The era of the Prius is over, and the era of the Tesla has begun, but don’t be so quick to count hybrids out. While EVs are out grabbing headlines, hybrids have been quietly improving and expanding into new market segments. In fact, you might not even realize how many hybrids you pass on your daily commute! That minivan sitting next to you at the light or that luxury sedan flying past you on the highway might very well be a hybrid these days. Even those big “gas-guzzling” SUVs and pickup trucks may actually be hiding efficient hybrid engines under the hood! No matter what segment you are shopping in, there are compelling hybrid options that are worth considering.
If your knowledge of hybrids begins and ends with the Toyota Prius and other economy options from the early 2000s, then you might also be surprised to learn that modern hybrids can be powerful and fun to drive as well as efficient. Energy-dense batteries and powerful electric motors developed for electric vehicles have migrated to hybrids, giving us models that are breaking old stereotypes and redefining what “hybrid” means. If you have been grudgingly considering a hybrid to better manage high gas prices, you might be pleasantly surprised by the options available to you. Here are 10 hybrid models that show exactly what a hybrid can achieve.
#1 – 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Toyota introduced the world to hybrid technology over 20 years ago when it debuted the Toyota Prius. Toyota is also known for building the single most popular passenger vehicle in America, the RAV4 compact SUV. So why not combine the two? That is exactly what they did when they introduced the RAV4 Hybrid in 2019. What is truly remarkable about the 2022 RAV4 Hybrid is just how normal it is. Even from behind the wheel, you will barely notice that it isn’t one of the countless other compact SUVs plying the streets of America. In fact, with 219 hp from its hybrid powertrain, the RAV4 Hybrid is a touch faster than the standard RAV4. The only real difference is that it gets 40 MPG combined––an outstanding number for any SUV.
#2 – 2022 Ford F-150 Hybrid
Like the RAV4 Hybrid, the 2022 F-150 Hybrid takes a best-selling vehicle that you can find anywhere in America and outfits it with a hybrid powertrain. First introduced for 2021, Ford’s PowerBoost powertrain takes the powerful 3.5L EcoBoost engine and adds electric motors, resulting in 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. That makes the F-150 Hybrid faster than an F-150 Raptor and allows it to tow up to 12,700 lbs or haul 2,120 lbs. If anyone thought hybrids weren’t up for hard work, the F-150 Hybrid certainly changed their minds. It can even serve as a mobile generator, providing up to 7.2 kW of 240v power on the go.
#3 – 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe
If the F-150 Hybrid brought hybrid power to the job site, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4xe brings hybrid power to the trail. Combining the Wrangler’s proven 2.0L turbocharged engine with electric motors resulted in an old-school off-roader with 470 lb-ft of torque. And since the Wrangler 4xe is a plug-in hybrid with a 17 kWh lithium battery, it can even travel 22 miles on electricity alone. Take off the roof and doors, flick it into electric mode, and you will be able to experience nature without the roar of a gasoline engine drowning out everything around you. And with 30 inches of water fording and available front and rear locking differentials, you can count on the Wrangler 4xe to give you the performance you expect from a Jeep.
#4 – 2022 Acura NSX Type S
Speaking of performance, it is impossible not to mention the 2022 Acura NSX Type S when talking about the major hybrids of 2022. When it launched in 2017, the second-generation NSX shocked the world by putting hybrid technology into an exotic supercar. The mid-engine design originally combined a twin-turbo V6 with three electric motors to produce 573 hp. After five years on the market, Acura decided to discontinue the NSX after 2022, but not before building a one-year-only Type S variant that harnesses 600 hybrid horses. The NSX Type S is already sold out, but it serves to remind us that a new hybrid era has been here for several years now.
#5 – 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
While the Toyota Prius is still on the market, Toyota’s best small hybrid is now the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. This budget-friendly model takes the Prius powertrain and puts it in the Corolla body, giving you a good-looking compact sedan that is rated for 52 MPG combined. While it’s not the fastest car out there, the Corolla Hybrid is one of the least expensive, starting at just $24,050. That low price tag and completely normal bodystyle turn the question of “why get a hybrid?” on its head, instead making you wonder, “why not get a hybrid?”
#6 – 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid
Another best-selling model that recently added a hybrid version is the Honda Accord. While that is nothing particularly special these days, the 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid stands out for quite possibly being the best midsize sedan on the market––hybrid or conventional. Its $27,720 starting price is just over $1k more than the standard Accord, and its 212 hp is a 20 hp boost over the gasoline-only base model. And, of course, it gets considerably better fuel economy at 47 MPG combined. If you’re in the market for a midsize sedan, the Accord Hybrid needs to be on your radar.
#7 – 2022 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring
Lincoln may be an underappreciated brand these days, but when it comes to hybrid luxury, it is arguably at the head of the pack. The 2022 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring is a three-row SUV with an exceptional plug-in hybrid powertrain. Unlike other hybrids, which make sure to announce what they are in their name, Lincoln doesn’t bother––after all, the 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque speak for themselves. The fact that the model gets 56 MPGe and has a 21-mile electric range is secondary to the GT-level performance that this smooth-riding luxury SUV delivers.
#8 – 2022 Toyota Sienna
Looking for a more affordable fuel-saving family car? Consider the 2022 Toyota Sienna. The Sienna has been a staple of the minivan market since it was first introduced in 1998, but you may have missed the quiet switch to a hybrid-only powertrain with the debut of the fourth generation Sienna in 2020. While other minivans continue to rely on fuel-hungry V6 engines, the Sienna uses a four-cylinder and electric motors to get 36 MPG combined, a number that any compact car would be proud of. And with 245 hp, this cavernous family car is still easy to drive.
#9 – 2022 Ford Maverick
Alongside the incredibly powerful F-150 Hybrid, Ford decided to build a second hybrid truck that was more Prius than NSX. The brand-new 2022 Ford Maverick is a compact model based on the Ford Escape SUV that is notable for two things. First, it comes with a standard hybrid powertrain that is rated for 37 MPG combined. Second, it is available for just $20,995, making it one of the most affordable vehicles on the market. While the Maverick may not match the performance standards of the F-150 Hybrid, it is still capable with a 1,500 lb payload rating and a 2,000 lb tow rating.
#10 – 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Perhaps the most spectacular hybrid on the market is the 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale. While you probably aren’t in the market for a half-million dollar Italian supercar, it goes to show just how widespread hybrid technology has become. Its plug-in hybrid powertrain pairs a twin-turbo V8 with three electric motors for a total of 986 hp. That’s enough to launch this car from 0 to 60 in just 2.0 seconds flat, making it the second fastest production car in the world after the all-electric Tesla Model S Plaid. However, despite being a plug-in hybrid, it has a fuel economy of just 18 MPG combined, and its all-electric range is a paltry 9 miles. Clearly, saving money at the pump wasn’t the goal here.
