E STREET BAND

With names like TFSle, eHybrid and E-Tense, these SUVS are eager to promote their electrification and efficiency. But which one's the boss?

- John Bradshaw

Former US president Barack Obama once said, "A good compromise is like a good sentence, or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognise it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense"." Obama made this quote in reference to his legendary statesmanship, but we reckon it's just as relevant to the subject of this test: plug-in hybrids.

You see, a plug-in hybrid is all about flexibility, because while an increasing number of us would love to make the jump from a combustion-engined car straight to a fully electric one, such cars aren't always compatible with our everyday needs. We worry about range and the inadequacies of the public charging network, especially when it comes to covering long distances.

But what if you could drive to your office, gym or supermarket on electric power-benefiting the planet and your pocket - and then call upon a petrol engine for longer trips? Well, a plug-in hybrid fulfils both of these demands; in other words, it's a compromise that makes sense. Thankfully, more and more car makers are embracing this approach, and the latest to the table is French brand DS Automobiles.

Since splitting from Citroën and becoming a brand in its own right, DS has set its sights on taking on the premium players at their own game - and the DS 4 is the latest model in its growing arsenal. With concept car lines, a striking interior, a fast charging rate (we'll explain more about this later) and a competitive price tag, it's well positioned to take on the established premium alternatives.

Well, we say 'established'. Our second contender comes from a brand you might not have heard of: Cupra. The performance arm of Seat, its latest SUV is the striking Formentor, which, like the DS 4, is something of a mash-up between a hatchback, a coupé and an SUV. It's available with a wide selection of pure petrol engines, but here we're testing the range-topping plug-in hybrid version.