The smart money is being spent on hybrid cars
Mike Rutherford thinks hybrids sit in the sweet spot between cheaper petrol and diesel models and more expensive pure-electric cars
In 2021, in what was approximately my 1,300th weekly column for Auto Express, I told our ruling politicians this: if they really wanted drivers to abandon ICE in favour of pricier, electric cars, it was – and still is – essential for them to be financially incentivised, on an immediate and ongoing basis.
Later the same year, I offered additional free advice that the easy and colossal ‘profit’ that Governments make on every pricey EV sold to private consumers was – and still is – excessive and unjustifiable.
Furthermore, I told our political ‘leaders’ what they apparently didn’t – and still don’t – know: that as they desperately try to turn consumers on to EVs, they’re turning them off, via punitively high Value Added Tax. In 2021, my stated solution was a 50 per cent cut in the standard 20 per cent VAT rate on some EVs.
Wind forward four years, and the automotive industry in Britain (via its trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) made a ‘new’ formal announcement that opened with the words “Incentives needed” if more EVs are to be sold to real-world customers. A further plea was a halving of VAT on new EV purchases! I’m happy that my ideas are being nicked. But why adopt them now, rather than four wasted years ago?
Honestly, the car manufacturing industry and Governments of all colours must look, listen, learn and act quickly when they’re on the receiving end of gratis, solid advice, suggestions, constructive criticism and more from the likes of concerned journalists in the field and the most important people of all – consumers. It’s the latter who are expected to pay a basic price of, say, £50,000 to a manufacturer for a fairly average EV, plus a further VAT payment of £10,000 to the Government which, in effect, cops an undeserved tip of 20 per cent, or 10 grand, in the process. Talk about money for nothing.
Another crucial point I’ve been banging on about for years is that sensibly priced hybrid cars, which sit in the sensible sweet spot between slightly cheaper pure-petrol/pure-diesel models on one side, and generally expensive 100 per cent-electrics on the other, do not deserve to be banned from showrooms in 2030 or even 2035.
I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again: for a while now, the smart money is being spent by the smartest consumers on appropriately priced hybrids. And recently, the Government apparently woke up, got real and quietly indicated it agrees with me that such tech is very much part of the short, mid and long-term future.
For legal and other reasons, there are restrictions on what I can reveal here. But what I can say at this highly sensitive stage of the game is this: one of my trusted and reliable Whitehall insiders has dropped strong hints that hybrids are about to enjoy a lengthy stay of execution. Now that’s what I call justice. Long live the humble hybrid.
Used hybrid car deals
2024 Volkswagen
Tiguan
49,939 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L
Cash £20,690
2024 Audi
A3 Sportback
56,552 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L
Cash £17,520
2023 Land Rover
Range Rover Evoque
50,608 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L
Cash £19,640
2023 Mercedes
A-Class Saloon
28,956 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L
Cash £18,620
2024 Mercedes
C-Class Saloon
48,458 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L
Cash £24,030
2023 Mercedes
A-Class
31,557 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L
Cash £17,610
2024 Nissan
X-Trail
17,176 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L
Cash £22,440
2022 Renault
Arkana
22,474 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L
Cash £16,040
2024 Toyota
RAV4
39,700 milesAutomaticPetrol2.5L
Cash £27,770
