Oklahoma City has so much to offer. It has a bustling art scene, incredible museums, and a vibrant downtown area. Plus, with 621 square miles to explore and tons of great suburbs just outside of the city, it is literally massive. If you travel around OKC a bit and are tired of how big your fuel bills are getting, you might be ready for a hybrid. Fortunately, there are plenty of cars for sale in Oklahoma City that boast a hybrid powertrain. The Big Friendly is the perfect place for a hybrid. The stop-and-go traffic on the I-235, or even just the congestion of inner-city streets let the regenerative braking do its thing, recapturing braking power to recharge the battery. You’re never far from a gas station when you need to rely on traditional fuel, either.
Hybrids have now come a long way, and you can find one in nearly every body style, and for every taste. Whether you’re after an SUV, a truck, or a sedan, you’ll be able to find one with a powertrain that runs on both fuel and battery power for more versatility and lower gas bills. Here’s a look at some popular used hybrid vehicles for getting around OKC.
The 2020 Ram 1500
Though not the first vehicle you think of when it comes to hybrids, we can’t talk about great Oklahoma City vehicles without talking about a pickup truck. The Big Friendly ranks one of the top 10 cities for pickup trucks, with over 20 percent of vehicles on the road being pickups. You can’t have a great Sooners tailgate without an excellent pickup, or tow a boat out to Lake Hefner without your sturdy truck. Pickups are, however, notoriously bad on gas, which is why having one with a hybrid powertrain makes a world of a difference.
The 2020 Ram 1500 is available with several powertrains, including a V6 and a V8 that pair up with a 48-volt hybrid system they call eTorque. The most efficient of these would be the V6 hybrid, which can get 20 MPG in the city, 26 on the highway, and 23 combined. Those are pretty solid numbers for a full-size pickup, especially for drivers who spend a lot of time in the downtown area. Plus, with 5’7’ and 6’4” bed options, you can easily lug plenty of stuff in the back, too.
The hybrid powertrain isn’t all that drivers love about this truck, though. The V8 version can tow up to 12,750 pounds, making it a highly capable machine ready for agricultural work, construction sites, camping trips with the trailer in tow, and beyond. Moving inside, you find a comfortable and spacious cabin that’s a joy to spend time in when running errands around OKC. It’s rich with interior storage compartments everywhere you look. If you snag an upper trim, you’ll get features like heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof and even some leather upholstery.
The Ram 1500 is a popular full-size pickup truck, and when a hybrid powertrain became available, those needing better MPGs went flocking to it.
The 2018 Lexus NX
Drivers who fell in love with OKC because of its cosmopolitan charm and incredible culture might be looking for something sophisticated but in a hybrid form. That’s where the Lexus NX comes in. A 2018 model is a great choice because it catches the vehicle right after a major redo of the interior and infotainment upgrade, while still getting you a great used car price. This luxury compact SUV will look right at home at special events at the Phillbrook Museum of Art or Civic Center Music Hall.
The 2018 Lexus NX with a hybrid powertrain gets some seriously impressive MPGs. The EPA says it can garner 33/30 city/highway, so this vehicle will save you a ton on gas whether you stick to downtown or venture off onto the OK-44.
The interior of the Lexus NX can only be described as a treat. It has a distinctly upscale appearance with high-end materials. Plus, it’s said to have some of the most comfortable seats in its class. However, it’s the infotainment and connectivity that really make it shine in the used vehicle market.
The 2018 NX gets plenty of features people expect from current models, like Bluetooth, smartphone connectivity and Wi-Fi. It even has an optional and massive 10.3-inch touchscreen for those who need larger navigation graphics. It might be several years old now, but when you sit inside of the 2018 Lexus NX, you will not feel like you’re in an “old” vehicle.
Many people move to OKC because it offers big-city glamour, without the big-city prices. The 2018 Lexus NX hybrid fits perfectly into that sensibility, with elegant styling and a cost-efficient hybrid powertrain.
The 2020 Toyota Prius
You knew there would be a Prius on this list. Toyota keeps impressing drivers with its hybrid compact sedan. With well over 20 years under its belt now, Toyota has had a lot of time to perfect this fuel-efficient superstar. For the 2020 year, the Toyota Prius Eco achieves showstopping MPGs of 58 city and 53 highway. With fuel economy like that, you can zip around OKC for a long time before needing to refuel.
Another stand-out feature of this vehicle is its available all-wheel drive, which you don’t often see on a compact hatchback. When OKC rains hit, having all-wheel drive can give you better command. Plus, all-wheel drive gives you the power to explore more terrain outside of the city. The roads might not be quite as paved, but those are often some of the most gorgeous places to explore around OKC.
The Prius has always boasted a spacious and comfortable cabin. Its trunk space remains famously generous, making it ideal for grocery trips or antique store runs around the city. You’ll also find thoughtful storage compartments throughout the Prius, and cupholders in the center rear armrest for sipping refreshing beverages on those notoriously hot summer days around the Big Friendly.
As far as connectivity and infotainment go, the 2020 Prius has a shockingly huge touchscreen available. Drivers can opt for a tablet-style 11.6-inch touch screen, making it very easy to see your navigation. It also has available Qi wireless charging to keep your devices powered up while leaving the cords at home.
The Right Hybrid Vehicle Makes Life Around OKC Better
Oklahoma City attracts a diverse group of residents, which is part of its beauty. You can enjoy a true city life here if you want, filled with art exhibits, nights at the theater, concerts, shopping, world-class dining and beyond. However, if southern charm is what you’re after and you love days on the lake or backyard cookouts, you can find those as well. There really isn’t one right type of body style for OKC. However, no matter how you enjoy this great city, you will appreciate having a hybrid powertrain.
If you want to get around OKC and enjoy all it has to offer, spending a lot on fuel can really kill the fun. The hybrid vehicles we covered today will give you the option to spend less time at the fuel pump and more time enjoying this incredible city. Whether you’re after a hardworking or adventure-ready pickup, a sophisticated compact SUV or an efficient and comfortable sedan, there’s something for everyone on this list.
