Buying a new family car

[JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods]

We need a new and bigger car.

I'm wondering petrol/ diesel/ hybrid...

We can't go full electric as we do long distances quite frequently but live in a city... does hybrid make the most sense?

Budget?

Some makes do ‘mild hybrid’ which you don’t charge but it’s meant to be more economical and environmentally friendly (Volvo).

I read an article a few weeks ago that said hybrid/electric was dying a slow death - which may be true as some makers have reversed on their ‘no longer selling 100% petrol cars’ decision (again, Volvo - they now do a mild hybrid which is basically petrol).

I have a mild hybrid (Volvo) and it’s great. XC60 fits two big dogs a small dog and two adults comfortably with room for enough luggage for a two weeks staycation!

https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776

Arg it's so hard to know what to do for the best. I tend to keep cars until they die, so don't want to be lumbered with something that i'll be charged extra for....

Do you really think electric won't take off more widely?

Looking at used around £20k

Personally, I haven't found I've saved a lot with my mild hybrid car. You will if you mainly do local journeys at low speed but otherwise I think it's minimal.

I will likely get an electric car when I next change my car. Realistically you're going to get at least 200 miles out of an electric car. How often would you do more than that without stopping at least for a loo break or coffee?

20k probably only gets you an older smaller electric or a hybrid though. They're expensive.

I have a hybrid with 40 miles of electric range.

So the majority of journeys, stuff like to see friends or shopping is all done on electric. I need the petrol side of it about once a fortnight or so, but even then a good proportion of the miles are electric only.

Thanks that's helpful

I'm in a similar position. I love my plug-in hybrid (Kia Niro) and would definitely recommend one.

I have solar panels so it really does feel that all my local driving is free.