Since the dawn of civilization and the invention of the wheel, mankind has discovered the need to create new ways to improve vehicles, making it easier and faster to move people and goods. As a result, the car was first invented, and in the 21st century it has become an indispensable assistant in all spheres of life.
Now we use it every day to get to work, to the store, or to the restaurant. What’s more, many travelers choose 7 seater car hire Alicante for their family beach trip. And this is the right choice, because a car, not just a hire car, is the best way to travel, giving you freedom.
However, in the modern world there’s a question not only about a functional and technological car, but also about an environmentally friendly vehicle. Today, hybrid cars are a great start on the road to carbon neutrality. Car manufacturers are constantly releasing new models that show excellent efficiency results. Here’re some great cars available on the market now…
VW Golf GTE
In the compact class, the VW Golf has become a role model and has gained a mass of followers. This year, the car appears in its eighth generation. The 150-hps 1.4-liter petrol engine and the 85-kW electric motor jointly mobilize the system with 245 hps, while the lithium-ion battery stores energy for 60 km of pure electric range.
In EV mode, the GTE will be able to reach a top speed of 130 km/h, but when both engines are working together, the car runs much faster – the top speed exceeds 200 km/h.
All four-cylinder petrol engines with dual-clutch transmission receive mild hybrid support via a belt-driven starter generator. However, only the Golf GTE becomes a real hybrid.
Mercedes-Benz C300 de
Mercedes products are presented in many top lists and this makes them popular among businessmen who buy or hire a car for special purposes. And this is not in vain!
There are not many manufacturers combining plug-in hybrid technology and powerful diesel drive. Both technologies are complex and expensive, not to mention their combination. However, Mercedes is following the wishes of the customers: the 2.0-liter V4 diesel unit with 194 hps and a 122-hps electric motor works together in the C300de. The C-Class Hybrid mobilizes a total of 306 hps, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.
Despite the additional weight, which is about 300 kg, the C300 de consumes significantly less fuel than the equally powerful diesel-powered car and can drive in the city with absolutely no emissions.
Hyundai Kona
The small car adopts the hybrid system from its sister models Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro. By following this plan, the Kona is offered in a variety of engine options – from conventional fuel-powered to fully-electric. In the hybrid variation, the 1.6-liter petrol V4 engine runs on the efficient Atkinson cycle, complemented by an electric motor and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Ford Kuga
The Kuga appeared not so long ago and immediately became a bestseller among compact SUVs. This is a true family car – roomy, comfortable and reliable: 4.61 meters long, 1.88 wide and 1.67 high. The third generation was launched in 2020.
If earlier Ford didn’t attract attention with a wide range of alternative versions, now the situation is changing. The Kuga is available in three hybrid versions: a mild hybrid, full and plug-in hybrid with a larger battery.
In the first case, the 48-volt electrical system supports a two-liter 150-hps diesel engine. In tests, this version of the Kuga demonstrates good cross-country ability and amazing economy for an off-road crossover.
As for the plug-in hybrid, here Ford electrifies the 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and brings power of 225 hps.
Audi Q5 TFSI-e
Plug-in-Hybrid is increasingly becoming the new standard for large crossover makers, and soon everyone will be able to hire a car of such a class for their road trip.
Starting in 2019, Audi has been offering the e-options of TFSI 50 and 55 as part of the mid-size Q5 series. Here, Audi combines a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder petrol unit with an electric motor (143 hps) housed in a 7-speed automatic gearbox unit.
Depending on the version, the crossovers generate 299 hps or 367 hps. The 14.1-kWh battery provides more than 40 kilometers of electric travel.
Fuel consumption with mixed food is scanty – 2.7 l/100 km. However, as with every PHEV, the following rule applies – if you often accelerate and choose the wrong driving mode, don’t expect much fuel savings.
BMW X5
The larger and heavier the cars, the more likely manufacturers will adopt electrification. On the one hand, the fuel economy effect is beneficial for bulky SUVs like the X5.
The current model is based on a 3-liter V6 engine. The electric motor of 112 hps supports a 286-hps turbocharged petrol unit. The powerful 394-hps system is enough for a luxury 4.92 meters long SUV, providing excellent driving performance. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. A battery storage capacity of 24 kWh is also enough to guarantee a minimum of 87 kilometers of electric range.
This is just a small part of the full range of hybrid vehicles available on the market today. Fuel-efficient hybrid cars are becoming more and more popular – this can be seen in the huge number of new offers over the past few years. Even manufacturers of expensive, luxury and sports cars have taken up the challenge. So, explore and compare different hybrid vehicles and you might want to try one of them.