Every Hybrid Crossover and SUV You Can Buy in 2022
Car and Driver
Hybrid used to be a word in the automotive industry that described some slow-moving, spaceship-shaped, expensive object. Today the hybridized version of some SUVs now offers the most horsepower, with the best acceleration, all while keeping the most miles between you and the gas pump. Thanks to high-capacity batteries and more effective software communicating between electric motor and combustion engine, the hybrid models are the cool kids now. Well, almost as cool as the plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle versions.
None of the SUVs and crossovers on this list need to be charged, so there’s no need to untangle the 50-Amp extension cord to keep them going. Just use them like any other SUV, and they’ll return solid mileage while transporting your family in comfort and safety. This list does not include vehicles with 48-volt mild-hybrid systems. These systems, such as the eTorque technology available with the Jeep Wrangler, add no additional peak power or engine-off electric range and are primarily employed to quickly stop-start the engine to conserve fuel and recapture energy while braking.
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With compact crossovers supplanting sedans as the heart of the American car market, no manufacturer can afford not to match the others model for model. So, of course, Ford builds an Escape Hybrid, and has for decades now, too. Combining a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine with an 88-kilowatt electric motor, the Ford Hybrid system has been proven over time. Despite having a smaller gas tank than non-hybrid models, the front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid has an EPA-estimated 582 miles of range between fill-ups, the most of any Escape. All-wheel drive is also available.
Base price: $29,740Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 41 mpgCargo capacity: 33 cubic feet
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Ford added a hybrid model for its recently redesigned Explorer, a first for the three-row SUV. This new hybrid SUV combines a 3.3-liter V-6 with an electric motor for a combined output of 318 horsepower. Not too shabby. The setup also helps the Explorer maintain a respectable 5000-pound tow rating. The tradeoff is mileage that isn’t that much better than most gas-powered SUVs of the Explorer’s size–the EPA rates it at a combined 27 mpg when equipped with rear-wheel drive. That number drops to 25 mpg with all-wheel drive. The Explorer handles well, but the hybrid drivetrain needs refinement. The transitions between electric power and the gas engine are abrupt, and the spongy brake pedal only adds to an unnatural feel. Still, it wears environmental virtue in its name and that will impress a few of your neighbors. Maybe.
Base price: $51,000 (est)Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 27 mpgCargo capacity: 18 cubic feet
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The Honda CR-V Hybrid is easy to live with. We would know, we just completed a 40,000-mile long-term test with one. The hybrid drivetrain pairs a 2.0-liter inline-four with two electric motors that combine for 212 horsepower. That’s 22 horses beyond the standard 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four that now powers all non-hybrid CR-Vs. All-wheel drive is also standard on hybrids, as the rear wheels are driven by the electric motor when slippage is sensed up front. Fuel economy, no surprise, is dang good. The EPA rates the CR-V Hybrid at 40 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 38 mpg combined. During our own 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, our CR-V Hybrid managed only 29 mpg, but it achieved 400 miles of driving range on a single tank.
Base price: $32,835Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 38 mpgCargo capacity: 39 cubic feet
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Think of the Kia Sorento as a four-cylinder version of the Telluride with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. At the heart of the hybrid system is a 177-hp 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that combines with a 59-horsepower electric motor for a total of 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque driving the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA gave it a combined rating of 37 mpg and 36 mpg on the highway, but during our own highway test, the Sorento Hybrid underperformed at 31 mpg.
Base price: $35,305Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 37 mpgCargo capacity: 16 cubic feet
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Hyundai upped its hybrid game this year, adding a hybrid powertrain to the mid-size Santa Fe. Under the hood are a 178-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four and a 59-hp electric motor. A six-speed automatic is the only transmission for the hybrid. Transitions between electric and gas power are smooth, and the Santa Fe’s cabin is a delightfully peaceful one. We beat the EPA-estimated 30-mpg highway rating by 1 mpg during our own testing, but more impressive is the hybrid model’s 540 miles of highway driving range on a single tank of gas.
Base price: $35,145Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 32 mpgCargo capacity: 36 cubic feet
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The Hyundai Tucson is smaller than the Santa Fe, but its compact size doesn’t hold it back. The Tucson comes standard with all-wheel drive and gets an EPA-estimated 37 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. That betters the regular 2.5-liter gas-powered Tucson by 13 and 7 mpg, respectively. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph is improved by 1.7 seconds compared to the base-engine, all-wheel-drive Tucson.
Base price: $30,595Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 37 mpgCargo capacity: 39 cubic feet
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Not to be confused with the Kia Niro plug-in hybrid, or Kia Niro EV, the Kia Niro hybrid uses a 1.6-liter inline-four and an electric motor for a combined 139 horsepower. There is no “gas-only” model, which sets it apart from rivals such as the Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen Taos, and Subaru Crosstrek. It’s the most affordable hybrid on this list. For just under $26,000, the Niro gets an EPA-estimated 49-mpg combined fuel-economy rating, the best for any hybrid sold today.
Base price: $25,905Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 49 mpgCargo capacity: 19 cubic feet
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Finally, a redesigned Lexus NX is here. Entering a completely new generation, with sharper looks, LED headlights, and more cargo space, the NX appears all grown-up in the subcompact SUV luxury segment. The 350h uses two electric motors and a 2.5-liter inline-four to deliver a combined output of 239 horsepower. The plug-in-hybrid 450h+ is the quicker of the two with 302 horsepower from its plug-in-hybrid powertrain. Both come standard with all-wheel drive, but the NX350h starting price is $14,600 cheaper.
Base price: $42,125Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 39 mpgCargo capacity: 23 cubic feet
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The Lexus RX created the luxury crossover class when it was introduced for the 1999 model year. It was also one of the first luxury hybrid vehicles. And it’s still one of the most popular. Two electric motors pair with a 3.5-liter V-6 in the hybrid for a total of 308 horsepower, but this is no performance SUV. The Lexus RX is built to eat up miles with minimal fuss and, in the case of the 450h, return solid mileage along the way. The 450h is rated by the EPA to deliver 30 mpg combined while the three-row 450hL is at 29 mpg.
Base price: $49,345Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 30 mpgCargo capacity: 18 cubic feet
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This is one of those hybrid crossovers where the hybrid part is a much bigger piece of the equation than the crossover aspect. The Lexus UX250h is a subcompact with minimal back-seat space and not much cargo room either. But it’s EPA rated at up to 42 mpg combined, making it the most fuel-efficient hybrid SUV on the list. Most models of the UX hybrid, however, have a slightly lower estimate of 39 mpg. The UX comes with a full breadth of active-safety features as standard equipment, which is rare in this price range. The Lexus UX also drives well with quick steering and a nicely sorted suspension.
Base price: $36,425Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 42 mpgCargo capacity: 17 cubic feet
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The Toyota Highlander Hybrid uses Toyota’s well-proven hybrid drivetrain that combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. It’s a big step forward from the previous unit that barely managed to out-mpg the standard model. Official EPA numbers have the two-wheel-drive Highlander Hybrid delivering 36 mpg in the city, 35 on the highway, and 36 combined. The standard Highlander, powered by Toyota’s ubiquitous 3.5-liter V-6, can only manage 21 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway, and 24 combined. Which means the Hybrid gets 50 percent better mileage.
Base price: $40,270Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 36 mpgCargo capacity: 16 cubic feet
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The standard 203-hp Toyota RAV4 is a slug. But add the hybrid system to create the RAV4 Hybrid, and total output rises to 219 horsepower with much better low-end torque. That improves the zero-to-60-mph time by 0.7 second to a respectable 7.4 seconds. Unlike the Ford Escape, the RAV4 Hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive. Add in its EPA rating of 40 mpg combined, and the RAV4 hybrid is easily the best model in the lineup. As hybrid SUVs go, this is a solid combination of performance, fuel efficiency, and practical size that is likely to fit the needs of a wide variety of buyers. The RAV4 was the fourth-bestselling vehicle in the U.S. in 2021 after the Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500, and Ford F-series pickups.
Base price: $30,290Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 40 mpgCargo capacity: 37 cubic feet
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Remember the Toyota Venza? Well, forget that Venza, the new one is offered as a hybrid only. And a relatively large hybrid at that, with electronic on-demand all-wheel drive, EPA rated at 39 mpg in combined driving. The trick here is Toyota’s well-proven combination of its 2.5-liter engine and hybrid drivetrain that’s rated at 219 horsepower. It’s a sweet machine, even if it’s more expensive and not as efficient as the RAV4 Hybrid it shares a powertrain and platform with. It’s much better than the old Venza.
Base price: $34,105Fuel economy, EPA Combined: 39 mpgCargo capacity: 28 cubic feet
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