As sales of fully electric vehicles hit some turbulence, hybrids are stepping into the spotlight. They offer the best of both worlds: electric power for slow-speed driving and accelerating, with gasoline endurance that eliminates range anxiety.
Crucially, hybrid tech has also matured a lot over the last 20 years. Their supply chains are established and virtually every major automaker in the U.S. offers at least some hybrid SUVs. Whether you’re shopping for something compact, mid-size, full-size or performance-oriented, there’s a hybrid SUV for every type of buyer. Even those on a budget will find plenty of affordable options.
If you’re not ready to move to EVs, a hybrid is a no-brainer. Sure, they still rely on fossil fuels, but they cost only marginally more than their pure gas counterparts while being significantly cheaper to run. A hybrid will help introduce you to electrified powertrains, serving as a sort of gentle on-ramp to full EVs.
But with so many hybrid SUV options on the market, where should you begin? That’s where we come in. Here are our top choices.
And if the plug-in hybrid life is more your thing, fear not: we have a roundup of the best PHEV options coming in a separate list.
How We Picked The Best Hybrid SUVs
InsideEVs editors bring decades of combined experience reviewing cars across powertrains and body styles. That means when we review an EV, we’re doing it with the context, experience and perspective that comes from driving hybrids and gas vehicles as well.
We conduct efficiency tests in all kinds of conditions, from coastal highways in California to snowy backroads in upstate New York. We test vehicles on city streets, open highways and off-road trails.
For hybrid SUVs, we have focused on what will matter the most to you and your family: price, fuel economy, comfort and practicality. If a vehicle makes your life better, we’ll say so. If it doesn’t, we won’t sugarcoat it.
Japanese automakers may be playing catch-up on EVs, but when it comes to hybrids, they remain in a league of their own. Toyota and Lexus offer a combined 30 electrified models, most of them hybrid SUVs or trucks. In the U.S. alone, Toyota sold nearly a million hybrids last year.
Honda’s hybrid lineup is small but strong. The only hybrid SUV it does sell—the CR-V—has been consistently excellent. Hyundai’s hybrid lineup is expanding, with the Tucson and Santa Fe Hybrids seeing record U.S. sales this year.
By comparison, American and European brands aren’t that big on traditional hybrids in the U.S. General Motors has bypassed hybrids to directly leap to EVs, while Ford’s only hybrid SUV is the Escape. Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volvo all focus more on plug-in hybrids and mild hybrids.
In this article, we’re focusing solely on traditional self-charging hybrids, the kind that pair a combustion engine with one or more small electric motors and a compact lithium-ion battery. These e-motors can drive the wheels directly or work in tandem with the engine. They do not have plugs, so you’ll never charge them yourself.
While they can only travel short distances on pure battery power, hybrids excel at coasting, torque-filling, and reducing the load on the combustion engine. Constant regenerative braking and power from the engine keeps the hybrid battery charged and substantially improves fuel economy.
Here are some of our top picks in all major categories.
Best Overall Hybrid SUV For Most People: 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
Price: $33,465-$41,295, before fees and destination.
Fuel Economy: Up to 38 miles per gallon (city/highway combined)
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid might be more popular, but the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is more capable overall, offering more features at a price that’s nearly identical to its Japanese rivals.
It gets more power and torque than those two hybrids, a more premium interior that feels a segment above and a more comprehensive set of standard features. Most importantly, its 38 miles per gallon combined (city/highway) fuel economy rating matches the Toyota RAV4 and beats the Honda CR-V (33 mpg).
Its 1.6-liter turbo engine is paired with a 64-horsepower electric motor. Together, they provide 231 hp and 271 pound-feet of torque. The 1.49-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery will help it drive at slow speeds for short periods of time in pure EV mode.
Like most hybrids, it will also start silently and sit at red lights with the engine turned off, purely on battery power, meaning you’re not spewing toxic gases when pedestrians are crossing the road.
There’s a ton of standard equipment even on the base model, including all-wheel drive, dual 12.3-inch screens supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and hands-free liftgate opening, among others.
Its busy fascia with split LED daytime running lights and headlamps may not suit everyone, but it does make the Tucson appear more futuristic against the aging and conventional designs of the RAV4 and the CR-V.
At $33,465 before fees and destination, its starting price is about $5,000 more than the gas-only Tucson. The price difference isn’t nothing, but you get a whole lot more value for those extra dollars, including standard AWD, less frequent trips to the gas pump and less carbon monoxide in your lungs.
Best Luxury Hybrid SUV: 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid
Price: $52,875-$68,750, before fees and destination.
Fuel economy: 36 mpg (city/highway combined)
Hybrids are quieter and more refined—traits that upmarket buyers tend to value. The sales numbers back that up. The RX is Lexus’s best-selling model. Nearly half of all RXs sold last year in the U.S. were hybrids or plug-in hybrids.
In fact, the RX 350h is substantially better than the gas-only RX for a number of reasons. The gas-only RX 350 all-wheel drive and the RX 350h share the same starting price, about $52,000 before fees and destination.
For a similar sticker price, the RX 350h delivers 37 mpg combined—16 mpg more than the gas-only RX 350, which returns just 21 mpg. For the same money, you get a quieter cabin, a more refined driving experience and far better fuel economy.
Step up to the RX Hybrid’s Luxury trim and it offers most features you’d expect from an upscale vehicle, including plush leather seats, suede door trims, ambient lighting, 10-way power adjustable front seats with lumbar support, panoramic sunroof and more.
If you want a luxury hybrid SUV, but just bigger, the Lexus TX is the RX’s bigger sibling. It’s another great option.
Best Three-Row Hybrid SUV: Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid
Price: $44,210-$58,775, before fees and destination
Fuel economy: Up to 37 mpg (city/highway combined)
The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is one of the roomiest, most capable hybrid people movers in its price range, offering phenomenal value while still feeling more upscale than other mass-market Toyotas.
Its combined fuel economy is 37 mpg, nearly the same as the smaller and lighter RAV4. You also have a six-seater option with captain chairs for the second row. If hauling more people is a priority, optional bench seats for the second and third rows will open up space for seven or eight adults.
It starts at $44,000 before fees and destination. You get a 2.4-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that works alongside a hybrid system for a combined output of 245 hp and 175 pound-feet of torque.
It also gets on-demand electronic all-wheel drive. A third electric motor on the rear axle only spins when the system detects loss of traction. That means for everyday driving, you still get great fuel economy from a primarily FWD set-up. When the surfaces get looser, you have the safety backup of the E-AWD. Clever stuff, Toyota. Just don’t expect it to be much of an off-roader with that setup. You’ll need a Sequoia or Land Cruiser hybrid for the rough stuff.
If you’re not into Toyota, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid and the Kia Sorento Hybrid are also excellent people movers.
Best Affordable Hybrid SUV: Kia Niro Hybrid
Price: $26,990-$35,390, before fees and destination
Fuel economy: 53 mpg (city/highway combined)
The Kia Niro is a fully electrified nameplate, available as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full EV. The Niro Hybrid delivers an impressive 53 mpg EPA rating, which is on par with some plug-in hybrids.
The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is the other great affordable hybrid SUV option. It uses a more sophisticated power-split hybrid system with three electric motors, while the Niro sticks with a conventional parallel hybrid setup. But in terms of overall value, the Kia edges ahead.
Starting at $26,990, it’s the most affordable hybrid SUV on the market, undercutting the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s $28,495 base price. While Toyota includes E-AWD as standard, the Niro makes do with FWD but gets a nicer interior and more standard features.
Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain that produces 139 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Nothing to brag about here. But performance isn’t the point anyway. Efficiency and tech is where the Nio Hybrid shines.
Mid-level and range-topping trims get dual 12.3-inch displays and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, similar to pricier Kias. It also offers more passenger and cargo space than the Toyota, making it a more practical choice for budget-conscious hybrid SUV shoppers.
Best Hybrid Off-Road SUV: Toyota Land Cruiser
Price: $56,700-$61,470
Fuel economy: 25 mpg (city/highway combined)
Few vehicles make you feel like the king of the road or the master of the off-road trail like the Toyota Land Cruiser. Now, when you venture deep into nature, you can feel a little less guilty because the Land Cruiser is now hybrid-only. But it’s still one of the most capable off-roaders.
The new LC downsizes its combustion engine to a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, but upsizes its electrons, with a 1.87 kWh lithium-ion battery and dual electric motors. Combined output is a healthy 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque.
Off-road hardware remains top-tier, with full-time four-wheel drive and multi-terrain modes including Mud, Rock, Deep Snow and Sand.
The Subaru Forester is also available with a hybrid drivetrain now. It’s boxy, rugged and still comes with Subaru’s proven off-road credibility, just in a smaller and less intimidating package compared to the Land Cruiser, which is more hardcore.
Upcoming Hybrid SUVs
2026 Toyota RAV4
Estimated Price: $35,000-$50,000
Estimated Fuel economy: More than 38 mpg combined.
Toyota sold nearly half a million RAV4s in the U.S. last year. About half of them were hybrids. But despite its popularity and ubiquity, the model has been showing its age. The design is dated and the interior feels spartan. That’s why Toyota is rolling out an all-new generation of the RAV4. It’s now hybrid-only and a huge step up from the current RAV4.
I got an early look at the new RAV4 earlier this year at Toyota’s U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas. It’s poised to carry forward the current RAV4’s legacy in the right direction and who knows, even break new sales records.
The new RAV4 lineup includes a performance-oriented GR Sport plug-in hybrid and a rugged Woodland Edition for off-road enthusiasts. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions will also be available. So rest assured that there will be a RAV4 for every kind of hybrid SUV buyer. And good riddance to the gas-only powertrain.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid
Announced Price: $43,660-$58,280, before fees and destination.
Fuel economy: 34 mpg (city/highway combined)
At the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Hyundai revealed the second-generation Palisade, which will get a hybrid powertrain for the first time when it goes on sale in fall.
The 2026 Palisade will debut Hyundai’s second-generation parallel hybrid system in the U.S., known as Transmission-Mounted Electric Drive (TMED-II). It brings EV-like features to the SUV, including Stay Mode, which charges the hybrid battery before reaching your destination so you can run in-car systems for hours without firing up the gas engine.
Thanks to dual electric motors and a small lithium-ion battery, the Palisade Hybrid will deliver 34 mpg and more than 600 miles of combined range—while packing more punch than the current V6. It’s rated at 329 hp, compared to the V6’s 291 hp.
If you’ve followed the auto industry over the past couple of decades, you’d know that electrification has transformed everything from an affordable Toyota Corolla to a disturbingly pricey Lamborghini Temerario—and every segment in between—into vehicles that are more desirable, more efficient, more powerful. Electrification just makes cars better, in every way.
Comment below if we missed out a hybrid SUV that’s also very capable but didn’t make it to this list. And be sure to check back for updates as we’ll add fresh information when new models roll out.
Have a tip? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
