Estates

List price £47,540 Target Price £39,113 MPG 731.1 CO2 9g/km For PHEV’s outstanding efficiency and electric range; hushed and comfy cruiser; vast boot; smart interior Against Pricier than some rivals;

List price £30,795 Target Price £28,430 MPG 64.1 CO2 100g/km For Frugal in real-world driving; comfy and good to drive; generously equipped; well built and reliable Against Tight for adults in rear se

ESSENTIALS Volkswagen Golf GTE Price: £40,140 Powertrain: 1.5 4cyl plug-in hybrid, 268bhp 0-62mph: 6.6 seconds WLTP efficiency: 196mpg Official EV range: 81 miles Annual VED: £620 Toyota Prius Excel P

List price £91,775 Target Price £83,319 MPG 27.2 CO2 234g/km For Scorching performance; sharp and entertaining handling; practical boot; comfy cruiser; snappy gearbox Against Engine doesn’t sound all

THE idea of halo cars is nothing new. Fast flagships have been around for decades, fuelling sales of mundane models as customers aspire to one day own something with an M, RS or AMG badge on the boot.

Engineers don’t like plug-in hybrids. It’s the ‘two engines rather than one’ factor, and all that extra associated ballast. Marketing types have always liked them, though – dare I say, because they un