Best Hybrid SUV
Hybrid SUV Options
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a popular option for a hybrid SUV with AWD and good mileage [1][2][5]. The Subaru Forester is not a hybrid but has good MPG and the best AWD system in its class [1]. The Toyota Corolla Cross, Lexus RX Hybrid, and Subaru Forester Hybrid are also recommended options [2]. The Hyundai Sante Fe Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid are affordable options [3]. The Ford Maverick is a good option with a hybrid drivetrain and good build quality [4].
Winter Driving
Winter tires are highly recommended for safe driving in Minnesota winters, regardless of the car's weight or AWD capabilities [1].
Budget Considerations
The RAV4 Hybrid new is around $30k, but there may be a long wait period [4]. The C-HR is a hybrid option within the budget but may not be considered a traditional SUV [2]. The Lexus NX350H is a good deal for around $50k and is worth considering [4].
Reliability and Quality
There are concerns about the reliability of Hyundai and Kia products, but they have significantly improved and offer 10-year warranties [4][5]. The C-HR's reliability and quality may vary [2].
Hybrid SUV Worth It?
Hybrid SUVs can be worth it if you do a lot of city or stop-and-go driving [3]. The cost of a hybrid vehicle should be weighed against the potential savings in gas and how long you plan to keep the vehicle [3]. Minivans, such as the Toyota Sienna Hybrid and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, can also be good options for fuel efficiency and storage space [3]. The driving range and availability of fast charging should also be considered when choosing a hybrid or electric vehicle [3].
Additional Considerations
Consider the interior and luxury features of the car, as some find the RAV4's interior cramped and not luxurious [5]. An EV like the Mach E or Ioniq5 may also be worth considering for fuel and maintenance savings, but availability may be limited in certain areas [5]. A CPO Volvo XC60 or XC90 T8/Recharge is also suggested for comfort and driver assist tech [5].
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I have a Civic and I love it. But it really doesn't handle snow well at all. I'm looking for something a little bigger with more storage but not huge like a Chevy Suburban. I want to test drive a Rav4 or CRV. Any other cars with Hybrid options I should look into? I'm looking at...
- The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a popular option for a hybrid SUV with AWD.
- The Subaru Forester is not a hybrid but has good MPG and the best AWD system in its class.
- Winter tires are highly recommended for safe driving in Minnesota winters, regardless of the car's weight or AWD capabilities.
- Buying a used RAV4 or CRV from the Twin Cities/metro area for around $5k is a possibility, but rust may be an issue.
- The original poster is looking for a newer car with the latest features and luxury, likely a few years used.
Are you looking at buying new or used/CPO?
The RAV4 is the most popular Hybrid SUV as it will come standard with AWD and tends to come out cheaper than a similar CR-V Hybrid, as Toyota tends to offer more incentives than Honda on new units. Ford also offers a hybrid version on the New-For-2020 Escape as well, and pricing is in line with Toyota, although I’m not sure what offers they have going on currently. I’m biased towards Toyota as I work at a Toyota Dealer in Florida.
Probably a few years used. Like 2018 or 2019. Most likely not brand new unless you can convince me lol. But I think financially it's the way to go.
Hello there fellow Minnesotan! Have you looked into the Subaru Forester? I know it’s not a hybrid but it still gets class leading MPG and has the best AWD system in the class.
You could get an older RAV4 or CRV for about 5k from the twin cities/metro area. Rust may be an issue, but besides that they would be reliable. If you have space, the SUV could be a designated winter vehicle that gets stored or sold after winter. Otherwise just try winter tires. Are you in Northern MN?
Well I think I would want a more recent car just because I like to have the latest features (and luxury) and definitely want a hybrid which only came out for those models in recent years. I don't have extra garage space but my condo has additional outdoor parking I may be able to use. But I want it to be a year round vehicle :). I'm actually in southern Minnesota in Rochester. My coworker just got a used car from Hertz in the cities. She said no one else could beat their prices. Their website sucks so next time I'm up there I might check it out.
Alright. Well a newer RAV4 or CRV would be a good car, reliable and safe, and probably has pretty good features. Either of which would be good in the snow.
Completely regardless of the car itself you have to get dedicated winter tires. For snow driving the tires are much more important than the car itself. Buy the best winter tires possible (google for the latest comparison tests of the exact dimension you need). Any car, no matter if brand new , AWD, SUV etc is unsafe on snow with stock all-season tires, low grip tire = horrible braking distance and starts sliding in corners. Tires are the most important part on snow / ice by far. Make a huge difference.
Really? This is the first I am hearing this. None of my many coworkers that I've asked use winter tires and they all get by fine. I thought weight and AWD made more of a difference. My usual drive to work is only 4 minutes so I'm not worried, but occasionally I have to drive an hour to a different location and historically, with my luck those days always come with heavy snow. Earlier this year my 1 hour commute turned into 2 hours. I was barely getting by and semis were flying past me :(
Edit: Also I tried searching /r/minnesota and /r/rochestermn and that seems to be the general consensus as well. That they're more helpful on smaller cars but not so much trucks and SUVs. Not trying to search what I want to hear, but I just want to know your thoughts on this.
This is absolute nonsense that gets hundreds, maybe even thousands of people killed each year (no, I am not exaggerating at all). More weight is worse, not better, obviously a heavier car is more difficult to slow down and needs more grip to corner. And all AWD does is make the car accelerate quicker on a slippery surface, therefore increasing the risk of crashing bc you are going faster.
Tires are the only part of a car that touch the ground and the only thing that actually changes the grip of a car. All the rest of the car can do is to use the grip that the tires offer, if the tires lack grip absolutely nothing can be done to change it. As an analogy imagine taking the best ice skater in the world but instead of ice skates he has to use normal shoes on ice, he would lose a race vs pretty much anyone on ice skating shoes, and even more importantly if there was an obstacle he couldn't brake or swerve no matter how good he was and how hard he tried, he would just slide. That's basically a great car with stock all seasons vs any car on winter tires. Obviously every 2WD car still has 4 wheels / tires, AWD doesn't increase the number of tires, all AWD does differently is to use four instead of two of them for accelerating. Any car, no matter if brand new , AWD, SUV etc is unsafe on snow with stock all-season tires, low grip tire = horrible braking distance and starts sliding in corners. Tires are the most important part on snow / ice by far. Make a huge difference.
There are plenty of videos where you can clearly see the difference: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=all+season+tires+winter+tires
And don't just buy any cheap winter tires, google tests and get the best ones, never try so "save" on tires.
Looking for a new car for the wife. Shes pretty adamant she wants a hybrid SUV!
Saw the corolla cross and rav4, what are your views?
Anyone have an experience or know any better in this space?
Budget 90-115k
Advise would be amazing <3
- The Toyota Corolla Cross and RAV4 Hybrid are popular options for hybrid SUVs.
- The Subaru Forester Hybrid is also a good option with a hybrid engine and two electric motors.
- The Toyota C-HR is a hybrid option within the budget but may not be considered a traditional SUV.
- The Lexus RX Hybrid is a more expensive option, even used.
- The RAV4 Hybrid new is around 120k, which may be out of the budget.
- The C-HR's reliability and quality may vary, and the wait time for a new car may vary depending on the location and demand.
CHR and corolla cross (both hybrid) fit your budget.
Also VW ID.4 if you want to go full electric.
Thanks :) is the C-HR considered reliable/good? Ive always heard so so anout CRVs so not sure
The C-HR is by Toyota. I think you’ve mistaken it for the Honda HRV. Not sure if the C-HR qualifies as an SUV but it’s a hybrid and within your price range. Definitely have a look at it.
The new Subaru Forester Hybrid should be a good option. It offers a hybrid engine with two electric motors plus a small turbo Atkinson cycle petrol engine. Each engine will have a designated job, and the smaller engine will start and recharge the battery. A giant touchscreen system comes standard in the Base Premium and Sport trim levels. An even larger touchscreen is optional in the Sport model and is standard on the Limited and Touring trim levels. All trim levels come with the most updated version of Starlink, Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity.
How much is a used Lexus RX Hybrid?
These would easily go for 130k++ depending on mileage pre-covid. With a shortage of used cars expect higher prices now.
RAV4 hybrid new is120k.
So, I'd like to find a sub better on gas millage but first, the cost of the actual vehicles are so damn expensive like everything right now. New hybrid Jeep Cherokees could bea good fit. but for 65-70k I'm guessing it mathmatically doesnt check out. all electric SUV have hard...
- Hybrid SUVs can be worth it if you do a lot of city or stop-and-go driving.
- There are many affordable options for hybrid SUVs, such as the Hyundai Sante Fe Hybrid and Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
- Minivans, such as the Toyota Sienna Hybrid and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, can also be good options for fuel efficiency and storage space.
- The cost of a hybrid vehicle should be weighed against the potential savings in gas and how long you plan to keep the vehicle.
- The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid and Jeep Wrangler 4xe are also popular options.
- The driving range and availability of fast charging should also be considered when choosing a hybrid or electric vehicle.
I’ve had two hybrid cars in my life. Currently, I am driving one as a daily.
Paying a lot of money for a hybrid car isn’t necessary. There are a lot of great options. What is it that you’re looking for personally? It sounds like you want a mid-size SUV?
Not a sales person - but recently went through the same dilemma. I was spending around $800 a month in gas for my ‘21 Chevy Blazer. I looked a few Hybrid options (Ford Explorer, Kia Sorento, Volvo XC60) but doing the math the increase in cost of the vehicle vs the actual savings in gas did not make sense for me. I drive about 200 miles a day, 5 days a week, and mostly highway.
I wound up going electric with a Kia EV6. It’s spacious and comfortable. Fits our family of 4 great. I charge at home and our electric bill increased about $80 a month. My monthly savings is about $660 factoring in the increased loan amount, no gas, maintenance, etc.
Got an Ioniq 5 about 90% the same car as yours. They are really great cars. How's the fast charging where you live? I assume since your driving 2/3 the range every day, level 2 home charging is probably ideal.
They are worth it if you can afford to buy one, and if you do the type of driving that benefits most from a hybrid powertrain, which is more biased towards the city and stop and go.
Financially, I disagree. I think there are several factors to consider like what is the delta in cost for gas vs hybrid, how many miles do you drive it per week, month, or year, gas prices, and how long do you plan to keep the vehicle.
For us, the hybrid version was $10k+. We drive 10k miles per year and plan to keep it for 5 years. Financially, factoring gas costs into it, we'd come out saving ~$6k by going the gas route vs hybrid.
I acknowledge I'm not accounting for resale value but that is more squirrely to me
Yes. Midsize. I need enough space to move things around for work and travel. I suppose it might make sense to just stick with the basic gas intake. Probably one that takes regular gas vs premium that I currently have to pay. I’d like an all electric but the market isn’t there yet on affordability and options to my knowledge.
The Hyundai Sante Fe Hybrid is a pretty nice vehicle. I’m not sure if it’s big enough to fit your needs. Another choice would be a Highlander hybrid, but they’re a pain in the ass to get in at the moment. Both very affordable options with great ride quality.
You might look at minivans. All the Toyota Siennas are hybrid and get ~35 mpg. We pull a camper with ours and still get ~25 mpg, which is crazy to me. Lots of storage space in the back, and can come with AWD. I think the Chrysler Pacifica comes with some hybrid options too.
I know this isn't an SUV, but my daily driver is a Lexus es300h and it's deceptively spacious for a sedan. Lexus have done an amazing job maximizing trunk and car space and you can fit way more in there than you'd first imagine.
Fuel economy is amazing, too. I average about 5L/100km (around 45mpg, I think) and my cruising range is 1,000km (about 620 miles).
It's incredibly quiet inside, too. When I close the moonroof and lid, it's so quiet that my passengers have trouble saying if the car is on or off.
Toyota highlander V6 hybrid 28-30 mpg (stopped at 2019) models Or the 4 cylinder hybrid 30-35 MPG
Plenty of space + good mileage and can be found in the mid 20s price range
My wife has a 2022 Ford plug in hybrid escape absolutely loves it. On a full charge she gets 60km plus. When the engine kicks in it recharges the battery so she ends up getting even more electric autonomy. She previously had Chevrolet Volt and the Escape is so much better.
Just came here to say you're out of your mind paying $70-80k for any Jeep
I have a 4xe, I’d beg to differ, averaging 33+ mpg not to be confused with mpge.
The suv is amazing!
It also helps that the federal government is helping foot some of the bill…
I’m in the market for a hybrid SUV and wow, it’s just unreal, in a bad way.
Initially I figured out RAV4 would be a nice, safe long lasting car but this is what apparently everyone’s been thinking and hence there is a 6-8 month wait period on top of a dealer markup of anywhere b...
- The Toyota RAV4 has a long wait period and a dull interior.
- The Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige and Hyundai Tuscon Limited Hybrid have good tech and interior, but there are concerns about their reliability.
- The Ford Maverick is a good option with a hybrid drivetrain and good build quality.
- The Lexus NX350H is a good deal for around $50k and is worth considering.
- There are concerns about the reliability of Hyundai and Kia products, but they have significantly improved and offer 10-year warranties.
- The Lexus 350h can use regular unleaded gas instead of premium gas.
- Personal experience with Hyundai and Kia products has been excellent.
I'll probably sound like a broken record since I just recommended the same thing earlier, but have you looked into a Ford Maverick perhaps? They start at about $20,000, have a hybrid drivetrain, and have the exact same underpinnings as the Ford Escape despite having a small truck bed (it's basically just that, an SUV with a tiny truck bed). Doing a bit of looking I found that a decent amount of them that were only marked up about 1-3k, which is remarkable in this market. You might be able to talk the price down as well.
I can give other options as well but I just want to know your thoughts on this idea as well
I’ll check it out but I’m apprehensive of the Ford hybrids due to the user reviews for their hybrid cars.
Can you please suggest other options preferably in the budget of the cars mentioned above? Thanks 🙏
Sure. I will say when it comes to the Maverick that there would probably be better build quality here since this is a built from the ground up hybrid car with the exception of the top of the line model, so it'll probably hold up a lot better
Let's see here. Toyotas are probably the best hybrids you can buy, but seeing as they are horribly expensive, it might not be worth looking into unless you see one used at your price point.
Kia and Hyundai hybrids have been known to be relatively reliable, and while some of their engines do indeed have problems at some point down the road, most of the people I've met with them were pretty happy with them and didn't really have any issues. It does happen, but probably not as much as what's shown. These will still have markups, but could also still be doable
If you're willing to wait for the Honda and are ok with the markup, as you will find these in every car in this market unfortunately, this may be your best bet as it is a happy medium between reliability and a lower markup
The stigma of Kia Hyundai being unreliable isn’t that true, they’ve significantly improved and they offer 10 year warranties. They still aren’t as reliable as Toyota/Honda though. I would not go for the CRV as the new 2023 CRV is coming to dealers soon so buying the 22 right before the 23 would leave you with an older generation vehicle. You can probably find a mid level NX for around $55k but maintenance would not be high as Lexus is probably the most reliable brand and compared to other luxury brands an oil change etc is much cheaper. If the NX is at msrp and you’re comfortable with the price, I would go for it. You’ll get all the tech you want and a very reliable suv.
Yeah, the premium NX350H has most of the tech features I want + would cost only a few thousand dollars more than these highly marked up Hybrid SUVs due to no markup on the Lexus.
The only thing I’d like to know (since I’m not so well aware of the Lexus). Is getting a Lexus Hybrid for around $50k worth it?
For $50k the NX hybrid is a good deal, it will last you a long time. I suggest going on the Lexus website and building a spec you’re comfortable with and then trying to find a similar one at a dealer
Where are you reading that the Hyundai/Kia products are unreliable?!? https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-vehicle-dependability-study
I’ve seen quite a few people post on Reddit about Hyundai engines being unreliable and blowing up in a couple of years. Same for Kia.
Most of the blown up engine posts are related to their older cars from 2014-2017 for which people have missed recalls or the problem wasn't fixed properly.
Buying a new one with their new engine lineup should not be an issue. The Sportage and Tucson have both received great reviews and are considered pretty reliable. Their hybrid turbo engines are one of their best and most reliable in their current lineup.
If anything Honda has slipped in reliability in the past few years, yet since they're Japanese, people will sing their praises. Same reason Subaru, a pretty unreliable brand is considered reliable because they're Japanese.
Best to do your due diligence, rather than listen to fanboys of Japanese brands. The Sportage is one of the best and most luxurious SUVs in its class. The 2023 CRV is overpriced and still not at the same level in its highest trim. Try to look for dealers in a wider range to look for MSRP. Never pay over it, or try to negotiate some extras if they force you.
I can tell you from personal experience that this is more about the internet then anything else. My family is at about ten of their products over the last eight years and they've been excellent.
Just an fyi, for the Lexus 350h premium gas is "recommended for best performance" but it is absolutely safe to use regular unleaded (89 octane) gas in it. Per the user manual. Just a heads up, because I had confusion about that as well before researching
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I’m talking about the Luxury package. Yes, it’s going to be more expensive than any other cars mentioned but I was more concerned with the maintenance.
I drive an insane amount of miles for work and live in a sprawling metro. I’m looking to purchase a hybrid suv that provides great mileage, stylish interior and does well in cold climates. This is a purchase I intend to keep for a long time and 50k is my max. I have been research...
- The Toyota RAV4 is a popular choice for a hybrid SUV with good mileage, but some find the interior cramped and not luxurious.
- The 2022 Lexus NX and the Venza are also recommended options.
- Some suggest considering an EV like the Mach E or Ioniq5 for fuel and maintenance savings, but availability may be limited in certain areas.
- A CPO Volvo XC60 or XC90 T8/Recharge is also suggested for comfort and driver assist tech.
50k Max? Check
36 mpg? Check
Stylish Interior? Check
AWD aka good in cold climates? Check
non cramped interior? Checkkkkk
This did not get the upvotes it deserves.
Everybody wants to do minivan shit, but they don't want to buy a minivan. lol
Check for a CPO Volvo XC60 or XC90 T8/Recharge! Very comfortable, lots of helpful driver assist tech, and good power/mpg. Plus CPO has a 5 year/unlimited mileage warranty.
Can you charge an EV at home, what about a Mach E or Ioniq5? If you drive 20k miles per year you’d easily save $1000 a year in fuel alone over a car that gets 40MPG. Not to mention the maintenance and depreciation benefit.
The Ioniq sounds intriguing. Too bad they aren’t out until spring and only certain states
They're already at dealers up and down both coasts and people are already taking delivery, see here r/Ioniq5. Where do you live, you say major metro area and most major metro areas that I can think of are in states that are on the list. A lot of people are traveling to get them just because all the dealers near them are marking them up. People on the sub are also saying that inventory is dropping at dealers regularly unlike a lot of the other new EVs. It's up to you on your comfort and interest level but plenty of people are traveling for them.
Hello!
Looking at buying a new vehicle and we're in the market for a Hybrid SUV. I was strongly considering a Hyundai or KIA but recently found out the two models (Tucson and Sorento) I'm looking at have turbo engines. I also only recently came across articles detailing some of ...
- Toyota/Lexus, Honda, and Ford/Lincoln are recommended for their hybrid drivetrain design and durability.
- Modern turbo engines are generally reliable as long as oil is changed regularly.
- The electric motor in a hybrid SUV should provide the boost instead of the turbo, but the turbo can make a small engine produce larger engine performance numbers and reduce the weight of the car.
- Turbo lag may be a concern for some drivers in stop-and-go traffic, but it is not a major issue for most.
- The 2.4L ecotec engine is known to have issues.
- Carbon buildup may be an issue with direct injection, but port injection can help minimize it.
- I don't think so
- Modern turbos are pretty reliable unless you're the type of person who doesn't change their oil ever
- That being said, Toyota makes the best hybrids and the vast majority of them are not turbocharged (the new Tundra being a notable exception)
This. Just change the oil regularly and you'll be fine. If it's a 10k mile interval and you drive all city, make it a 5k interval like what I do. It's cheap insurance.
Toyota and Ford actually source the eCVT from the same manufacturer so Ford eCVT is just as reliable as Toyota. Can't say the same for the motor, however, I've heard good things about the Ford 2.5 Atkinson cycle motor
You would think that the electric motor would provide the boost instead of the turbo. The most proven hybrid system is Toyota's.
I would not call the turbo a red flag, but it does seem redundant and adds additional complexity to an already complex system.
The only argument for turbos not being good for stop and go is turbo lag maybe? But I don’t think the average driver would care about that. Turbos can make a small engine produce larger engine performance numbers. This in turn reduces weight of the car. The fact that it’s a hybrid has nothing to do with it.
Modern turbo engines are just as reliable as NA engines. It's not like it was back in the 80s. They are just fine for stop and go and are subjected to extensive reliability testing.
Unless it's a ea888 with massive carbon buildup issues
there are NA engines with issues as well, for example the 2.4L ecotec is pretty junky.
I believe that's only an issue with direct injection. If it's port and direct injection, the port injection helps keep the carbon buildup to a min
best hybrid suv
Here are a few key considerations
Fuel Efficiency: Look for a hybrid SUV with good fuel efficiency to save money on gas and reduce your carbon footprint.
Cargo Space: Consider the amount of cargo space you need for your lifestyle. Some hybrid SUVs sacrifice cargo space for better fuel efficiency, so make sure the vehicle can accommodate your needs.
Safety Features: Look for a hybrid SUV with advanced safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking, to keep you and your passengers safe on the road.
Technology: Consider the technology features you want, such as a touchscreen infotainment system, smartphone integration, and advanced driver assistance features.
Price: Hybrid SUVs can be more expensive than their non-hybrid counterparts, so consider your budget when making a decision.
Recommendation: The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a popular choice for the best hybrid SUV due to its excellent fuel efficiency (41 mpg combined), spacious interior, and advanced safety features. It also comes with a variety of standard technology features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Another great option is the Honda CR-V Hybrid, which offers similar fuel efficiency (38 mpg combined) and safety features, as well as a comfortable ride and spacious cabin. Ultimately, the best hybrid SUV for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.