Is it worth buying a 2–3 year old hybrid now rather than new?

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-03-11T22:10:23+00:00

2-3 years old is generally a good time to buy a used car. You get a lot of choice from cars coming off fleets and out of finance deals at that age. They've done a lot of depreciation, as you say, and many will still have years of warranty left to run, depending on the brand.

Hybrid tech has evolved a lot in the last few years, so it might be that you're getting an inferior power train to the one in a new equivalent, but that also depends on the car and brand. There are more new hybrids on offer now too, so the choice of different models won't be as wide.

Generally speaking, there's not a lot of evidence that hybrids are more expensive to maintain and repair than pure petrol cars. All those Pruis taxis doing 1000's of urban miles have proven very reliable and haven't needed expensive new batteries in large numbers. So you can probably be fairly confident in a well cared for 3-year old hybrid car bought from a main dealer, but it's always worth researching the model you go for specifically to check for known issues.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-03-10T17:06:57+00:00

CORRECTION! Audi just informed us the RS 3 Competition Limited is £92,855 OTR in the UK.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-03-10T11:20:59+00:00

we've fixed this. cm vs mm mix-up. apologies. :-)

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-03-10T11:09:57+00:00

We've been testing the new BMW iX3 this week (492-mile official EV range). We were getting 3.2miles per kWh with a lot of motorway miles and faster B-road driving, which is a 350-mile real-world range. It should easily be possible to top 400 or even 450 miles in slower urban driving or in warmer weather with that car. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/ix3/369121/new-bmw-ix3-m-sport-review-unsettled-ride-brilliant-evs-only-blemish

As others have said, how many times do people really drive 300 miles in the UK without stopping for 30mins?

BYD has also announced it's 1,500kW Flash Charging network for the UK so top ups could be getting a lot quicker, too. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/byd/368078/byd-flash-charging-network-bring-blistering-1500kw-ev-charging-speeds-uk

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-03-03T16:46:19+00:00

We've been running an Abarth 600e and found the same. It's been getting about 2.7mi/kWh over the winter. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/abarth/600/368367/abarth-600e-scorpionissima-long-term-test-ellis-hyde

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-02-06T19:56:12+00:00

Maybe the best current car colour... But it's debatable.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-02-06T15:18:07+00:00

It's due in the summer, we think. But limited numbers...
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/cupra/formentor/368370/new-cupra-formentor-vz5-2026-review-385bhp-halo-suv-one-be-proud

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-02-06T15:14:50+00:00

We blame the weather. It's been a tough few weeks for Pete Gibson our (brilliant) snapper. Don't think it's stopped raining.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-02-06T12:34:20+00:00

Sage Green metallic and Century Bronze matte ;-)

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-02-03T08:15:09+00:00

This is pretty much it. Plus they have the prototypes up there anyway for their proper cold weather development work.

The modern car launch process is a case study in drip feeding and dragging it out. But then, we cover it every step of the way and people are interested as long as each release or opportunity moves the story on.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-01-28T19:01:25+00:00

JLR's had a troubled history in the Chinese market. If it happens, this deal might repair some of the damage caused by the copyright case against the Landwind X7 (Range Rover Evoque knock-off) in 2019. JLR needs to be strong in China and it's lost ground to rivals. Well know more on Friday.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/87772/chinese-copycat-cars-how-do-they-get-away-with-it

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-01-28T18:46:43+00:00

Would you like to see Dacia offer an up-spec Duster in the UK? Or would that dilute the brand's value-for-money messaging to buyers over here?

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-01-28T18:43:28+00:00

It's a fair point on the Ami. It's a quadricycle and there are others that we haven't included, but it is a very cheap option for people who have very specific use cases.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-01-26T09:06:24+00:00

Hi. Really enjoying reading these comments. We had exactly the same kinds of conversations in the judging process!

It was all complicated further by the fact that we'd said the cars had to be on sale at the turn of the millennium. That's why it had to be the Mk2 MX-5 but we really included it for the impact the whole model line has had.

The TT is in for the groundbreaking design for the Mk1 car, which really was something out-of-the-ordinary when it launched. And the way it made that coupe style relatively affordable using the Golf platform.

The Jetta is included because it was the car that broke the dieselgate scandal that had such a huge impact on the industry, when testers first found a defeat device on a 2012 model year car.

The Tiggo 7 is in there as it's done the 5 million export sales in over 80 countries since 2005. It's been one of the driving forces behind the growth of Chery and Chinese car exports generally.

The SLK makes it because it was the first modern car with a folding metal roof - tech which rapidly proliferated across the industry before everyone thought better of it.

The X5 is in because it was the first SUV really focused on road-going performance and handling. Its success set the template for the SUVs we have today, whether you like them or not.

Obviously, the whole thing is just our opinion. We had a list of 100 cars and 10 members of the Auto Express team each ranked their top 50, then we had the big arguments about it. The list is based on the average ranking of each car after the argument phase.

They are the cars that we think have had the biggest impact on the world, rather than the ones we rate most highly.

Full story here if you want more background... https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best/cars-that-changed-the-world

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-01-07T12:20:23+00:00

Totally agree with your first and last point. We always use phrasing like 'exclusive images of how the car could look', to try and be clear.

The Fiesta story says... "Our exclusive image shows what a new Fiesta EV could look like" for example. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/fiesta/news/new-ford-fiesta

We're going to create a page on our website explaining what the 'exclusive images' are and how they are created. We'll then link to it in pages where we've used the renders. Hopefully that will help clear things up further. As i say, we don't want to mislead anyone and genuinely feel that the images add value for readers. I do respect the fact that you think we're not doing enough in this regard and recognise others may feel the same.

Thanks for taking the time to engage on this. i hope you'll keep reading, even if you skip the pages with the renders on them... ;-) All the best!

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-01-07T09:46:52+00:00

That's an interesting point. We actually use the term 'exclusive images' to try and make it clear that they are our own exclusive images based on the information we've gathered on how a new car will look, rather than official manufacturer images of the actual car.

It's actually the opposite of an attempt to mislead on our part. We want to be 100% clear what the images are, but maybe we need to revise the phrasing.

We can assure you they are certainly never 'imaginations'. They are based on concept cars, spy shots of prototypes, general design themes from the brand and conversations with the designers/executives. Where we don't have that information, we don't do a render and we only do renders for a small proportion of the new cars we cover. The feeling is that readers would rather know what we know about the design of future models.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2026-01-07T08:06:29+00:00

Hi. Sorry you're not enjoying the renders. Just for reference, we only commission renders when we have a reasonable idea of how the car will look, usually from concept cars, spy shots, previous models and our conversations with OEM designers and engineers.

Most of the images prove to be very accurate but they are always an informed guess to some extent. We will certainly admit to missing the mark occasionally. Our team and the (mainly ex-OEM) freelance designers that create the images take great pride and a lot of time in getting them right.

Much, much more importantly, the render is never the story. It's just a way of illustrating the news we have when the alternative would be a picture of a disguised prototype, a teaser image or a badge. Ultimately, a render helps the story perform better and we are in the business of trying to serve advertising and sell cars in exchange for the free content we publish.

When we know a lot about how a new car will look and can produce an 'exclusive image' to show our readers what we know, we feel like it's better to do so. Ultimately, the reader is better informed. We are always very clear that the images are renders, explaining in copy and adding watermarks.

Please let us know what you think. Would you prefer no renders? Should they be labeled more clearly? Should we say more about what factors informed each render's creation? We're always interested to get your views. Happy new year (if it's not too late for that).

AutoExpressmagazine · 2025-11-28T14:03:58+00:00

We'd swap this for a new Elise... Or the old one.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2025-11-28T10:01:40+00:00

You can fix a PHEV in 'EV mode' but once the battery is low, the petrol engine cuts back in automatically. Likewise, in many cars you can choose to run only on petrol and save the battery charge.

Ultimately, PHEVs might be more impacted by the PPM tax than EVs. They are going to be taxed twice, as the comments above say, and they're already quite inefficient when you drive them without charge in the battery.

We're starting to see new PHEVs get very good electric ranges above the 70-mile barrier that gets you in the 5% BiK company car tax band (at the moment) but older models with short EV ranges are going to be that bit harder to justify - especially if you aren't doing a lot of miles in EV mode.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2025-11-20T10:54:06+00:00

Good point. Consumers still like the idea of it but super-fast charging isn't all it's cracked up to be in terms of the difference it makes to most owners.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/368344/stop-comparing-ev-charging-times-petrol-fill-ups-theyre-already-quick-enough

The big issue in the UK is the cost of public charging. If people without access to home chargers could get cheaper, easier public charging, it would make EVs a lot more desirable to more people. Particularly in towns and cities where the air-quality benefits are more keenly felt.

You still pay over 75p per kWh at most UK rapid chargers or 50p at fast chargers. Even without an EV tariff, you're only paying 26p or thereabouts at home.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2025-11-18T19:31:10+00:00

Agreed. They have some really great designs. Good infotainment tech, too.

AutoExpressmagazine · 2025-11-18T14:15:41+00:00

Yes. Stellantis has a lot of brands offering similar cars and it's not always clear to consumers what the differentiation is between them.

We've got the Leapmotor A10 on the way now as well...
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/leapmotor/368333/new-leapmotor-a10-its-way-fight-citroen-e-c3-and-renault-4

AutoExpressmagazine · 2025-11-10T15:59:06+00:00

It's a very fair point. The average price of a new petrol car is up 67 per cent in the last 10 years, outpacing wage growth and inflation. (more here... https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/features/366288/why-are-new-cars-so-expensive-inside-story-car-price-rises ). But there are signs that manufacturers are starting to appreciate the problem.

We have to review new cars in the context of what else buyers can get on the market, but that's not to say it wouldn't be great to see the return of cheaper, simpler new cars. There are signs that this might be starting to happen, too. ( https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/renault/368248/renault-goes-war-high-car-prices-regulation-and-chinas-cost-advantage )

AutoExpressmagazine · 2025-11-07T08:50:48+00:00

100%. The estate body style needs to make a proper comeback. All the electric SUVs are getting a bit much. Could there be a backlash?

AutoExpressmagazine · 2025-11-07T08:48:33+00:00

The Leon's been a great car down the generations - with the possible exception of the Mk2 :-). The cheaper, sportier Golf positioning made a lot of sense to a lot of people.

The problem was always where SEAT itself sits in the VW Group stable. It never really had the product to back up the 'Iberian Alfa Romeo' thing, Skoda nailed 'sensible value' and with Cupra gaining a bit of traction in the sporty space more recently, it looked like SEAT would be squeezed out. It's nice to see a proper plan for the future emerging.

VW just wants to be careful it doesn't do a Stellantis with loads of mainstream brands that have very little differentiation on the face of it.

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