12) 2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid
$49,855 | Annual Fuel Cost: $1,350 | 27 mpg | Overall Score: 7.1/10
At $50,000, the 2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid is the most expensive vehicle on our list. While that may seem steep, it’s actually cheaper than a non-hybrid V6-powered Explorer, and it will save you an average of $150 per year on fuel.
The Explorer Hybrid’s 3.3-liter V6 engine and electric motor combine to make an impressive 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. It can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
It’s important to note that, even though the Explorer Hybrid will save you money on fuel, its gas mileage isn’t that impressive compared to most hybrid SUVs. The Explorer Hybrid's transition between gasoline and electric power is abrupt and off-putting, which isn’t the case with many of today’s hybrids.
11) 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
$36,295 | Annual Fuel Cost: $1,150 | 74 MPGe / 25 mpg | Overall Score: 6.2/10
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV comes standard with all-wheel drive and offers 22 miles of EPA-rated electric-only range. When using a combination of electric and gas power, it returns 74 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent). However, if you’ve depleted the battery, it gets just 25 mpg, which is about the same as the non-hybrid all-wheel-drive Outlander.
According to the EPA, opting for the Outlander PHEV over the standard Outlander will only save you about $200 on fuel per year. The Outlander PHEV's two electric motors and four-cylinder engine combine for a total of 197 horsepower. You can get decent acceleration, but you won't be a speed demon.
The Outlander PHEV isn’t a very good value proposition since it costs $11,400 more than the standard Outlander. However, you may be able to get about $5,000 back at tax time since the Outlander PHEV qualifies for the federal electric car tax credit. Before you buy this plug-in hybrid SUV, be sure to check with a tax professional to make sure you can take advantage of the tax credit.
10) 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid
$40,060 | Annual Fuel Cost: $1,150 | 31 mpg | Overall Score: 7.3/10
The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid will save you a significant amount of money on fuel costs over the standard NX. This is due in part to the hybrid’s fuel-efficient powertrain. In addition, the standard NX requires premium gas, which makes it expensive to fuel, but the hybrid model takes regular gasoline.
According to the EPA, choosing the NX 300h – which comes standard with all-wheel drive – over the standard NX 300 AWD will save you $750 per year on gasoline. The NX Hybrid only costs $1,140 more than the non-hybrid NX with all-wheel drive. So, you’ll recoup the extra upfront cost in less than two years.
While the NX Hybrid offers a good value, it has a weak powertrain when compared with the standard NX. The hybrid’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors produce 194 horsepower. The hybrid has more instant torque, which is perfect for city driving, but the standard NX is the better choice if you spend a lot of time on the highway.
9) 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
$38,410 | Annual Fuel Cost: $1,000 | 36 mpg | Overall Score: 8.0/10
The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was completely redesigned for the 2020 model year, it ranks near the top of our hybrid and electric SUVs ranking. Like the standard Highlander, the Highlander Hybrid seats up to eight people, though its third row is best left to children.
The Highlander Hybrid gets its power from a four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and a continuously variable automatic transmission, which work together to make 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available. When properly equipped, it can tow up to 3,500 pounds. The standard Highlander has a 295-horsepower V6 and a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity.
Deciding between the hybrid and non-hybrid Highlander really comes down to whether you want to save money upfront or at the gas pump. The Highlander Hybrid’s starting price is $3,600 more than the standard Highlander’s. According to the EPA, choosing the hybrid over the non-hybrid Highlander will save you an average of $500 per year.
8) 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
$35,145 | Annual Fuel Cost: $900 | 90 MPGe / 35 mpg | Overall Score: 7.6/10
The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid’s name is confusing since it’s actually a plug-in hybrid. However, if you’re shopping for a used SUV, Subaru did make a traditional hybrid Crosstrek from 2014 to 2016. The 2020 Crosstrek Hybrid (PHEV) comes standard with all-wheel drive and offers just 17 miles of electric-only range.
The Crosstrek Hybrid’s four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) combine to make 148 horsepower. Due to its instant torque, the Crosstrek Hybrid accelerates well for city driving, but it struggles at highway speeds. Meanwhile, the standard Crosstrek’s 152-horsepower four-cylinder is also weak for highway driving, and it lacks the punchy off-the-line torque of the hybrid powertrain.
The Crosstrek Hybrid costs a whopping $13,000 more than the non-hybrid Crosstrek. If you can take advantage of the federal EV tax credit, you’ll get about $4,500 back at tax time. Still, considering that you’ll only save about $300 per year in fuel costs by choosing the plug-in hybrid, it’s not a very good value.
7) 2021 Toyota Venza
$32,470 | Annual Fuel Cost: $950 | 39 mpg | Overall Score: TBD
The all-new 2021 Toyota Venza hybrid SUV returns better fuel economy than any midsize SUV on the market, aside from a few expensive all-electric vehicles. However, it’s pricey, it only has two rows of seats, and it’s short on cargo space. While the Venza has a lot to offer, you may be better off with a less expensive compact hybrid SUV, such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Ford Escape Hybrid.
The Venza is nice inside, it’s teeming with standard features, and it has plenty of room for four passengers (five in a pinch). It also handles relatively well and provides a silky ride. The Venza’s hybrid powertrain combines a four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and a continuously variable automatic transmission to make 219 horsepower. It’s not quick, but it accelerates energetically off the line, and it doesn’t feel underpowered. All-wheel drive comes standard.
Since there’s no non-hybrid Venza, we can’t compare fuel costs. However, the EPA says choosing the Venza over the average vehicle will save you $1,750 in fuel costs over five years. If we compare the Venza to the midsize non-hybrid Highlander with all-wheel drive, gas savings come in at $100 per year. Compared to the standard all-wheel-drive RAV4, the Venza will save you $50 per year.
6) 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
$30,560 | Annual Fuel Cost: $950 | 38 mpg | Overall Score: 7.8/10
The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid is value-priced compared to many vehicles on this list. It comes standard with all-wheel drive and only costs about $3,700 more than the non-hybrid CR-V with all-wheel drive. Based on the EPA’s estimates, it will cost you about $300 less per year to fuel the CR-V Hybrid, so you likely won’t recoup the higher upfront costs. However, that doesn’t mean the CR-V Hybrid isn’t worth considering.
The CR-V Hybrid cranks out 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque with its four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and CVT. The standard CR-V makes 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque.
The CR-V Hybrid accelerates eagerly at city and highway speeds, and its transitions from gas to electric power is seamless. In addition, this hybrid SUV has three driving modes, including an EV Mode that lets you save gas by using electric-only power at lower speeds.
5) 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
$28,500 | Annual Fuel Cost: $900 | 40 mpg | Overall Score: 7.9/10
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is one of the best value propositions when it comes to hybrid SUVs. This is due in part to the fact that it comes standard with all-wheel drive and only costs about $1,000 more than the standard RAV4 with all-wheel drive. Plus, you’ll save an average of $300 per year on fuel.
Aside from the RAV4 Hybrid’s powertrain, it’s very similar to the non-hybrid RAV4. The hybrid’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors produce 219 horsepower. A CVT is standard.
For comparison, the non-hybrid RAV4 has the same engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Since it doesn’t have the help of electric motors, it makes 203 horsepower. Reviewers praise the RAV4 Hybrid’s instant torque, peppy acceleration, and solid highway passing power.
4) 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid
$27,605 | Annual Fuel Cost: $900 | 41 mpg | Overall Score: 8.3/10
The 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid undercuts the RAV4 Hybrid’s starting price marginally, but it doesn’t come standard with all-wheel drive. In addition, it will cost you about $2,700 more than the standard Escape. Choosing the hybrid will save you about $300 per year over the base non-hybrid Escape.
In many cases, hybrid powertrains can offer much better performance while sipping fuel. However, the base non-hybrid Ford Escape has a thrifty and punchy turbocharged three-cylinder engine that makes 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque.
The Escape Hybrid’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder and single electric motor combine to make 200 horsepower. The hybrid’s gas engine delivers 152 pound-feet of torque, though the electric motor will work to increase that number. The Escape Hybrid is also 250 pounds heavier than the standard Escape. As you can see, the hybrid doesn’t really offer a performance advantage.
In terms of design and features, the Escape Hybrid is very similar to the standard Escape. However, the hybrid has less cargo space. Moreover, sliding the second-row seats back results in even less room for your gear.
3) 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
$38,100 | Annual Fuel Cost: $750 | 94 MPGe / 38 mpg | Overall Score: TBD
The all-new 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid offers an impressive 42 miles of electric-only range and standard all-wheel drive. If you don’t have a long commute, you could get away with barely ever using gas. While the EPA says the RAV4 Prime will only save you an average of $150 more per year on fuel costs over the hybrid, it really depends on how many miles you drive each day. If you’re not using the Prime’s gas engine, your savings could be significant.
The RAV4 Prime is eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit. So, if you can get the credit, it’s only about $2,000 more than the standard hybrid. Unlike the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, which delivers weak acceleration, the RAV4 Prime is a much better performer than both the standard and hybrid RAV4. In fact, it cranks out up to 302 horsepower compared to just 203 and 219 in the other variants.
Much like all RAV4 models, the Prime has roomy, comfortable seats, lots of cargo space, well-balanced driving dynamics, and a multitude of standard features. If you decide to forgo upgrading for a Level 2 charging system at your home, you can just plug the RAV4 Prime into a standard wall outlet, and it should charge to full overnight.
It’s important to note that Toyota isn’t making the RAV4 Prime in large numbers, demand is high, and it’s very difficult to get one at this point. If you’re interested in this SUV, make sure to place your order and get yourself on a waiting list as soon as possible.
2) 2021 Lexus UX Hybrid
$34,500 | Annual Fuel Cost: $750 | 42 mpg | Overall Score: 7.5/10
The 2021 Lexus UX Hybrid has one of the lowest starting prices in our luxury hybrid and electric SUVs ranking. It costs about $2,000 more than the non-hybrid UX and offers better acceleration, which is a big bonus since the standard UX has a very weak powertrain. Also, the UX Hybrid will save you about $300 per year on fuel costs.
While the UX Hybrid’s four-cylinder engine and two electric motors won’t give you the horsepower to win many races, it gets the job done. It comes standard with front-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive is available. Unlike the non-hybrid UX, which has 12 fewer horsepower and no instant torque, the UX Hybrid is peppy enough off the line, and it has enough oomph for confident highway driving.
Aside from the powertrain, the UX Hybrid is mostly the same as the UX. It features a coddling ride, two adult-sized rows of seats, and lots of standard niceties and safety systems. However, it’s short on cargo space.
1) 2021 Ford Escape PHEV
$32,650 | Annual Fuel Cost: $750 | 102 MPGe / 41 mpg | Overall Score: TBD
Sadly, the most fuel-efficient SUV on our list isn’t yet available. The 2021 Ford Escape PHEV was supposed to come to market as a 2020 model, but Ford delayed its launch to early 2021. Like the RAV4 Prime, the Escape PHEV is similar to the standard Escape and Escape Hybrid in most ways.
The Escape PHEV has an all-electric range of 37 miles, and it’s highly efficient whether you’re using gas or electric power. According to the EPA, the PHEV will save you $450 per year on fuel over the non-hybrid Escape and $150 over the hybrid. However, it all depends on how often you have to use the gas engine. With almost 40 miles of all-electric range on tap, many drivers won’t have to fill up the gas tank very often.
The Escape PHEV’s starting price is about $4,400 more than the regular hybrid. However, it qualifies for a $6,843 tax credit, which would actually make it cheaper than the hybrid and only about $1,000 more than the non-hybrid Escape. If you can get the tax credit, the Escape PHEV is a solid value proposition, especially when factoring in fuel cost savings.
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Most Fuel-Efficient Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid SUVs
- 2021 Ford Escape PHEV
- 2021 Lexus UX Hybrid
- 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
- 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid
- 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
- 2021 Toyota Venza
- 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
- 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
- 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid
- 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- 2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid
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These Fuel-Sipping SUVs Will Save You Money
Gas prices have remained relatively low over the past several years, which may make people more comfortable buying or leasing large, gas-guzzling family haulers. However, if you’re already on a tight budget, and your car payment is a stretch, a spike in gas prices could make it difficult to make ends meet.
Fortunately, due to improving engine technology, even most larger vehicles are much more fuel-efficient than they once were. However, the most efficient vehicles rely on electrification. In this article, we focus on hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs that return the best EPA-estimated fuel economy. Fully electric SUVs are even more efficient, but we’re saving those for a separate article.
We searched the EPA’s fuel economy ratings to find today’s new SUVs with the best fuel economy. According to the EPA, some hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs cost as little as $700 per year to fuel. This means a savings of $500 per year compared to the average new vehicle.
We ranked the most fuel-efficient SUVs based on the EPA’s most up-to-date annual fuel cost estimates. In the case of a tie, and there are several, we gave the win to the SUV with the higher U.S. News overall score. If the vehicle didn’t have an overall score, or two vehicles have the same score, we awarded the higher ranking to the SUV with the lower starting price.
For each SUV featured here, we provide information about how much money in fuel costs you’ll save by choosing the hybrid over the standard configuration. We also compare starting prices between hybrid and non-hybrid versions. This way, you can determine which hybrid SUVs offer the best value.
Keep in mind, we update our scores and rankings on a continuous basis as new data and expert research become available. For this reason, the scores in this article may not match up with the scores in our individual reviews and rankings.
Continue reading to learn about the most fuel-efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs on the market today.
We've also rounded up the most fuel-efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars »