Three-car garage: BMW i8, Suzuki Swift and Toyota Corolla Touring Sports for under £65,000
Buying a hybrid doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice driving fun; these mild, self-charging and plug-in hybrid options are the frugal enthusiast’s ultimate three-car garage for less than £65,000
The Toyota Prius was a trailblazer in the sense it popularised hybrid technology, almost to the point it became synonymous with it. Yet while the latest model is certainly a lot more exciting to look at and drive than the ones that came before, the Prius has arguably had a hand in forging the unfair stereotype that hybrids are boring.
With that in mind and for this week’s three-car garage, we’ve found three sweet-handling hybrid cars – one mild, one full and one plug-in – from the Auto Express Buy a Car service that prove an exciting drive doesn’t have to come at the expense of fuel economy.
BMW i8 – £34,999
With butterfly doors and styling that could have come straight out of the 23rd century, the BMW i8 may look like a supercar, but its surprisingly frugal plug-in hybrid powertrain means it won’t cost anywhere near as much to run day-to-day. Don’t be fooled by the i8’s 1.5-litre displacement; the BMW hybrid halo car produces 358bhp and completes the 0-62mph sprint in just 4.4 seconds. Now available with around 35,000 miles on the clock for similar money to a base-spec BMW 2 Series, few things can quite provide the same excitement as the i8 at this price point.
Tempted by this BMW i8? There’s several others to choose from at great prices on Auto Express Marketplace…
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports - £16,750
Favoured by minicabbers from Canterbury to Carlisle, the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is a shrewd investment, thanks to its fuel-sipping self-charging hybrid powerplant, as well as the Japanese brand’s reputation for reliability. Something that’s also often showcased by taxi drivers at 3am is the Corolla’s surprisingly agile handling; the Toyota’s CVT gearbox can be slushy as it is sluggish, however, precise steering and a balanced chassis make the hybrid hatch a peach to drive. We found plenty of examples for sale online, including a 2020 Icon Tech example with heated seats and a reversing camera, plus just under 35,000 miles on the odometer, all for less than £17,000.
Missed out on this Toyota Corolla Touring Sports? You can find plenty of used deals by clicking below...
Latest Toyota Corolla Touring Sports deals
Suzuki Swift – £9,900
Those on the lookout for fun may discount the Suzuki Swift for its measly-looking 83bhp 1.2-litre mild-hybrid engine. Don’t let that deter you, though, because while acceleration in the Swift is anything but what its nameplate might suggest, the Suzuki’s lightweight construction and diminutive size make it incredibly nimble on a country road. The five-speed gearbox is pleasant to use and when you’re not rowing through the ratios to keep up with traffic, the Swift is capable of up to 59.7mpg on a relaxed cruise. We found a 2023 model on the Auto Express Marketplace for just under £10,000; with just 45,000 miles on the clock and the potential for up to a 10-year warranty provided you get it serviced at a main dealer, this Swift should keep going and going.
This deal got away? Check out the latest used Suzuki Swift deals below…
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