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Electric Car Awards 2026: Best hybrid premium SUV

With fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars now coming in all shapes and sizes, we’ve named the best new and used buys in every class. Here we look at the best hybrid premium SUVs

WINNER: Best hybrid premium SUV

Mercedes GLC 300e AMG Line Premium

Mercedes GLC review Mercedes GLC deals

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Mercedes GLC 300e front driving

No one has ever asked for a lumpier mattress, a scratchier jumper or a tighter airline seat. Comfort is a universal constant – the ultimate metric by which we measure life’s upgrades. And it’s one of the main reasons why the Mercedes GLC 300e is the best hybrid premium SUV you can buy.

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With rear air suspension fitted as standard to help counter the weight of the battery under its boot floor, the GLC delivers a noticeably smoother ride than rivals, such as the Audi Q5 e-Hybrid, Lexus NX 450h and Volvo XC60 T6.

Don’t think this means that you have to put up with blancmange-like handling, though; the GLC resists body lean surprisingly well through corners.

Mercedes GLC 300e side driving

Performance also impresses, with the car accelerating from 0-62mph as quickly as some hot hatches when the petrol engine and electric motor are working together. Yet it’s also possible to get up to motorway speeds without any difficulty while running exclusively on electric power.

List price

£70,370

Leasing

0-62 mph

6.7 sec

Top speed

135 mph

Official economy

122.8 mpg

C02 emissions

52 g/km

Insurance group

48E

As a bonus, whether you’re working the motor hard like this or just pottering around town, you’re spared the whine that sometimes disrupts the sense of tranquillity in the NX. And, crucially, the GLC can run on electric power for longer than any rival: officially up to 76 miles in our preferred AMG Line Premium trim and almost 60 miles in our real-world test.

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True, its engine sounds a little gruff when it first fires up, but thereafter it’s suitably hushed. In fact, little unwanted noise of any kind reaches occupants; here, the GLC is helped by double-glazed front side windows, which do a great job of shutting out wind roar.

All of these strengths combine to make the GLC a very relaxing car to drive – a match, even, for many more expensive models. What’s more, finding a good driving position is easy if you go for our preferred spec, thanks to a wide range of electric adjustment for the steering wheel and seat, including lumbar support.

Mercedes GLC 300e dashboard

The front seats are broader than those in the Q5 and NX, adding to the sense that this is a car designed to pamper. And while no car in this class feels cramped inside, the GLC is particularly generous for rear knee room.

Ideally, it would have separate physical air-con controls like the NX, instead of placing them on the screen like the Q5 and XC60. However, for sheer wow factor, the GLC’s interior beats those of all its rivals – particularly at night, when you get to bathe in its spectacular ambient light show.

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Key facts

Engine 4cyl, 1999cc, turbo, petrol, plus electric motor Power 308bhp Torque 406lb ft Gearbox 9-spd automatic Official electric range 76 miles

Best used hybrid premium SUV

BMW X5 xDrive45e M Sport

BMW X5 front cornering

On sale from 2018-present Prices from £24,000

The BMW X5 is a classy and luxurious SUV that’s good to drive and impressively refined. In our chosen form, it comes with an official electric-only range of 54 miles.

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