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What Is The Best Hybrid SUV: Top 10 Ranked by Lowest to Highest Price

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Overview

In the US market, almost 50% of all new cars being sold are SUVs, and the number is growing at a rapid pace. No other type of vehicle can provide the space, power, and practicality offered by SUVs. So it is not a surprise that SUVs are a popular choice for new car buyers.

But a common gripe shared by almost all SUV drivers around the world is the low fuel efficiency. To avoid this problem, you need to invest in the best hybrid SUV for yourself. 

For regular SUVs, low fuel efficiency will shoot up the fuel costs, which can be a deal-breaker for many. Auto manufacturers have recognized this concern and have introduced the world to hybrid SUVs– they offer all the benefits of an SUV but also offer fuel efficiency better than many hatchbacks.

These are our top 10 picks for the best hybrid SUVs currently on sale, ranked by ascending order of prices.

Methodology of our car rankings

1. 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Type: Small, Price: $29,715 – $42,890, Row-Seating: 2-row

Source: www.global.toyota

Toyota offers the RAV4 with both a hybrid as well as a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is available in the Prime variant. It prioritizes function over form with several storage spaces and useful features inside the cabin. 

Why We Picked It: Even the lower variants, such as the XLE offers a plethora of features as standard. The powertrain packs a punch that is not common for hybrid vehicles. The acceleration is strong throughout the powerband, and the power output is linear. The ride quality is comfortable, and the noise levels inside the cabin are pretty low.

All the variants are priced very competitively, especially with the electric-vehicle tax credit. They also offer a generous warranty which can potentially reduce the operating costs. Armed with their experience of manufacturing the Prius Hybrid for several years, Toyota has built one of the best hybrid SUVs in the market.

Pros
The ride is comfortable and well refined.
Fuel efficiency is one of the best-in-class.
The prices are quite low, only slightly more expensive than the non-hybrid variants.
Cons
The tech interface including the infotainment system feels dated.
Handling is not very good as it feels a bit too disconnected from the road.
The brake-pedal feels artificial and it is not the most progressive braking either.

2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Specs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric for a combined output of 219 hp. One of the electric motors powers the rear wheels, and the engine combined with the other motor powers the front wheels through a CVT, so all the hybrid variants are AWD.
  • Fuel Economy- The hybrid variants are rated for fuel efficiency of 41 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway, and 40 mpg combined. The plug-in variants are rated for 94 MPGe.
  • Safety- The NHTSA has awarded the RAV4 a 5-star rating for the crash tests. The IIHS gave it a ‘Good’ rating in almost all of the criteria.

2. 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid

Type: Small, Price: $30,960 – $36,750, Row-seating: 2-row

Source: www.global.honda

The CR-V received a major redesign for the year 2021, and it remains mostly unchanged for the year 2022. It is a comfortable and reliable SUV that does not cost a lot to maintain. The interior is nice and practical, but there are other SUVs with better interiors.

Why We Picked It: The CR-V offers a spacious cabin with plenty of room to comfortably seat at least three adults in the back seat. The headroom and legroom are abundant for both the rows, so taller passengers will not have any problem. The specs are quite impressive, given that it is a hybrid vehicle at this price point. It ticks all the right boxes.

The hybrid variants are all well priced and are not far off from their non-hybrid counterparts. The build quality is solid, and we expect no less from Honda. Just like the RAV4, it gets an eight years/100,000-mile warranty for the hybrid components alone.

Pros
Spacious and upmarket cabin
Comfortable seats and ride quality
Good visibility and easy to maneuver at slow speeds
Cons
Fuel economy is not that impressive
Infotainment feels dated and the controls can get annoying
Lackluster acceleration

2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid Specs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, which have a combined output of 212 hp. The engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard.
  • Fuel Economy- It has an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of 40 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 38 mpg combined, which is quite good. But the real-world fuel efficiency averages to 30-32 mpg combined.
  • Safety- It has got a five-star crash rating for frontal and side crashes but gets a four-star rating for the rollover crash test. Overall, it is awarded a five-star rating by the NHTSA.

3. 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid

Type: Mid-size, Price: $33,990 – $47,890, Row-seating: 3-row

Source: www.kia.com

The Sorento Hybrid is one of the two mid-size SUVs offered by Kia. The other one, the Telluride is a bit larger and heavier, and it does not come with a hybrid powertrain. The Sorento is one of the best hybrid mid-size SUVs in the market, and it is also available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. 

Why We Picked It: The Sorento is a frugal SUV that can deliver an impressive fuel economy. The cabin feels upmarket, and the materials used are all of premium quality. It also offers a lot of features as standard, including many advanced safety features such as pedestrian detection and lane keep assist.

The build quality is quite good, and the powertrain is well refined. It is one of the highest starting prices when compared to rivals, but it also offers a lot more in terms of features as well as luxury. The Sorento is equipped with the same driver assistance technology that has been lauded for its reliability and practicality.

Pros
Impressive fuel economy
Six-speed automatic rather than a CVT in most other hybrid cars
Advanced features and easy-to-use infotainment system
Cons
Third-row seats will not be able to seat adults comfortably
Cargo space is pretty low when the third row is up
Not good for towing

2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid Specs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor for a maximum power output of 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The PHEV gets an additional motor which increases the total output of 261 hp.
  • Fuel Economy- The FWD variant is rated for 39 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, while the AWD variant is rated for 36 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The PHEV gets a battery-only range of 32 miles and 72 MPGe combined.
  • Safety- It got a ‘Good’ rating for almost all of the crash tests conducted by the IIHS, and it was awarded a five-star safety rating by the NHTSA.

4. 2022 Ford Escape Hybrid

Type: Small, Price: $29,275 – $39,570, Row-seating: 2-row

Ford Escape

Source: www.ford.com

Ford Escape is a capable SUV that offers car-like driving dynamics. While the interior is practical and neatly laid out, it is not the most premium one on this list. Hard plastics are used for the lower panels and the doors.  

Why We Picked It: The cabin is remarkably spacious, and the seating is comfortable. There is ample legroom and headroom for both rows. The ride quality is quite good, and the powertrain is well refined. A plethora of advanced driver-assist features are available as standard.

There are a lot of storage areas inside the cabin. Even though the cargo space is average for the segment, the low floor makes it easier to load and unload cargo and store tall objects.

Pros
Long list of standard safety features
Spacious cabin
Ride quality is smooth
Cons
Low-quality cabin materials
Cargo space is not that impressive
Handling could be improved

2022 Ford Escape Hybrid Specs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle inline-four engine producing 165 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the electric motor, it produces 200hp in the hybrid variants and 221 hp in the PHEV variants.
  • Fuel Economy- The hybrid FWD variant is rated for 44 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 41 mpg combined. The AWD variants are rated for 43 mpg in the city, 37 on the highway, and 40 mpg combined. The PHEV variants are rated for 105 MPGe.
  • Safety- The NHTSA has awarded the escape a five-star rating for the crash tests. It is equipped with a whole suite of safety features such as automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist.

5. 2022 Kia Niro Hybrid

Type: Small, Price: $24,690 – $36,490, Row-seating: 2-row

Source: www.kia.com

It is one of the smallest SUVs on this list. And that offers several advantages and disadvantages. But overall, if the size is not one of your priorities, the Niro is a solid choice.

Why We Picked It: It is a very practical SUV given the relatively low starting price and the impressive fuel economy. The small size makes it easier to drive and maneuver through tight spots. It also makes it more agile and nimble, unlike most big SUVs.

The interior is a mix of both expensive materials and hard plastics. It is quite roomy for an SUV of this size. There is enough headroom and legroom for both rows. It is equipped with important driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.

Pros
It is nimble and easy to handle
Impressive fuel efficiency
Offers a lot of value for the money
Cons
No AWD option
Acceleration is not up to the mark
Small cargo area

2022 Kia Niro Hybrid Specs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 1.6-liter Atkinson cycle inline-four-cylinder engine producing 104 hp and 109 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the permanent magnet synchronous AC motor, it has a total output of 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque.
  • Fuel Economy- It is rated for fuel efficiency of 53 mpg in the city, 48 mpg on the highway, and 50 mpg combined. The plug-in hybrid boasts a combined efficiency of 105 MPGe, and it has a battery-only range of 26 miles.
  • Safety- The NHTSA awarded it four out of five stars for the crash test. The results are not particularly impressive, but it is in line with the rivals. 

6. 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid

Type: Mid-Size, Price: $36,995 – $42,695, Row-seating: 2-row

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid

Source: www.mitsubishicars.com

The Mitsubishi Outlander is only available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It has a 13.8 kWh Li-ion battery that can be charged to extend the range and performance of the car. It remains largely unchanged for the year 2022.

Why We Picked It: It is one of the most affordable plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs on sale. For comparison, the RAV4 PHEV starts above $40,000. Also, all-wheel drive is available as standard for all the variants. The cabin is spacious, and the cargo space is plenty.

It is equipped with a decent list of advanced driver-assist features. The 10 year/100,000 warranty provided for the PHEV components, Li-ion battery, and powertrain is unlike any other brand. Like most other PHEVs, the Outlander is not cut out for towing heavy objects.

Pros
Impressive cargo capacity
Relatively low starting price
Reassuringly long warranty
Cons
The design feels dated from all aspects
Below-average fuel economy
Handling and ride quality is not very good.

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Specs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder engine and two electric motors powered by the Li-ion battery pack. It can produce a combined power output of 221 hp.
  • Fuel Economy- It is rated for fuel efficiency of 26 mpg when driving on gasoline alone. The battery pack alone can provide a range of 24-miles. The PHEV is rated for 74 MPGe.
  • Safety- The NHTSA awarded it an overall five out of four stars for the crash test. The safety features include lane departure warning, cross-traffic alert, and a blind-spot monitor.

7. 2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid

Type: Mid-size, Price: $50,105 – $53,335, Row-seating: 3-row

Source: www.ford.com

The Explorer received a major refresh for the year 2020, so the design has remained largely unchanged for the year 2021. It is an incredibly versatile piece of machinery as it can perform a variety of different tasks with relative ease thanks to the powerful V6 engine under the hood.

Why We Picked It: For the Explorer, Ford prioritizes capability over anything. The hybrid powertrain is only available in the ‘Limited’ and ‘Platinum’ trim levels. Even though it is a hybrid, it can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Although the Explorer comes with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard, all-wheel drive (AWD) is available as an optional extra.

The RWD setup significantly improves both the handling as well as the towing capability. And the AWD system will intelligently distribute the power to tackle difficult terrains. The unibody chassis is also very capable and perfectly tuned to handle such high loads without breaking a sweat.

Pros
Impressive performance
Spacious cabin and ample cargo space
One of the best hybrid SUVs for towing
Cons
Hybrid powertrain is only available for expensive variants
Not enough space in the third row
The quality of materials inside the cabin could have been improved

2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid Specs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine and an electric motor that has a combined power output of 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
  • Fuel Economy- The hybrid RWD variant is rated for fuel efficiency of 27 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. With AWD equipped, it reduces to 23 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Although it is not as good as other hybrid SUVs, it is exponentially more capable than the others and more fuel-efficient than non-hybrid SUVs.
  • Safety- The NHTSA awarded it an overall five-star crash test rating. It also has a long list of advanced safety features.

8. 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

Type: Small, Price: $35,345, Row-seating: 2-row

Source: www.subaru.com

The hybrid version of the Subaru Crosstrek looks almost identical to the non-hybrid version. There are some minor differences, such as the wheels and the shiny trim. It is only available as a PHEV and offers some interesting features.

Why We Picked It: The Crosstrek Hybrid has a very composed ride and handling, unlike many SUVs. The suspension has undergone some changes to make it better suited for the roads. It delivers a significantly better fuel economy when compared to the non-hybrid variants, so the fuel costs will be much lower.

It offers a plethora of safety features such as Subaru’s proprietary EyeSight driver assist technology, which has earned it the IIHS Superior Front Crash Prevention title. The interior is practical, and the infotainment system is easy to use.

Pros
Composed handling and comfortable ride
Advanced safety features available as standard
Good fuel economy
Cons
A bit expensive when compared to rivals
Cargo space is not remarkable
Only one hybrid variant

2021 Subaru Crosstrek HybridSpecs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. It produces a combined power output of 148 hp. The engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
  • Fuel Economy- The gas-only variant is rated for combined fuel efficiency of 35 mpg. It has a range of 17 miles on the battery pack alone. The hybrid variant is rated for 90 MPGe.
  • Safety- It has a ‘Good’ rating for all the crash tests conducted by the IIHS. And it was awarded a five-star crash-test score by the NHTSA.

9. 2021 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid

Type: Small, Price: $40,160 – 46,910, Row-seating: 2-row

Source: www.lexus.com

The NX 300h is a luxury car that prioritizes comfort and fuel efficiency. It offers a lot of advanced features at such competitive prices.

Why We Picked It: The cabin is quite spacious and comfortable. All the materials used inside the cabin are of premium quality. It offers plenty of legroom and headroom for the passengers in both rows.

The excellent fuel efficiency is one of the highlights of this car. But not a lot of power is compromised to achieve that fuel efficiency. It is still pretty quick off the line and responsive to throttle inputs.

Pros
Comfortable ride quality
Excellent fuel efficiency
Spacious interior
Cons
Relatively small cargo space
Significant amount of body roll
Distracting infotainment system

2021 Lexus NX 300h Hybrid Specs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors. The combined power output is 194 hp. The engine is paired to a CVT.
  • Fuel Economy- The NX 300h has a fuel efficiency of 33 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
  • Safety- It was awarded a five-star rating for the overall crash tests conducted by the NHTSA.

10. 2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e Hybrid

Type: Small Price: $63,700 Row-seating: 2-row

2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e Hybrid

Source: www.bmwusa.com

The X5 hybrid is a luxury SUV that focuses more on the performance side. It is extremely quick off the line even though it has better fuel efficiency than most other luxury SUVs in the same segment.

Why We Picked It: BMW claims that the X5 xDrive45e will be able to go from zero to sixty in 5.3 seconds. This is blazingly quick for an SUV, but considering that it has a hybrid powertrain and the added weight, it is seriously impressive. It also has a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds, which is also very impressive.

The interior is spacious and supremely comfortable. All the components are premium and upmarket, as you would expect in a high-end BMW. There is plenty of legroom and headroom for both the rows and the cargo space is also adequate.

Pros
Luxurious interior
Very good acceleration and handling
Plenty of options and packages to customize
Cons
Adding options will get expensive
Exterior styling could be a bit more sporty
Visibility is not the best due to several blindspots

2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e HybridSpecs

  • Engine- It is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and electric motors. It has a combined output of 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.
    • Fuel Economy- It has a combined fuel efficiency of 50 MPGe, and it can drive 30 miles on the battery pack alone.
  • Safety- The NHTSA awarded the X5 four out of five stars for the overall result of the crash tests.
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Why choose a Hybrid SUV overall?

Hybrid powertrains are highly fuel-efficient, so the fuel costs will be lower if you choose a hybrid SUV. Also, they do not pollute as much as non-hybrid powertrains. This means you can reduce your carbon footprint and also get concessions and incentives from the government.

Pros
Low fuel costs
Self-charging
Less pollution reduces your carbon footprint
Smoother acceleration
Government incentives and concessions
Cons
More expensive than non-hybrid engines
Non-hybrid engines tend to be more powerful

FAQs

[dipl_faq_page_schema _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dipl_faq_page_schema_item faq_question=”1. Which hybrid suv is the best rated?” _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” question_heading_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

BMW X5 xDrive45e is the overall best rated SUV in recent times.

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Kia Niro is the best hybrid small SUV.

[/dipl_faq_page_schema_item][dipl_faq_page_schema_item faq_question=”3. Which 3-row suv hybrid has the best gas mileage?” _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” question_heading_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

The 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid is a 3-row SUV offering the best gas mileage. The estimated fuel economy is 37 mpg, combining both city and highway.

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