Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales are on the rise, but there’s not long left if you want to score significant savings.
The electric vehicle (EV) Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption for novated lease vehicles is ending for PHEVs on April 1, 2025, which means you’ve got less than a month left to buy and receive a new PHEV if you want to take advantage.
To be eligible for FBT exemptions, a new plug-in hybrid must fall under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold of $91,387 for fuel efficient vehicles – i.e. a vehicle that “does not exceed 7.0L/100km” on the combined cycle.
With that criteria, we’ve asked the CarExpert team which eligible PHEV they’d buy regardless of body style or vehicle type.
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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Here are some of the PHEVs eligible for FBT exemptions in Australia:
Let us know which you’d pick in the comments below!
Marton Pettendy: Ford Ranger PHEV
This one’s a no-brainer for me: the PHEV I’d buy is the Ford Ranger because I need a new ute and it’s only about $3000 pricier than the XLT V6 that I would otherwise have bought.
What’s more, it blows the V6 away with 200kW-plus and circa-700Nm outputs, while sipping less than 3.0L/100km, travelling almost 50km in EV mode and the ability to power electric devices inside the cab and tray.
Yes, it arrives too late to get the PHEV FBT exemption and it’s a bit pricier than the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEVs, both of which offer double the EV range and longer warranties.
But the plug-in Ranger is based on the benchmark in the ute class, tows a full tonne more than the BYD, has the backing of a huge nationwide dealer network and is a known quantity that will probably outlast me.
Interested in buying a Ford Ranger? Get in touch with one of our trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Ford Ranger
James Wong: BYD Sealion 6 Essential
If you’re wanting to get into a good PHEV and not spend upwards of $60,000, it’s hard to beat the new entry-level BYD Sealion 6.
At $42,990 plus on-road costs or less than $47,000 drive-away, it’s an absolute steal compared to similarly sized rivals – namely the rival Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV which starts some $15,000 higher.
It may have dropped a few features from the outgoing Dynamic, but it covers all bases and then some with change to spare. Plus, it offers better efficiency and EV driving range (~90km NEDC) than the top-spec Premium.
Given the main counterargument for PHEVs is the price premiums outweigh the efficiency and running cost gains, the Sealion 6 addresses the main barrier for PHEV tech in Australia.
Interested in buying a BYD Sealion 6? Get in touch with one of our trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything BYD Sealion 6
William Stopford: Cupra Formentor VZe
PHEV sales may be experiencing major growth of late, but this is fuelled in large part by BYD as we’ve actually lost a number of PHEV options of late, from the BMW 3 Series to the Mercedes-Benz GLC and more recently the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Volvo S60, and all of Peugeot’s PHEVs.
The obvious choice is the BYD Sealion 6 which has stormed up the sales charts, and is doing even better than the last affordable Chinese PHEV SUV, the MG HS.
I’ve yet to drive a Sealion 6, but I was impressed by how smooth BYD’s powertrain technology was in the Shark 6.
Then there’s the Outlander PHEV, Mitsubishi’s pioneering plug-in, for which an update is coming soon with more power and range. It’s pricier than the BYD, but Mitsubishi too is an old hand at this PHEV business, and the Japanese brand has a wider dealer network, longer warranty, and offers a third row in its mid-sized SUV PHEV.
Both models have benefited from a real dearth of competition. Where are the PHEV versions of the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4 offered overseas?
Both the Sealion 6 and Outlander PHEV are the obvious, sensible options, which explains why they were the most popular and second most popular PHEVs in Australia last year.
At the risk of being boring though, I’ll throw my vote to the Cupra Formentor VZe again. It’s also receiving a longer-range update imminently and while it’s smaller than the BYD and Mitsubishi, it’s stylish and drives well.
It’s the PHEV I can picture in my garage, but I can understand why the BYD and Mitsubishi are much more common on our roads.
Interested in buying a Cupra Formentor? Get in touch with one of our trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Cupra Formentor
Jordan Mulach: BYD Sealion 6
Yes, it’s a mid-size SUV, but the Sealion 6 will mobilise the masses with plug-in hybrid technology unlike any car before it.
Not only is it well priced but also well equipped, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s got an electric driving range which would make many wonder why they’d ever consider an EV.
Interested in buying a BYD Sealion 6? Get in touch with one of our trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything BYD Sealion 6
Sean Lander: Ford Ranger XLT PHEV
I’m torn between the Shark 6 and the Ranger PHEV – on one hand, the Shark is all the PHEV one could ever need.
It’s fast, comfortable and has a great EV range. But I want a ute to do ute things and generally ute about the place.
So it’s the Ranger PHEV XLT for me.
Yes, it’s a fair lick more expensive than the Shark and yes, it’s battery is way smaller. But, I know it will be dependable, it will take abuse and it still has the mod-cons I enjoy in a car. Plus I just really like Rangers.
It would never be a replacement for my XR8 ute, but it’s about as close as we have got to date without getting into the US pick-ups.
Interested in buying a Ford Ranger? Get in touch with one of our trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Ford Ranger
Jack Quick: BYD Shark 6
I’ve said this before, but the Shark 6 has revolutionised how I perceive and experience a dual-cab ute.
The main thing that stood out to me was how quiet the thing is when driving on EV power. I’m used to hearing and feeling the agricultural clatter of a diesel engine from under the bonnet, so it’s a refreshing change.
Also, this ute has 100km of claimed EV range, at least according to lenient NEDC testing, which is gobsmacking.
Then there’s the power. As Paul demonstrated in his video, the Shark 6 is capable of beating a Ranger Raptor in a drag race. It’s likely a little too much for the average Joe, but it’s fun to flex this now and then.
Lastly, compared to other utes, the Shark 6 is luxuriously appointed for the appealing price point of $57,990 before on-roads. There’s not much out there that offers as much as this ute for the price tag.
Before you jump on my back in the comments, the Shark 6 certainly won’t be for everyone, but which car ever is?
Interested in buying a BYD Shark 6? Get in touch with one of our trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything BYD Shark 6
Max Davies: Cupra Leon VZe
Given its top-class comfort and ride quality, I would’ve gone for the Formentor VZe, but I think I’d prefer to downsize and go for the plug-in Leon instead.
Having driven a hatchback daily for the past few years, and then spent countless hours behind the wheels of various SUVs courtesy of CarExpert, I know I much prefer a smaller body style.
Then there’s my recently realised sentiment that the Cupra Leon is one of the only new cars I’d genuinely consider spending my money on at this time, though my first preference would be the fast VZx.
So, I think it makes sense to combine the smooth – and still surprisingly rapid – PHEV drivetrain fitted to the Formentor VZe with the smaller and more nimble body of the Leon. While you lose roughly 40kW of power compared to the VZx, the Leon VZe still has the same 400Nm of torque and is supposedly much more fuel efficient.
Electric driving range isn’t terrible at a claimed 67km. The only drawback is that you have to make do with only front-wheel drive, but there is a wide range of drive modes to harness its power however you’d like.
More than $60,000 before on-roads is still fairly steep though, and it might be better to wait until the VW Group swaps out those annoying touch-control climate sliders.
Interested in buying a Cupra Leon? Get in touch with one of our trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Cupra Leon
Josh Nevett: BYD Shark 6
Let’s be real for a second – what proportion of Australian ute buyers actually fill up the tray or tow a trailer? Sure, those people are probably better off buying a Ranger, but the BYD Shark 6 is my top pick for the rest.
It’s unlike any other ute I’ve experienced. The plug-in hybrid powertrain provides performance that rivals could only dream of – BYD claims the Shark 6 can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds, making it quicker than a Ranger Raptor.
And when you’re done smoking an overconfident tradie from the lights, you settle in for up to 100km of electric-only driving. The interior is comfortable and well-equipped, trimmed in materials usually reserved for top-tier dual-cabs.
The Shark 6 also offers V2L charging capability, so you can power a wide range of appliances and tools with your vehicle, battery charge permitting.
All for the neat sum of $57,900 before on-road costs – the same as a mid-spec Ranger or Toyota HiLux. Sign me up!
Interested in buying a BYD Shark 6? Get in touch with one of our trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything BYD Shark 6
