The previous generation model ran from 2009 to 2015, promised economy in the 70mpg range, and again ducked well under 100g/km, so it’s £20 for those too. Only when you go back to the second-generation car, from 2004-2009, does CO2 climb over the 100g/km barrier, but since the £20 bracket goes up to 110g/km now, the annual tax doesn’t increase. Even the first-generation Prius, at 114/gkm, will only cost £35 from April.
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Volkswagen Golf GTE
If the Prius is a bit dull, here’s a pre-2017 hybrid – specifically, a plug-in hybrid – that can still treat you to low VED bills but offers a little more in return for the driver. Essentially, the Volkswagen Golf GTE is a plug-in hybrid version of the celebrated Golf GTI – or that’s what VW would like you to believe, anyway.
The reality is that the GTE was never quite as fun as the GTI, its 1.4-litre hybrid powertrain and extra weight taking the edge off the GTI’s performance. But it was still brisk, with a 7.6-second 0-62mph time (1.1 off the GTI at the time), would get you roughly 20 miles of EV range, and had quoted CO2 emissions of 39g/km, for that all-important free VED at the time. It’s just £20 with April 2025’s increase. Based on the Mk7 Golf, it’s also just a brilliant all-rounder – and cheaper to tax than the latest Mk8 GTE.
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BMW i8
Here’s our wildcard choice. Short of a Tesla Roadster, a pre-2017 performance car won’t come much cheaper to tax than the BMW i8. The dramatically-styled coupe was launched in 2014 and thanks to its plug-in hybrid drivetrain, BMW claimed CO2 emissions of only 49g/km. That doesn’t look much by modern plug-in standards, but meant free VED at the time, and a scant £20 bill today.
Early cars will get you only around 20 miles of EV driving on a charge, but real-world economy of over 40mpg is eminently possible. If you can resist stretching its 357bhp part-electric, part 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged drivetrain, anyway. The i8 is no Porsche 911 in the twisties but it’s still fun, and still looks incredible. 20-quid tax is just the cherry on the icing.
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