Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are a good solution when it comes to family life.
They use electric power only for all your local driving including school runs, commutes, playdates and driving infants to sleep, but also give you the peace of mind and convenience of a fuel tank for longer drives including family road trips without the need for any forward planning.
If your family’s driving life is anything like mine, you’ll use only electricity during term time and fuel just for adventures during the school holidays.
The average Aussie family is said to only drive 40km on average per day. PHEVs vary greatly in how much electric-only battery range they have, making a difference in how convenient they are for family life.
Whether you have to charge them every evening or every few days can make a big difference when life is already very busy with young children (even if, like me, you have a home charger).
With all that in mind, I’ve put together this list of the 10 PHEVs with the longest battery-only driving range for families.
Note that we’ve also included extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), which unlike most PHEVs incorporate a combustion engine only to recharge their batteries – not to drive the wheels directly – but can usually be plugged in like a PHEV.
1. GWM Haval H6 GT Ultra Hi4 PHEV AWD (183km)
The GWM Haval H6 GT Ultra Hi4 AWD mid-size SUV has a whopping battery range of 183km (using the generous NEDC measurement). This is ample for the average Aussie household to drive at least four days without needing to recharge the battery. You may even get a whole week of school runs out of it!
GWM says that with a full battery and a full tank of petrol this car has a total combined range of 1000-1183km, which is great for minimising petrol stops on family road trips too.
The five-seat GWM Haval H6 GT has a 392-litre boot, which is at the smaller end of the models on this list, but it easily fits a twin pram for families with two young infants.
In the back, three child seats fit nicely with room for a 182cm-tall driver in front of rear-facing child seats, or taller drivers in front of forward-facing child restraints.
The GWM Haval H6 GT has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 88 per cent for both adult and child occupant protection, and comes with seven airbags as standard.
2. Forthing Luxury Range Extender Hybrid (170km)
The Luxury EREV variant of the mid-size SUV formerly called the Taikon 5 has a claimed 170km of battery range (on the more realistic WLTP measurement too), the second highest on this list. However, it has the lowest combined electric and petrol range among the cars listed here at 937km (which is still plenty).
Most Australian families would get at least four days of driving without needing to charge the battery, so it’s practical for the average family school run and commuting week.
The Forthing has top-tether child seat anchors for all three rear seating positions and ISOFIX points for the outer two rear seats only. The rear seats are comfortable for adults with good headroom and legroom, and I’m hoping to test them with child seats soon.
Its 480L of boot space is comparable to its competitors, and should fit a twin pram for families with two small children.
This model is yet to be assessed by ANCAP, but has six airbags including side curtains covering the both rows of seats.
3. Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid Ultimate AWD (170km)
Affordable as far as seven-seat PHEVs go, the Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid large SUV has a battery-only range of 170km (NEDC), giving you a few days of local driving between charges, and a combined range of 1250km – enough for two long days of driving before everyone needs a break on a family road trip.
ISOFIX anchors in the outboard second-row seats and top-tether points on the back of all three second-row seats allow you to install three child seats across. The third-row seats have no hardware for installing child seats, so this is only a three-child-seat car.
When using all seven seats there is 148L of boot space, or 819L when using only the first two rows of seats (measure to the ceiling). If you’re a family of five that’s perfect for all the luggage and food you need on a family road trip.
The Chery Tiggo 9 has yet to be given an ANCAP safety rating. It has 10 airbags as standard, although they only extend to the second-row seats and there are no third-row airbags.
4. Leapmotor C10 Hybrid EV (170km)
A great option for tall families, the Leapmotor C10 Hybrid EV (EREV) has enough interior space for three child seats in the back seats and enough legroom for a 186cm driver in front of a forward- or rear-facing child seats.
Families with two young infants can fit a double pram in the 546L boot, or a 10-bag weekly food shop also fits easily.
The 170km (NEDC) battery range puts it in fourth position on this list, and is suitable for four days of family run-about and commuting, while the combined range of up to 1150km puts the Leapmotor C10 around middle of the pack.
Leapmotor fits the C10 medium SUV with seven airbags as standard and it has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 87 per cent for child protection and 89 per cent for adults.
5. Omoda 9 SHS Virtue AWD (169km)
The Omoda 9 is a large five-seat SUV with 169km (NEDC) of battery-only range, giving you a comfortable three days between charging, and a combined range of 1100km which is comparable with the Leapmotor C10 and Jaecoo J8.
When it comes to installing child seats, the Omoda 9 has the hardware for three across the second row with ISOFIX points for the two outboard rear seats and top-tether anchors for all three rear seats.
I’m yet to do my family testing on this one, but a whopping 660L boot should be ample for a double pram and the kids’ scooters.
The Omoda 9 has eight airbags as standard and a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 87 per cent for child occupant protection and 90 per cent for adult occupant protection.
6. Jaecoo J8 SHS Summit AWD (169km)
The second large seven-seat SUV on this list without third-row airbags is the Jaecoo J8, which is also yet to be given an ANCAP safety rating.
Compared with the less expensive but rangier Chery Tiggo 9, the Jaecoo J8 has a combined petrol and electric range of 1000km and a battery-only range of 169km (NEDC), which is still ample for most families’ term-time driving and holiday adventures.
Three top-tether anchors and two ISOFIX points in the second-row seats should allow for three child seats to be installed, but I’ve yet to do my testing on this model.
Families looking at the Jaecoo J8 to use predominantly as a five-seater will get 738L of boot space, and those with larger families still get 200L behind the third-row seats, which should fit a single pram.
7. Toyota RAV4 PHEV XSE 2WD (154km)
A firm family favourite is the Toyota RAV4, with a decent 154km (NEDC) of battery range and combined petrol/electric range of 1059km. Most families would get a few days of driving locally between charges, and a good distance before refuelling on road trips.
This five-seat mid-size SUV comfortably fits three child seats across the second row, with room for a driver measuring up to 186cm in front of a rear-facing child seat, or taller drivers ahead of forward-facing child seats.
For families with young siblings, a twin pram comfortably fits in the generous 672L boot.
The latest RAV4 has not yet received an ANCAP testing, but has eight airbags as standard including side curtains covering the first and second rows.
8. BYD Sealion 8 Dynamic/Premium AWD (152km)
With a battery-only range of 152km (NEDC) and a combined petrol/electric range of 1017km according to BYD, the Sealion 8 large SUV can comfortably cater for family life.
Families can get two or three days of local driving before needing to recharge, and one or two days on long trips before needing to refuel.
The BYD Sealion 8 is the only seven-seater on this list that accommodates large young families. There are top-tether anchors in all five rear-seats, and ISOFIX points for the two outboard second-row seats and both of the third-row seats.
Five child seats can be installed comfortably, although you do need an empty seat in the second row to access the third row. Legroom is good and with forward-facing child seats in the third row and rear-facing seats in the second-row, a 182cm driver can still sit up front. There is room for an even taller driver when the second-row child seats are forward-facing.
It is also the only seven-seater on this list to have third-row airbags, although the BYD Sealion 8 has yet to be given an ANCAP safety rating.
A twin pram and a large family shop will fit easily in the 960L boot when using two rows of seats, or a single pram or grocery shop will fit in the 270L of cargo space behind the rearmost seats.
9. BYD Sealion 6 Dynamic Extended Range (140km)
With a battery-only range of 140km (NEDC), the Sealion 6 Dynamic Extended Range gives families who have a charger at home or work a few days of driving between charges. The combined range is 1250km, according to BYD, which is on par with the Chery Tiggo 9 and plenty for family touring.
Three child seats fit comfortably across the second row of the Sealion 6, leaving enough legroom for 184cm driver in front of rear-facing child seats, or an even taller driver in front of forward-facing child seats.
With a little more boot space than the Haval H6 GT but less cargo capacity than most others on this list, a twin pram (with its wheels removed) fits in the 425L boot of the BYD Sealion 6.
The BYD Sealion 6 has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 86 per cent for child occupant protection and 88 per cent for adult occupant protection. It has seven airbags as standard.
10. Geely Starray EM-i Inspire Extended Range (136km)
Last but by no means least is the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire Extended Range medium SUV with 136km (WLTP) from a fully charged battery.
That’s still enough for most Aussie families to go a few days between charges, and the 996km combined range – although the second shortest on this list – is still a big driving day for young families.
Three child seats fit tightly across the second row of the Geely Starray EM-i, so check your seats fit first. Legroom is very generous, sufficient for a 186cm driver in front of a rear-facing child seat, or a taller driver in front of a forward-facing restraint.
Space hasn’t been taken from its 528L boot, which fits a double pram comfortably.
The Geely Starray EM-i has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 90 per cent for adult occupant protection and 87 per cent for child occupant protection, and it has seven airbags as standard.
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