I do 20,000 motorway miles a year - should I stick with diesel or switch to hybrid? | Ask Honest John

What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

I do 20,000 motorway miles a year - should I stick with diesel or switch to hybrid?

I do 22,000 miles per year, mostly motorway. I’m a 40 per cent tax payer, who’s current lease of a 2016 Skoda superb 1.6 TDI is coming to an end. A hybrid Kia Niro has been suggested by my leasing company as a cost/tax efficient alternative. I’m not sure whether I should stick with another diesel. Any suggestions for fuel type as well a car make?

Asked on 14 March 2019 by Ken Brown

Answered by Andrew Brady

Hybrids make sense from a tax point of view but won't be as economical as a diesel for motorway driving. If you pay for your own fuel, I'd be tempted to stick with a diesel. I really like the Superb but would expect it to be cheaper to lease than more premium rivals. Have you considered a Kia Optima? It's underrated, in our opinion, and is available with a very good 1.6-litre diesel engine. There's a plug-in hybrid version, too, if you do decide to go down that route.

Tags: high mileage hybrid or diesel? buying advice motorway miles

Similar questions

Would a plug-in hybrid work okay when driven without charging?

I'm looking for a new premium hatchback that I can keep for a few years and do a mixture of short journeys and long motorway trips - about 15,000-18,000 miles per year. I also want a fairly decent performance....

I do 25,000 miles a year as a taxi driver - should I switch from a diesel to a hybrid car?

I currently drive a diesel Toyota Verso as a tax. Would I be better off with with a hybrid Toyota Auris Estate? I do lots of short runs and about three or four motorway runs per week. I do roughly 25,000...

What is the best, economical commuting car for £5000?

I just started a new job in which I'm doing 120 miles a day, mostly motorway, five times a week. What would be the most economical car to commute and what kind of mpg can I get? I can spend around £5000,...

Related models

Skoda Superb (2015 - 2024)

Offers limousine levels of comfort and space, but with a very affordable price tag. Efficient engine options include plug-in hybrid models. Boot capacity is truly huge.