I have recently helped three clients to purchase hybrid vehicles, reflecting the national move away from diesel into cleaner transport. I also helped two of them to trade in their previous vehicles, whilst also getting an excellent deal on the overall cost to change into the new one.
I helped the first one to trade in a diesel Mercedes C-Class for a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, or Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle. This has a 2.4 litre petrol engine driving the front wheels and a powerful electric motor powering all four wheels . It can run up to about 28 miles in electric mode alone. The Mitsubishi is a high-riding SUV with 7 seats, perfect for larger families.
The second client wanted to upgrade her elderly VW Golf for a newer once that was also better for the environment. It needed to suit her local driving in London, but also work for her trips back to see her family 120 miles away. I helped her to decide upon a 2018 Golf GTE, with a 1.4 Litre petrol engine and a electric motor that will power the car for up to about 30 miles on its own. This offered her a familiar vehicle with a much cleaner and more modern powertrain that fitted in with her proposed usage of the car. The GTE is also a quick car with a combined 200 bhp.
The third client required a new prestige vehicle for local trips and longer, business-use journeys. It also had to be appropriate in terms of visiting clients. He also wanted cleaner, more environment-friendly motoring. We considered several options together, but settled on a BMW 530e. This again has an electric motor supported by a powerful 2 litre petrol engine. This time it is rear-wheel drive only, offering greater driving thrills. Again, the BMW is capable of about 30 miles in electric-only mode. I helped the client identify a suitably-specced vehicle in Swindon, and advised him on how to approach the dealer, the pitfalls to avoid, and what to look for and consider on collection day. (I can do all this for a client in person but, on this occasion, the buyer was happy to do this with my advice beforehand.)
All three cars provide a clever balance between electric and lean petrol motoring. If you make a lot of short local trips, these can be done on electric power alone. All three can be charged at home so they are fully charged and ready to go on electric power only in the morning. All three can use their petrol engines to power longer journeys, but can also be set to charge the battery at the same time when under petrol power. This is useful when there is city driving to do at your destination, as this can then be tackled on electric power only with a fully-charged battery.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to change to a cleaner vehicle. I will help you decide on the best vehicle for your needs, find you a vehicle appropriate to your budget and guide you through the purchase. I will even help you to understand exactly how your new car works if necessary.