A hybrid car works by adding an electric motor to a petrol or diesel engine. That way, you can use a smaller, more economical engine but still have plenty of power for acceleration. The electric motor can also power the car entirely for short bursts, and that really adds up, especially around town. A plug-in hybrid gets a bigger battery, which can be charged from the mains, giving you a longer electric-only range (but more weight, so they’re generally thirstier on a long run).

Not necessarily. If it’s a self-charging hybrid, with no plug-in function, then no it doesn’t. A hybrid will charge up its small battery by driving around, and drawing power from both the engine and from brake energy recuperation. A plug-in hybrid can also charge using the engine and regenerative braking, but to keep the bigger battery fully charged you really do does need a charging point. By charging up, you can cover short commuting distances on electric power, leaving the petrol engine for longer journeys.

That will depend on how big the battery is. Mostly, with a plug-in hybrid, you can expect to see claimed electric-only ranges of around 35 miles, but newer models with bigger batteries can potentially go much further. The new Range Rover has a massive battery, with a claimed 70-mile electric range. A hybrid will only manage short bursts of around a mile or so on electric power, but the upside is that their smaller batteries can charge up again quickly while driving, so you get lots of those short bursts in one journey, helping to save fuel.

The Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140 is the cheapest seven-seat hybrid car. At the time of writing, prices start from £23,995. It’s not just the cheapest hybrid with seven seats, it’s also one of the best thanks to its roomy cabin, comfortable ride, and low running costs.

Probably the best bet here is the ageing Ford Galaxy, though — that’s properly roomy inside, with space for seven full-sized adults.