9 Plug-In Hybrid SUVs With the Best MPGe

These SUVs can plug in to go farther.

Sami Haj-Assaad | 
Aug 16, 2024 | 5 min read

Ford Escape PHEVFord

Plug-in hybrid SUVs might be capable of checking all your boxes. They're spacious, usually offer all-wheel drive, and can drive on electricity alone.

Most plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) can boast high miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent, or MPGe, an estimate of the vehicle's efficiency when operating on battery power alone using its electric motor or motors for motivation.

A PHEV has a battery you can charge by connecting it to a power source as well as a gasoline engine. The mpg ratings are estimates. Real-world results depend heavily on the owner and how drivers use their vehicles.

To qualify for this list, a vehicle must have a port for charging the onboard battery, the capability to drive on battery power alone for a significant range, and an internal-combustion engine (ICE) to work with the electrical system. In the case of a tie, the vehicle with the best electric-only range ranks higher. The manufacturers' reported figures are being used as the basis for these rankings.

Here are the nine best PHEV SUVs with the best MPGe for 2024.

2024 Mitsubishi Outlander whiteMitsubishi

9. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | 64 MPGe, 38 all-electric miles

The redesigned Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV wears bold styling and makes use of a 2.4-liter gas engine with two electric motors for a combined 248 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque. Starting at about $40,000, it is one of the few three-row PHEV SUVs available.

2024 Mini SE Countryman ALL4BMW

8. Mini SE Countryman ALL4 PHEV | 73 MPGe, 17 all-electric miles

As the Mini SE Countryman shows, not all PHEV crossover SUVs are big and burly. Then again, compared with some of the other rides on this list, the Mini has significantly less power and range. The combined output from the gas-electric powertrain is 221 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque.

The 17 miles of all-electric range is a limitation, but the efficient gas motor helps maintain Mini's green credentials. This crossover starts at around $38,000.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV CalligraphyHyundai

7. Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV | 36/35/36 mpg city/highway/combined

The Korean automakers have been slowly electrifying the more popular offerings in their lineup, including the midsize Santa Fe PHEV. Like Hyundai's Sorento, Sportage, and Tucson, the Santa Fe PHEV features a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and an electric motor for a combined 231 horsepower.

The Santa Fe has standard all-wheel drive and includes plenty of crash-avoidance and driver-assistance tech for easy cruising and peace of mind. It starts at about $37,000.

2024 Kia Sorento PHEVKia

6. Kia Sorento PHEV | 79 MPGe, 32 all-electric miles

The Kia Sorento separates itself from the Hyundai Santa Fe with rugged styling and a third row of seats. While the powertrain is identical to the one found in the Santa Fe, the Sorento is more efficient than the Santa Fe with a larger all-electric range. While it has more MPGe, it's also a bit more expensive, starting at around $50,000.

Hyundai Tucson PHEVHyundai

5. Hyundai Tucson PHEV | 80 MPGe, 33 all-electric miles

The Tucson is slightly smaller than the Santa Fe but uses the same size and spec running gear, allowing it to be a bit more efficient. At about $38,000, it's one of the more affordable PHEVs on the market.

While it includes standard wireless smartphone projection, it lacks the highway driving assist found on the Santa Fe.

2025 Kia Sportage PHEVKia

4. Kia Sportage PHEV | 84 MPGe, 34 all-electric miles

This Korean PHEV is the most efficient, managing more than 80 MPGe and delivering 34 miles of all-electric range. Recharging the 13.8-kWh battery takes less than two hours using a 240-volt charger. The Sportage stands out from the Tucson with its rugged off-road styling, starting at around $41,000.

2025 Lexus NX 450h+Lexus

3. Lexus NX450h+ | 84 MPGe, 37 all-electric miles

Luxury SUVs can be thrifty, especially those from Lexus. The new 2025 Lexus NX450h+ shares many components with the popular Toyota RAV4 Prime and offers 304 horsepower from its gas-electric powertrain. It is loaded with technology and style and can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 6 seconds. It starts at about $62,000, which is $16,000 more than the standard NX350h hybrid for that plug-in ability.

Toyota RAV4 PrimeToyota

2. Toyota RAV4 Prime | 94 MPGe, 42 all-electric miles

Toyota has been building hybrid vehicles for a long time, and the plug-in RAV4 Prime has 42 miles of all-electric range and an incredibly efficient powertrain with 302 horsepower and 94 MPGe, with a starting price of around $44,000.

2023 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid and ST-Line EliteFord

1. Ford Escape PHEV | 101 MPGe, 40 all-electric miles

The current champion of PHEV SUV MPGe is the 2025 Ford Escape, which costs around $38,000. The four-cylinder engine is aided by an electric motor and combines for 210 horsepower, which is a bit on the low side compared with rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson PHEV, Kia Sportage PHEV, and Toyota RAV4 Prime, but there's no denying those efficiency figures.

Fuel-economy numbers are listed for the 2024 model year, as the 2025 figures are unavailable at the time of publication.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.


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Sami Haj-Assaad

Sami Haj-Assaad is an award-winning automotive journalist who has contributed to several automotive, electric vehicle, luxury lifestyle, and technology publications. His work isn't just limited to the written word, as he's also hosted YouTube videos and podcasts. Having grown up in the '90s, he has a strong sense of attachment to that era's style, though he also loves to geek out about the modern, futuristic tech and powertrains rolling out today.


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