SUV hybrids are growing in popularity, particularly as gas costs continue to rise.
The best hybrid SUV of 2022 combines fuel efficiency with a sense of security for the driver by having a backup gas engine in case the electricity goes out.
You might be interested in your numerous options if you’re considering switching to electricity. Our blog’s top best hybrid SUV of 2022 is shown below.
1. Ford Explorer
Ford explorer is the first on our list of best hybrid SUV of 2022. The excessive prices of various Explorer settings are difficult to justify, especially the hybrid, which is only offered on the higher-level Limited model and is nearly as expensive as the Lexus RX.
The hybrid’s 3.3-liter V6 and electric motor combine to produce a combined 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque, making it fun to drive but only offering a combined fuel economy of up to 27 mpg.
The Explorer is one of the more road-ready hybrids on this list because it can be ordered with rear-wheel or four-wheel drive (4WD).
Despite being the least efficient, its combined mileage of 21 mpg outperforms that of the typical (but larger than others) SUV.
2. Hyundai Santa Fe
The Santa Fe is also one of the best hybrid SUV of 2022. It has various hybrid options, and fortunately, the most economical one is also the cheapest to purchase; the 34 combined mpg Blue costs $34,300, fees excluded.
The 32 mpg combined mileage is available on the SEL Premium ($38,360) and Limited ($40,710) hybrid variants. In 2022, a PHEV option with a 31-mile all-electric range was added to the lineup.
The Toyota Highlander hybrid gets 2 to 3 more miles per gallon on average than the Hyundai Santa Fe, despite being slightly larger and heavier than the Toyota RAV4.
Other hybrid substitutes, like Toyota’s Venza, provide more mpg at a more affordable price.
3. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Setting the bar for the capable best hybrid SUV of 2022 is the RAV4 hybrid. Everybody can find the right trim, and the availability of all-wheel drive across the board makes it desirable to consumers in seasonal areas and weekend adventurers who love light trailblazing.
Even though its fuel economy is already competitive in the market, the RAV4 Prime’s new plug-in hybrid model and optional hybrid powertrain help it stand out.
The RAV4 is more self-assured than ever and provides a menu of options considerably longer than main rivals, despite the exterior style not being for everyone.
Additionally, it has a competitive starting price, a ton of standard technology, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and safety technology like automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
And Despite having some formidable competitors, the Toyota RAV4 is the most popular SUV in America and deserves the title on its merits.
It is well-equipped, fuel-efficient, and performs well in crash tests. Although it isn’t nearly as spacious as its competitors, it is nonetheless cozy and reasonably priced. Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims are available for outdoor enthusiasts.
Along with standard RAV4 trims LE, XLE, XLE Premium, and Limited, the hybrid also offers SE and XSE trim and is exclusively offered with all-wheel drive (AWD).
From $30,790 for the LE trim to $39,290 for the Limited trim, the RAV4 hybrid is available.
4. Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander outperforms its many outstanding competitors thanks to available all-wheel drive on every trim level, a long list of safety assistance systems, and a stylish and comfortable interior.
Its new gasoline turbocharged engine is strong and economical, while the available hybrid is rated at 36 mpg.
Since the demand for SUVs started, it has been playing the hybrid game. There aren’t many three-row hybrids of any kind, so neither the third row’s roominess nor the cargo capacity while those seats are up compared favorably to some competitors.
Although it isn’t fun to drive, it offers a larger family-friendly ride with solidly average fuel efficiency.
5. Kia Telluride
This fuel-efficient hybrid offers up to 37 combined mpg. The crossover, updated in 2021, targets customers searching for an SUV that sits between a compact and a midsize.
Given the popularity of the Kia Telluride, the Sorento might have ended up being the odd man out in the Kia lineup.
But by providing a three-row, seven-passenger layout with a slightly smaller footprint and a lower price than its big brother Telluride, it manages to carve out a niche in the family-focused segment.
It now has an off-road option, a plug-in option, and its most expensive option loaded up to almost $50,000.
The Sorento is painfully close to the best hybrid SUV for 2022 since many of the greatest features are reserved for the higher trims.
However, there is still a lot to appreciate about it, including outstanding road manners, the option of reasonable capability, up to 37 mpg from the hybrid, and tons of personalization options.
6. Lexus RX
It would be challenging to outperform the Lexus RX in terms of design, performance, premium feature content, reliability that has stood the test of time, and affordable pricing.
Although there are considerably more potent and best hybrid SUV of 2022 available, that has never been the RX’s intended use.
The RX is all about comfort and tranquility, which it expertly conveys while consuming little gasoline in hybrid mode.
Particularly in the potent 500h model, it boasts a comfortable, quiet ride that prioritizes the passengers’ comfort while offering the driver plenty of involvement.
The RX’s recipe has been a success for a long time and continues to be so for those seeking adequate SUV cargo space, driving exhilaration, or a more practical third row.
The standard 350h 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine achieves a combined fuel economy of 36 mpg and 37 mpg on the interstate.
The high-performance hybrid in the 500h nevertheless has good fuel economy. The RX hybrid has long held the top spot in its class for fuel economy, along with the more compact NX and UX hybrids.
7. Honda CR-V
A hybrid powertrain was added to the CR-lineup V’s in 2020, helping entice purchasers concerned about their carbon footprint.
The vehicle’s gas engine already had competitive fuel economy, but combined driving with the hybrid can result in up to 38 mpg.
It is simple to understand why the CR-V is so well-liked when considering that it also has a roomy cabin and tons of cargo capacity.
The 2023 Honda CR-V, which is somewhat bigger and marginally more potent than the 2022 model year, is made to assist customers in discovering the advantages of driving an electric vehicle.
Honda anticipates that hybrid vehicles will account for 50% of sales and include improved regenerative braking and one-pedal operation.
Honda has crammed hybrid versions with additional power and high-end features, like performance mode, which is not available on the gas-only variant, to entice buyers.
However, the fuel efficiency is essentially unchanged from earlier gas and hybrid models.
The 2023 CR-V exceeds expectations with significant exterior modifications, greater interior room, and more power; in other words, it incrementally enhances the same formula that earned it the brand’s best-selling passenger vehicle.
Although it isn’t as efficient as the all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4 hybrid, the 2022 CR-V hybrid offers a boost of 3 mpg in the city, 2 on the highway, and 2 in the combined fuel economy.
However, switching to AWD in the hybrid reduces fuel efficiency to 40 cities, 34 highways, and 37 combined, which is a tiny price to pay.
8. Toyota Venza
In the best hybrid SUV of 2022 market, the Toyota Venza continues to be a bit of an anomaly.
On the low end, it competes with the RAV4 hybrid but offers a smaller interior, while on the high end, it competes with the Lexus NX 350h but lacks the cachet and dynamics of that brand.
Notably, both share a large portion of Venza’s base and powertrain. What’s left is a quiet, fuel-efficient car with just enough understated design to distinguish itself from the pack of compact SUVs.
The Venza should be on your list if you think a little bit of uniqueness is worth a tiny price premium.
It was re-released in 2021 as a high-end, hybrid-only crossover tailored for performance on the road. It is designed for young couples, empty nesters, and small families who want a fuel-efficient, two-row utility vehicle.
The five-seater also incorporates modern technology, security features, entertainment, and an all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain with a combined highway and city fuel economy rating of 39 mpg.
That is a respectable number for any SUV, especially one with all-wheel drive. In this regard, Venza completely dominates its non-hybrid rivals. However, the RAV4 hybrid still boasts higher mileage and beginning prices.
9. Lexus NX
The Lexus NX is a compact luxury crossover that has been completely redesigned for 2022 and is now competitive in a crowded market with many strong contenders.
Big, futuristic screens and a new range of powertrains, including a plug-in, have eliminated the lack of oomph and frustrating infotainment system of the previous NX.
Although its hold is still very tiny, it obtains 28% additional cargo room. So the $57,000+ PHEV is expensive, and shoppers looking for a luxury five-passenger SUV under $50,000 will discover a bewildering selection of capable, quiet, and opulent options in the NX series.
The NX 350h, which comes in standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, is a distinctive hybrid with no immediate rivals in its price range.
It has a 239-horsepower engine, a 7.2-second zero-to-60 time, and an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 39 mpg.
Two electric motors are added to the 350h’s base 2.5-liter engine to improve performance.
The NX 350h model’s fuel economy significantly improves to 41 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the interstate.
Its 590-mile range also feels luxurious. Of course, the plug-in 450h+ earns an EPA-estimated 84 MPGe, if fuel efficiency is your primary goal.
10. Kia Niro
As the best hybrid SUV of 2022 with space, it’s difficult to compete with the Kia Niro, and a 2023 update makes it even more difficult.
The Niro 2023 is updated, stretched longer and wider, and has far more appealing styling both inside and out, including a distinctive new “Aero Blade.
” Among a growing number of hybrid, PHEV, and EV compact crossovers, the Niro ticks all the boxes at a significantly lower price than its full EV counterpart.
This hybrid manages a combined 53 mpg combined by pairing a 1.6-liter inline-four gas engine with a 32-kilowatt electric motor.
This will help deliver 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Those figures decrease with the 18-inch wheels that are standard on the top-tier SX Touring.
The same gas engine is used in the PHEV, but it has been upgraded with a more potent electric motor and a larger 11.1-kwH battery pack. They produce 195 lb-ft of torque and 180 horsepower when combined.
The plug-in hybrid has a 108 MPGe rating, according to the EPA. The federal government claims that it also has a range of up to 33 miles for each charge, which is a 25% increase over the previous crossover. Keep in mind that the Niro is still exclusively front-wheel-drive.
The base Niro Hybrid LX has a starting price of $27,785, which includes the $1,295 destination fee.
It costs thousands less than a Ford Escape Hybrid, while it is slightly more expensive than certain other hybrid crossovers of a similar size. Then, at up.
11. Lexus UX250
Lexus UX250 is next on our list of best hybrid SUV of 2022. With the 2023 UX 250h, Lexus enters a competitive market for small premium crossover SUVs, but it also poses a challenge to make the car feel special enough to justify its high price.
To its credit, the hybrid-only UX does have the highest safety ratings, has the best fuel efficiency in its class, and uses the same high-quality components and workmanship as previous Lexus vehicles.
The Lexus UX250 now has a significant edge in fuel efficiency thanks to the switch to hybrid-only vehicles.
However, the compact footprint of this crossover does have certain drawbacks. Although the rear seat and baggage space are somewhat constrained, this elegant and feature-rich tiny SUV is ideal for city driving because of its compact size, outstanding fuel economy, and quality ride.
The front-drive UX250h’s starting price is $35,925 (plus $1,075 for destination), and all variants can have AWD for $1,400.
Since it adds nice features (heated and ventilated front seats, a power rear door with a kick sensor, and rain-sensing wipers) as standard equipment, the Premium trim, which starts at $38,385, is our favorite among the trims.
12. Ford Escape
Lastly, The Escape can be pricey, with some options reaching $40,000, but Ford offers a lot for the money.
The tiny crossover is perfect for small and expanding families with its selection of fuel-efficient powertrains.
The EPA estimates that the optional hybrid powertrain can achieve up to 41 mpg combined, although Ford also provides a plug-in hybrid model.
The Escape also comes standard with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 suite of safety technologies, excellent crash test results, and a surprisingly roomy interior with up to 38.8 inches of rear legroom.
In particular, for purchasers switching from sedans like the Fusion and those seeking more space than the Niro, the Escape may be more valuable with an upgrade for 2023 (new ST-Line, altered naming schedule, fresh style, and tech).
The new Platinum level includes the 2.0L EcoBoost engine and a hybrid powertrain option with front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Front-wheel drive hybrid ST-Lines are available from Ford. A 250-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with standard all-wheel drive and an optional hybrid option is accessible with ST-Line Select and ST-Line Elite.
Final certification is still waiting for the 199 horsepower combined output and the expected 550-mile range of the front-wheel-drive full hybrid variant.
For the FWD Hybrid, going Platinum costs $37,460, while the plug-in front-wheel drive costs $39,995.
Conclusion
The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the best hybrid SUV of 2022 currently on the market. It received a 9.2 total rating.
The reliability rating is 9.2, the value retention rating is 8.3, and the safety rating is excellent. You have several fantastic options on our blog if you’re looking for a new hybrid SUV for 2022.
You can get an SUV that satisfies your demands and, ideally, will last a long time by paying attention to the traits you value.
