Top 7 Hybrid Vehicles to Buy in 2023
Choosing to purchase a hybrid vehicle is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. However, it can be a confusing process. There are several things to consider, such as fuel efficiency, cost, and resale value. If you want to know more about what’s out there, read on.
Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is an attractive small crossover SUV that offers plenty of style, comfort, and amenities. It’s not the newest hybrid on the market, but it’s the best-equipped of its kind. Moreover, it’s a practical choice for anyone looking for a small, practical crossover with the ability to handle off-road trails.
While it doesn’t offer the same passenger space as a full-size crossover, it has a spacious cabin that’s ideal for adults. There’s also plenty of cargo space. When the rear seats are folded down, the interior expands to a spacious 69.8 cubic feet.
Toyota’s new-for-2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has a lot of standard features, including a next-generation infotainment interface and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It also comes with a generous warranty and two years of free scheduled maintenance.
Toyota has also updated the RAV4’s safety and entertainment features. With the Safety Sense 2.5 package, you get a blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross traffic alert, and Lane Departure Warning with Steering Assist. You can also opt for a full suite of active safety technologies, including automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning.
The new Toyota RAV4 is also available in a hybrid variant, the RAV4 Hybrid Limited. This option includes heated front and rear seats, as well as a 8.0-inch touchscreen with navigation.
Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra hybrid vehicle has a 1.6-liter gas engine and electric motor that combine for a total of 139 horsepower. It’s coupled to a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that sends the power to the front wheels.
The 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid has good fuel economy and tons of standard driver assist technology. It also has a five-star overall safety rating. However, there are some flaws with the car.
For instance, it lacks the soul of a car like the Toyota Corolla or the Honda Civic. It’s also a bit tame in appearance. Even though it’s powered by a hybrid system, it doesn’t have the same high-performance edge as these cars.
Nonetheless, the Hyundai Elantra hybrid is a comfortable and well-rounded vehicle. It has plenty of room and seating, as well as a good list of standard features.
Aside from its high-tech trims, the 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid also comes in two basic trims. These are the Blue and Limited models. Each trim features a similar hybrid powertrain.
The Blue version of the car has 16-inch alloy wheels and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Other features include rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.
On the other hand, the Limited model adds heated/ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a Bose premium audio system. There’s also wireless device charging, navigation, and stop-and-go adaptive cruise control.
Volvo XC60 Recharge
The Volvo XC60 is a compact luxury SUV, and it offers a wide range of safety, performance, and comfort features. It’s also one of the most efficient vehicles on the road.
When looking for the best Volvo XC60 Recharge hybrid vehicle to buy in 2023, you should know that there are a number of different trim levels. These include the Core, Plus, and Ultimate, with the Plus variant having an extra battery pack and other plug-in hardware.
With a powerful powertrain and an impressive list of features, the XC60 Recharge should prove to be a worthy option. You will have plenty of luxury features to choose from, including an infotainment system that integrates a Google voice assistant.
The rear electric motor in the XC60 Recharge is more powerful than in the non-plugin version, making the overall system output 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. A larger battery pack will allow the model to reach greater range in EV mode.
Another thing to note about the XC60 Recharge is that it offers a spacious cabin. There’s enough room for three adults and plenty of cargo space. Depending on the trim level, you can get a cargo area of 17.1 to 63.3 cubic feet. This is comparable to the space in a gas-only XC60.
Lexus ES 300h
The Lexus ES 300h is a comfortable, roomy and stylish hybrid sedan. It has been a popular vehicle for private customers, and the 2023 model year will see enhancements in both exterior and interior design.
In addition to an improved grille and new wheel designs, the ES receives a refreshed interior. A redesigned center console offers USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. An advanced voice assistant makes voice controls more intuitive. Among other improvements, the rear seatback can be folded flat.
All Lexus ES models are covered by a four-year/50,000-mile warranty. There are five overall safety stars and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The Lexus ES offers a variety of powertrains. You can choose a gas engine, a hybrid, or a 3.5-liter V6. The hybrid provides 215 horsepower and can achieve up to 44 mpg on the highway.
For those who enjoy the sporty look of a Lexus, there are two F Sport models. They feature a performance-oriented suspension system and additional wood trim pieces.
For the ES, there are five different trim levels. Prices start at $42,490 for a base model. Besides standard equipment, there are options such as blind-spot monitors, automatic emergency braking, and a wireless charger.
Kia C-HR
The Kia C-HR is a small crossover that is a great option for those who enjoy a sports car. However, it has a bit of a problem. Its engine has little power and its acceleration is slow.
Its interior is very nice, with a pleasant seating position and plenty of headroom. The dashboard has a touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is also a great stereo system with good sound quality and a smooth braking pedal.
Toyota offers three trim levels for the C-HR: base LE, Limited and XLE. While the base and Limited models are fairly similar, XLE is a bit more premium and comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. XLE also has some standard safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.
The C-HR’s touchscreen is quite intuitive to use. There are menus on the display that can be navigated by touch or by using the on-screen personal assistant. Bluetooth is acceptable for wireless connectivity, but the speakers don’t hold up well when playing at high volume.
The Kia C-HR is available in two colors: Blizzard Pearl and Wind Chill Pearl. Both are available in a black contrast roof.
Nissan P400e
Hybrid cars have been around for a while, but they’re gaining in popularity. They’re not only cheaper to run, but they have a greater range than regular petrol models. So, if you’re looking for an SUV that can move people and provide a comfortable ride, a hybrid vehicle could be the perfect fit.
If you’re interested in a hybrid vehicle, but don’t want to pay a fortune, you might consider a Kia Sorento. It offers excellent handling and a smooth ride, plus it is loaded with popular standard features.
Another great option is the Hyundai Sonata. Its gas-electric hybrid system is impressive, and it is available in three trims. The interior is stylish and modern. However, it is not cheap.
The Toyota C-HR is another great option for a hybrid. While it was originally a petrol-only model, it has recently been introduced with a self-charging hybrid powertrain. There’s a choice of a self-charging 450h or 350h model.
Land Rover’s Discovery Plug-in Hybrid is one of the most desirable SUVs on the market. Although it is in a higher tax band than most SUVs, its impressive emissions figures make it an attractive option.
Lexus is also launching a plug-in hybrid NX. It will rival the BMW X3 xDrive30e, the Mercedes GLC 300 e, and the Volvo XC60 Recharge.
Nissan ZR-V
The new Nissan ZR-V hybrid vehicle to buy in 2023 will have a unique and unusually powerful electric motor. Its powertrain will likely compete with other hybrid vehicles like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER.
The new ZR-V will come in both a hybrid version and a conventional petrol model. Its hybrid engine will be powered by a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with two electric motors.
In addition to the petrol and hybrid variants, the new ZR-V will also offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain. While no exact details have been revealed, it is expected to share the same hybrid setup as the Honda Civic.
The ZR-V is expected to arrive in Australia by the end of 2023. It is expected to be built in Japan, and will have an export market. As such, the model will likely have a Japanese market homologation data.
This reveals that the model will have a maximum hybridisation of 120g/km CO2 emissions, and a 157 kW output. This is the same as the standard 2.0-litre petrol engine, but it is also able to produce 315Nm of torque.
The ZR-V will be available in four drive modes – highway, city, snow and off-road. All of them have been developed to give the driver a high-quality driving experience in a variety of driving situations.