FIRST AMONG E-QUALS
Indulge me two general observations before we cut to the chase. Firstly, these PHEVs are in some ways more satisfying than their conventional siblings for general pottering about (courtesy of refinement and the feelgood factor of saving fuel), but they become less satisfying the harder you drive (blame their weight and thrashy powertrains). Secondly, their fuel-saving potential is highly user-dependent, but charge them daily for short trips and you can smash the official figures, and round trips of up to 80 miles can be achieved very efficiently indeed.
Third place goes to the Mercedes, with its exceptional MBUX infotainment system and strikingly premium interior. It’s faster than the others, still turned in some decent real-world economy figures, recorded marginally the best e-mode figure, and hits its BiK targets. But it’s not as good to drive as the Peugeot, can’t match the Golf for ride quality (the VW was on optional adaptive dampers, mind), and falls short of both on refinement.
The Golf nails all the company-car checkpoints with its price, emissions and e-range, makes decision-making easy by coming in just one spec (to which you can add a couple of key options before breaking through the £35k ceiling), and makes for a comfortable, spacious, refined and highly practical way to get about. Weighed with a sensible head, this is the best all-rounder, a car I’d happily rely on every day, which might make it your number one.
But I’d take the Peugeot. Despite an at times frustrating lack of control over what the gears are up to, there’s no question the 308 is the most engaging car. It has striking exterior design and avant-garde interior, and it’s highly refined and comfortable at a cruise, both in terms of ride comfort and powertrain machinations. It also turns in very impressive real-world economy figures.
This is not a clean sweep for the 308, however. Very substantial downsides include tight rear seats, the extra four per cent of benefit-in-kind it attracts, its only moderate performance, and that you’ll need the less powerful Hybrid 180 model to scrape under £35k. Much of this stuff is between you, a calculator and whoever has to sit in the back, and we’d point you to the Golf if this amounts to irreconcilable differences. For us, though, the Peugeot 308 is Formula PHEV champion 2022.
1st
PEUGEOT 308
Best to drive, refined at a cruise, and brings real design flair. Tight in back, efficiency figures not quite on-point
2nd
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF EHYBRID 225
The all-round choice. Nails price and efficiency numbers, plus it’s practical and comfy
3rd
MERCEDES-BENZ A250E
Fantastic interior, best infotainment and performance, mostly comfy ride. Noisy and unrefined at times