TURBO CHARGED

It’s all about electric and hybrid this year. Here is a look at the top new eco-friendly vehicles

- NAT BARNES

FIAT 500 ELECTRIC

From £19,995

The cute little Italian baby is back – and this time it’s packing a plug-powered punch. Aside from new headlights, the new Fiat 500 may not look all that different on the outside, but under the skin there have been some huge changes. All of the petrol and diesel engine options have gone, replaced by the choice of just two batteries – 24kWh or 42kWh – that offer a 185km or 320km range respectively when fully charged. There’s a third body style to add to the standard hatchback and cabriolet, too – called the 3+1, it has a small rear-hinged door just behind the driver’s door to enable better access to the back seats. For the moment this is available only in left-hand drive markets, but if it proves popular don’t be surprised to see it in UK showrooms as well.

KIA SORENTO PLUG-IN HYBRID

From £44,995

Kia won the 2020 World Car of the Year award with its brilliant Telluride, produced for the US market, and it would be a brave person to bet against the Korean firm repeating the feat this year with its latest large off-roader. The good news is that the all-new Sorento is a global car so is available in far more markets than the Telluride. Even better, this particular version is a plug-in hybrid, which means you get a large, seven-seater off-roader that achieves 38g/km emissions and about 64km on a full charge. Considering the Sorento’s size and towing capabilities, that will make it not only tempting for larger families but also for company car users looking to reduce their benefit-in-kind monthly tax bill.