With the increasing demand for eco-friendly vehicles, plug-in hybrid SUVs have become popular among consumers.
These vehicles offer several advantages over traditional hybrids and pure gas engine SUVs, such as improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and better performance.
Plug-in hybrids have larger batteries than traditional hybrids, allowing them to travel longer distances on electric power alone. This makes them more cost effective and efficient for daily commutes while still providing the flexibility of a gas engine for longer trips.
In this article, I’ll share my top 10 picks for the best plug-in hybrid SUVs for 2023. Each SUV on this list is selected based on its overall performance, features, and value.
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Hyundai Tucson PHEV
- Starting Price: $37,300 MSRP
- EV range: 33 miles
- MPG on gas: 35 Combined
The Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid is a top contender in the SUV market, offering an impressive balance between performance and fuel efficiency.
As a plug-in hybrid, it combines an electric motor with a gasoline engine, allowing you to drive on electric power alone for short distances or to use the gasoline engine for longer trips.
The Tucson PHEV boasts an impressive all-electric range of up to 32 miles, which is more than enough for most short drives.
Under the hood, it has a turbocharged 1.6L four-cylinder with an electric motor that produces up to 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
The interior of the Tucson PHEV is also a major highlight, featuring a sleek and modern design that is stylish and functional. You’ll find many features, including a large infotainment display, advanced safety systems, and comfortable seats that can be heated and cooled.
Overall, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a fuel-efficient and practical SUV that doesn’t skimp on features or style.
Subaru Crosstrek PHEV
- Starting Price: $36,845 MSRP
- EV range: 17 miles
- MPG on gas: 35 Combined
The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is a smart choice if you are looking for a compact, urban, driving-friendly hybrid.
The Subaru Crosstrek PHEV boasts a spacious interior, standard all-wheel drive, and advanced safety features.
Its 2.0-liter engine combined with the electric motor offers a total output of 148 horsepower delivered to all wheels by a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It has an 8.80kWh battery that allows it to travel up to 17 miles in EV mode.
This vehicle offers an affordable entry point into the world of plug-in hybrids without compromising on features and performance.
Toyota RAV4 Prime
- Starting Price: $42,340 MSRP
- EV range: 42 miles
- MPG on gas: 38 Combined
The Toyota RAV4 Prime is a plug-in hybrid SUV that boasts impressive performance, fuel efficiency, and advanced features.
Under the hood, the RAV4 Prime is equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that produce a combined 302 horsepower, it is one of the most powerful hybrids on the market right now.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the RAV4 Prime delivers an EPA-estimated 94 MPGe when running on electric power, and a combined 38 mpg when running on gas alone. It also offers an impressive all-electric range of up to 42 miles, which is among the best in its class.
The interior of the RAV4 Prime is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of room for passengers and cargo.
It comes equipped with a large infotainment display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a premium JBL sound system. Safety features include a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 suite of driver assistance technologies.
The RAV4 Prime has a higher base price compared to some of its competitors, such as the Hyundai Tucson. While Tucson offers a lower starting price, it has a more attractive interior and more features. However, the RAV4 Prime has a more powerful engine, better fuel efficiency, and a longer range in EV mode. Ultimately, the decision between the two will depend on the buyer’s priorities and preferences.
Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid
- Starting Price: $40,500 MSRP
- EV range: 37 miles
- MPG on gas: 40 Combined
The Blue Oval crossover offers practicality, fuel efficiency, comfortable ride, car-like handling, and intuitive features.
The Ford Escape plug-in hybrid has a spacious and comfortable interior with plenty of room for passengers and cargo.
It comes equipped with various features, including a large infotainment display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a premium sound system. Safety features include a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, and Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver assistance technologies.
Under the hood, it has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that produce a combined 221 horsepower, providing zippy acceleration and smooth power delivery.
Regarding fuel efficiency, the Escape PHEV delivers an EPA-estimated 40 MPG combined when running on gas alone and up to 105 MPGe when running in hybrid mode.
It also has a 14.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that enables 37 miles of all-electric driving range on a full charge, which is more than enough for most daily needs.
Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV
- Starting Price: $40,000 MSRP
- EV range: 31 miles
- MPG on gas: 33 Combined
As always, Hyundai offers a stylish, feature-rich, and competitively-priced vehicle, and the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid is no exception.
The Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV has a roomy, quiet, and comfortable interior, with plenty of space for passengers and cargo. It comes equipped with a range of features, including a large infotainment display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system. It also has a sunroof, by the way.
Under the hood, it comes with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that produce a combined 261 horsepower, providing plenty of power for all your daily driving needs.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the Santa Fe PHEV delivers an EPA-estimated 31 MPG when running on gas alone and up to 76 MPGe when running in hybrid mode. It also offers an all-electric range of up to 30 miles on a full charge.
Kia Sorento PHEV
- Starting Price: $49,990 MSRP
- EV range: 31 miles
- MPG on gas: 33 Combined
The Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is built on the same platform as the Santa Fe, which makes them share many similarities, including the same engine configuration. However, Kia has added some features and better cabin materials to the Sorento PHEV.
Under the hood, it has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that produce a combined 261 horsepower, providing plenty of power for all your daily driving needs.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the Sorento PHEV delivers an EPA-estimated 33 MPG when running on gas alone and up to 79 MPGe when running in hybrid mode. It also offers an all-electric range of up to 31 miles.
Inside, the Sorento PHEV offers a cozy and sleek interior. The cabin is made of high-end materials and is very well-built. The seats are comfortable and roomy, including the trunk that can hold a lot of cargo. The rear seats can also be folded flat, adding significant cargo capacity when needed.
The Sorento PHEV also received an impressive five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
One potential drawback of the Sorento PHEV is its slightly higher price compared to some of its competitors, but the extra features and performance make it a worthwhile investment.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- Starting Price: $39,845 MSRP
- EV range: 38 miles
- MPG on gas: 28 Combined
The Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid is a popular SUV that can seat up to seven passengers, offers advanced features, and combines fuel efficiency with a relatively low starting price.
Under the hood, it features a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that produce a combined 221 horsepower, providing smooth and efficient performance on both electric and gas power.
In terms of fuel economy, the Outlander PHEV delivers an EPA-estimated 74 MPGe and an all-electric range of up to 38 miles on a single full charge. Mitsubishi says the battery can be charged from 0 to 80% in just about 25 minutes, but it requires a DC fast charger with an output of at least 105 amps.
The interior of the Outlander PHEV is spacious and upscale, with plenty of cargo space and comfortable seating for up to seven passengers. However, the third row may need to be more spacious for adults and more suitable for children.
The Outlander PHEV also received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
One potential drawback of the Outlander PHEV is its slightly outdated interior design, which may not be as visually appealing as some of its competitors. Additionally, the gas engine can be noisy when pushed to higher speeds.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
- Starting Price: $62,095 MSRP
- EV range: 26 miles
- MPG on gas: 23 Combined
As always, Jeep is known for its excellent off-road capability, four-wheel drive, spacious interior, quality cabin materials, powerful engine, high towing capacity, and high price for a vehicle that is not classified as a luxury vehicle. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is no exception, offering all that, along with the fuel economy of a hybrid car, which is usually not found in a Jeep.
Under the hood, the Cherokee 4xe is equipped with a 2.0 inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine and two electric motors that work together to produce up to 375 horsepower with 470 lb-ft of torque. With a 14.0 kWh battery, the Cherokee 4xe can travel about 26 miles in EV mode. When the battery is low, the system will automatically switch to hybrid driving mode.
The EPA combined rating is 56 MPGe; when the battery is depleted, it gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined. While not too impressive for a plug-in hybrid vehicle, it is worth appreciating given that this is a four-wheel drive Jeep with good off-road and towing capabilities.
As I have often mentioned before, the Grand Cherokee 4xe has excellent off-road capabilities, the best among hybrid vehicles. It has various off-road support features such as active transfer cases, front axle disconnect, 100% torque vectoring, and more. The towing capacity is also impressive – when properly equipped, it can tow up to 6000 lbs.
Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring
- Starting Price: $53,385 MSRP
- EV range: 28 miles
- MPG on gas: 33 Combined
The Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring is a luxurious plug-in hybrid SUV that boasts a sophisticated design, high-reliability score, smooth ride, advanced technology, and impressive performance.
Under the hood, it comes equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, which produces a total output of 266 horsepower.
This SUV has an all-electric range of 28 miles powered by a 14.4-kWh lithium-ion battery, which is average for the 2023 standard. When it comes to fuel economy, the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring gets an EPA-estimated 33 mpg combined city/highway.
Its spacious interior is another standout feature, with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. The cabin is fitted with high-quality materials, comfortable seats, and a range of advanced tech features.
In terms of safety, the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring has received excellent crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Lexus NX 450h+
- Starting Price: $58,655 MSRP
- EV range: 37 miles
- MPG on gas: 36 Combined
The Lexus NX 450h+ is a plug-in hybrid SUV that offers a combination of luxury, performance, and fuel efficiency. It has an 18.0-kWh lithium-ion battery that provides a 37-mile electric-only range, making it one of the best in its class.
Under the hood, it has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce a combined 304 horsepower. It also features all-wheel drive as standard, providing excellent traction and stability on the road.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the Lexus NX 450h+ boasts a good EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined fuel economy rating in hybrid mode and an impressive 84 MPGe in EV mode.
The vehicle’s interior is luxurious and spacious, with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. It has many features, including a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a premium audio system.
Lexus NX 450h+ has earned high marks from independent safety organizations, including a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
BMW X5 xDrive45e
- Starting Price: $65,700 MSRP
- EV range: 31 miles
- MPG on gas: 20 Combined
The BMW X5 xDrive45e is a luxurious plug-in hybrid SUV with impressive performance and fuel efficiency.
It is equipped with a powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor to produce a combined 389 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque.
The 24.0-kWh lithium-ion battery provides an all-electric driving range of up to 31 miles and can be fully charged in under 5 hours using a Level 2 charger.
Regarding fuel efficiency, the X5 xDrive45e achieves an EPA-estimated 50 MPGe and can travel up to 400 miles on a full tank and a charged battery. It also has a top speed of 146 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.
The interior of the X5 xDrive45e is well-crafted and spacious, providing plenty of legroom and headroom for passengers. It also has various features, including a 12.3-inch infotainment display, a panoramic moonroof, and a 10-speaker audio system.
In terms of safety, the X5 xDrive45e is equipped with a range of advanced driver-assist systems, such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
One potential drawback of the X5 xDrive45e is its high price tag, which may only be affordable for some buyers. Additionally, its all-electric range is lower than some of its competitors in the same class, such as the Lexus NX 450h+.
Final Words
In conclusion, there is a wide range of choices for environmentally-conscious consumers who seek better fuel efficiency without compromising on style, performance, and features. Each vehicle has its strengths and weaknesses.
However, the Toyota RAV4 Prime stands out for its impressive electric range, while the Hyundai Tucson PHEV offers excellent value for its price. The Lexus NX 450h+ is the epitome of luxury and practicality, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is a perfect choice for those who require an off-road-capable vehicle.
No matter what your needs or preferences are, there is a plug-in hybrid SUV that is right for you.
