Top 10 best hybrid company cars

Open gallery Close News by James Disdale 6 mins read 31 October 2022 Share

Combining a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor, these cars help keep CO2 emissions and therefore benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bills low. Yet they also have the flexibility to cover big distances without bringing on an attack of range anxiety.

Both the so-called self-charging and the plug-in versions offer some big salary sacrifice savings over traditional petrol and diesel models, making them a no-brainer for both users and fleet managers. Here we’ve gathered 10 of our favourite models from a wide variety of classes, from rugged SUVs to rapid sports saloons.

Given that each has a very different brief, we’ve listed them alphabetically, but every one of our top 10 features a winning blend of cost-effective running costs, driver appeal and a generous specification.

Autocar’s company car tax calculator shows exactly what you’ll pay for every make and model

The mileage rates for petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric carsHow does hybrid company car tax work? How to keep your company car tax bills lowHow do you claim for charging an electric company car?How does home charging work for company car drivers?

BMW 330e Sport

Being a sober-suited executive doesn’t mean you can’t have a bit of fun, as the BMW 330e proves. Driving with the same connected feel and cast-iron composure as a conventional 3 Series, the plug-in hybrid also throws in some tax-busting company car running costs.

A smaller battery than its arch rival, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, means it can only manage 38 electric-only miles on a charge, while CO2 emissions of 30g/km mean a BIK rate of 12%, so a higher-rate earner will face a £2086 tax bill for an SE Pro. However, the 3 Series has variety on its side, with a little extra cash opening the door to Touring estate and xDrive four-wheel-drive versions.

BMW X5 xDrive45e xLine

The car that put the ‘sports’ in sports utility vehicle, the X5 has matured into a fine all-rounder. Now in its fourth generation, it manages to blend luxury, refinement and space into a high-end, high-riding package that delivers a healthy sprinkling of driver appeal.

The good news for company car drivers is the plug-in hybrid variant packs the best engine, its combination of electric motor and creamy-smooth 3.0-litre petrol straight six serving up 387bhp and just 27g/km of CO2 for a remarkably low 8% BIK rate. There’s virtually nothing in cost between xLine and M Sport trims, but we would go for the subtler look of the former.

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BMW 545e xDrive SE

Aiming to deliver the best of both worlds, the 545e couples BMW’s silky-smooth and muscular straight six with a 107bhp electric motor to deliver a combined might of 387bhp. It’s no lightweight, but it still offers much the same driver engagement as a standard 5 Series, as well as a cabin that’s spacious and rich in high-tech premium appeal.

For companies, the car’s 39gkm CO2 emissions (41g/km for the M Sport) will be the main concern, as this figure attracts an 12% BIK score. For higher-rate earners, that means a £2868 tax burden, which is only a few hundred pounds more than a similarly xDrive-equipped but four-cylinder 530e.