On average, Australians drive no further than 40km a day, which is why plug-in-hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) can make sense for your daily drive.
PHEVs can give families the best of both worlds. Battery-electric power for the daily school runs, commutes and the extra-curricular running around we parents do. Plus the peace of mind and flexibility to drive long distances on fuel when we need to, like road trips and the occasional holiday.
When you have infants, PHEVs also give you the benefits of an all-electric vehicle (EV), such as being able to drive them quietly to sleep or sit with the air-con running while they are napping without the noise and air pollution of a petrol or diesel engine.
As your kids get to school age and you sit waiting in the car at school pick up, or at their weekend sports games, you’re using battery power alone and not wasting fuel.
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PHEVs can vary greatly in their battery range. Some you may need to charge daily, while others may only need to be charged once or twice a week depending on how much driving your family does.
Families come in all shapes, sizes and combinations, and we all ask a lot from our family car.
Whether you’re looking for good legroom, maximum battery range, the biggest back seats, or a spacious boot with room for a twin pram, some PHEVs cater for family life better than others.
That’s why I have put together this list of the best mid-size plug-in-hybrid SUVs for families, having driven hundreds of cars with my family onboard over the last decade.
GWM Haval H6
The GWM Haval H6 is an affordable mid-size SUV option for families. Priced from $47,990 drive-away, the standard front-wheel drive Ultra PHEV variant has an electric-only range of up to 106km from its relatively big 19.1kWh battery, which was enough for our family to do a couple of days’ driving.
All-wheel drive is available for another $3000, and for $52,990 drive-away the sleeker GT Ultra AWD has a bigger battery offering up to 183km of EV range (both models offer a total driving range of 1000-1180km), which got our family through the whole school week before needing to charge it for the weekend.
Note these figures are based on the NEDC/ADR standard, as are most of those below, which are roughly 10-20 per cent optimistic in real-world driving conditions.
A spacious rear interior fits three child seats across comfortably in both Haval H6 models. The standard Ultra variant has slightly more legroom than the sportier-looking GT due to its more angular shape, but both can fit a 182cm-tall driver in front of a rear-facing child seat.
The Haval H6 is a good all-rounder with ample boot space for a full 13-bag family shop, or a double pram and a couple of shopping bags.
Explore the GWM Haval H6 showroom
BYD Sealion 6
Priced from $42,990 before on-road costs, the popular PHEV-only BYD Sealion 6 is a smooth and modern five-seat mid-size SUV that fits three child seats comfortably across the back row.
It also offers excellent rear legroom, allowing for a 182cm driver in front of a rear-facing child seat, or a 186cm-plus driver in front of forward-facing child seats.
An 11-bag weekly shop fits nicely in the boot, which can also accommodate a double pram but without room for shopping.
The Sealion 6 is available with two battery sizes. Priced from $46,990 before on-roads, the biggest has an EV range of 140km, while the standard version’s electric range is 92km.
Depending on your lifestyle, both offer enough for a few days between charging.
Explore the BYD Sealion 6 showroom
Geely Starray
If it’s extra legroom you are after, the PHEV-only Geely Starray EM-i – priced from just $37,490 plus on-roads – should be on your test drive list.
Three child seats fit very comfortably in the back, with enough legroom for a 186cm driver in front of a rear-facing child seat, or even a taller driver in front of forward-facing seats.
For families with two young infants, its boot can swallow a 13-bag weekly food shop or a double pram without room for shopping.
The two available battery sizes – offering up to 136km for the extended-range variant and 83km for the standard-range version – offer flexibility for families depending on their setup.
Those with home chargers may opt for the standard-range vehicle and charge it more frequently, while those using public chargers might opt for the extended-range variant.
Explore the Geely Starray showroom
Audi Q5
For families with a bigger budget (at least $81,000 plus ORCs), the new Audi Q5 has a refined and tactile interior, and its sturdy and cocooned European feel, as well as its nippy and responsive PHEV powertrains (from $96,900 plus ORCs), make for an enjoyable school run.
Three slim child seats fit across in the back and rear legroom is decent.
A 180cm driver can fit in front of a rear-facing child seat in the back, or a 186cm driver ahead of a forward-facing child seat.
Among the cars on this list, the Audi Q5 excels on boot space, where 15 bags of shopping or a double pram fit nicely.
The new Q5 PHEV has a battery range of around 100km, which is among the lowest in this lineup but is still enough for a couple of days of school runs and commuting between charges.
Volvo XC60
Another premium option is the Volvo XC60 and this medium SUV has a trick up its sleeve for families.
Priced from $74,990 plus on-roads or $92,990 plus ORCs as a PHEV, the Volvo XC60 has booster seats built into the base of the two rear outer seats. Volvo says the seats are approved for “children who weigh between 15 and 36kg and who are at least 95cm in height”.
For those with smaller children, three child seats fit very comfortably across the rear seat of the XC60, both forward and rear-facing thanks to very good legroom. A 186cm driver can sit in front of a rear-facing child seat, or an even taller driver in front of a forward-facing child seat.
The large boot fits a double pram with six bags of shopping, or 14 bags of shopping on its own.
Like the Q5, the XC60 has a smaller battery range of around 100km, which may be enough for a couple of days between charging.
Explore the Volvo XC60 showroom
Mazda CX-60
The premium interior of the Mazda CX-60 makes it a nice space for families.
Three child seats fit nicely in the back, with enough legroom for a 180cm driver in front of a rear-facing child seat, or an even taller one ahead of forward-facing seats.
Its generous boot fits 14 bags of shopping or, for families with two young ones, a double pram fits nicely in the boot with room for few bags of shopping remaining.
Priced from $63,790 plus ORCs in PHEV guise, the CX-60 PHEV has a battery range of up to 76km, which is only enough for our family to do a couple of days of local trips.
Explore the Mazda CX-60 showroom
Leapmotor C10
The Leapmotor C10 Hybrid EV is not a PHEV but an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), so its 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine doesn’t directly drive the wheels. Instead, it acts only as a generator to charge its 28.4kWh battery on the move. So it drives like an EV, and of course you can still plug in to charge the battery and fill it up with petrol, like you would with a PHEV.
Priced from $43,888 plus ORCs, this mid-size rear-wheel drive electrified SUV (a full-EV powertrain is also available for $2000 more) is one for those who like modern and very minimal interiors.
It’s also perfect for families that need a lot of legroom. Three child seats fit across the rear seats and with rear-facing child seats installed, a 186cm-plus driver can sit up front – or an even taller driver in front of forward-facing child seats.
Interior space hasn’t really been taken from the boot either. It still fits a good-size 10-bag grocery shop, or a twin pram and a couple of bags of groceries.
A very generous EV range of 170km (before the petrol engine kicks in to deliver a total range of 1150km) is plenty for numerous days of school runs and parental taxi service between charging.
Explore the Leapmotor C10 showroom
Chery Tiggo 7
Priced from $39,990 drive-away, Chery’s Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid is a good all-round plug-in-hybrid for families, offering strong value for money.
Three child seats fit comfortably across the second row where there’s decent legroom.
A 180cm driver can sit in front of a rear-facing child seat, or a 186cm driver in front of forward-facing child seats.
The boot is large enough to fit a double pram with four bags of shopping, or 11 bags of groceries on their own.
Chery says the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid has a battery range of 93km, which was enough for our family for a few days between charging.
Explore the Chery Tiggo 7 showroom
Jaecoo J7
Priced from $43,990 drive-away, the very cool-looking but front-drive-only Jaecoo J7 SHS only fits two child seats in the back.
With rear-facing child seats installed, a 180cm driver can sit in front, but with forward-facing child seats installed in the back there is room for a 186cm-plus driver.
The boot is modest in size, fitting just 10 bags of shopping, which makes it the joint-smallest in this round-up alongside the Leapmotor C10.
For families with young siblings, it still fits a double pram plus two bags of shopping.
A battery range of up to 106km NEDC (90km WLTP) gives you just enough electric driving before you need to use fuel or recharge the battery.
Explore the Jaecoo J7 showroom
Mitsubishi Outlander
Priced from $58,990 plus on-roads, the all-wheel drive Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV lineup (which includes the only seven-seat option in this list, priced at $66,790 plus ORCs), is a good all-rounder for families that only need to install two child seats in the back.
You can only place child seats in outboard second-row seats because the seatbelt buckle positioning makes the outer seats unusable if a child seat is installed in the middle position.
The Outlander does have excellent legroom, though. A 186cm driver can sit in front of a rear-facing child seat, or a 188cm or taller driver in front of a forward-facing child seat.
Its large boot fits a double pram alongside three bags of shopping, or a total of 14 bags of groceries.
The Outlander PHEV’s 103km electric-only range (86km WLTP), which is about the same as the Q5, XC60 and J7 but more than the CX-60 and Tiggo 7 PHEVs, may be enough for a couple of days of family use before charging.
Explore the Mitsubishi Outlander showroom
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