s are rated to pull a 1,500kg braked trailer, while 2.0-litre diesel models push this figure to 2,000kg – noticeably more than the plug-in versions.

SUVs like the Ford Kuga and Peugeot 3008 are available with plug-in hybrid engines that claim average economy figures in excess of 200mpg. In fact, the majority of plug-in hybrid SUVs claim to return more than 100mpg, which would've been unheard of just a few years ago.

In practice, you'll need to regularly keep your PHEV's battery recharged if you want to get close to these figures, so they're probably only realistic if you can plug in at home or at work.

The hybrid SUVs with the highest towing capacities are usually found in the US market, including models like the Toyota Sequoia, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer.

In the UK market, you'll find the hybrid SUVs with the highest towing capacities are models like the BMW X5, Audi Q7 or Range Rover Sport. These luxurious SUVs are available with powerful plug-in hybrid engines and have substantial kerb weights, helping to keep you and your trailer stable at higher speeds.

The latest Mercedes GLC 300e plug-in hybrid has taken the crown with the longest electric driving range – able to cover 80 miles without starting the engine.

There aren't many newer GLCs to buy on the used market, however, but plug-in hybrid versions of the Ford Kuga, Peugeot 3008 and Kia Sportage are all available as nearly new or used cars. Each can cover around 40 miles on electric power alone – an impressive figure for the class.