10 Most Reliable Hybrid SUVs

2018 BMW X5 edrive front three quarter plugged in hero ・ Photo by BMW

There was a time when the only hybrids you could buy were small economy cars. Once the popularity of these fuel-efficient vehicles increased, automakers expanded their hybrid offerings to include full-size sedans and SUVs. These days there are plenty of hybrids to choose from no matter what kind of vehicle you need.

The popularity of SUVs and crossovers means that many of today’s top-selling models are available with hybrid powertrains, meaning they include both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. All those choices can make it hard to decide which one is right for you, but vehicle reliability is a great way to narrow the choices. Here are the 10 most reliable hybrid SUVs you can buy today.

2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid

The Acura MDX Sport Hybrid offers seating for up to seven passengers with a starting price of $52,100. Power comes from a 3.0-liter V6 engine with 257 horsepower, which is complemented by three electric motors: one to help power the front wheels and one for each rear wheel. It has 321 net system horsepower with EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 26 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined.

Standard features include all-wheel drive, perforated leather-trimmed seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar, an eight-way power front passenger seat, heated front seats, and a sliding second row with adjustable seatback angles. There’s also a choice of either a second-row bench seat or second-row captain’s chairs.

Photo by Acura

2018 Lexus RX 450h

The Lexus RX 450h is a two-row hybrid SUV with room for up to five passengers and pricing starting at $45,695. This year, there’s a new long-wheelbase version with an extra row that expands seating to accommodate up to seven passengers. It has a higher starting price of $50,620.

Power for both versions of the RX 450h comes from a 3.5-liter V6 engine and with three electric motors and standard all-wheel drive. It has 308 net system horsepower and EPA-estimated fuel economy of 30 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined.

Photo by Lexus

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Toyota has a strong reputation for building reliable cars, so it’s no surprise to see the RAV4 Hybrid make the list. Pricing starts at $27,235 with room for five passengers and standard all-wheel drive. Power comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors. It has 194 net system horsepower and achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 34 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined.

Standard features include a dual-zone automatic climate control system, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, 60/40 split-folding rear seat, and Entune audio system with AM/FM/CD and six speakers. There are 35.6 cubic feet of cargo behind that backseat and 70.6 cubic feet in total when you fold the rear seat flat.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Toyota grabs its second spot on our list for the Highlander Hybrid. This mid-size gas-electric SUV offers room for up to eight passengers with standard all-wheel drive and a starting price of $36,670. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 engine and three electric motors for 306 net system horsepower.

It gets an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined in the base LE trim with slight drops in those numbers for higher trims. The Highlander Hybrid combines great fuel economy with good cargo capacity. There’s up to 13.8 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 42.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 83.7 cubic feet behind the front seats.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Lexus NX 300h

The Lexus NX 300h is a hybrid SUV with room for five passengers. It comes standard with all-wheel drive and is priced from $38,335, which marks a price drop from last year’s model. Power comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors for 194 net system horsepower. It achieves an EPA-estimated 33 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined.

There are 16.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet in total with the 60/40 split-folding rear seat folded. Standard features include a leather-trimmed steering wheel, 10-way power driver’s seat, eight-way power front passenger seat, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and 7-inch infotainment screen with navigation.

Photo by Lexus

2018 Kia Niro

The Kia Niro appeared for 2017 as an all-new hybrid-only model, so there aren’t long-term reliability ratings. But based on how the model was rated last year, along with Kia’s strong reputation for reliability, the Niro earns a place on our list. The Niro comes in three trim levels, starting at $23,340 with seating for five passengers and front-wheel drive only.

Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor for 139 net system horsepower. It achieves an EPA-estimated 51 mpg in the city, 46 mpg on the highway, and 49 mpg combined. There are 19.4 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seat, and 54.5 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seat folded.

Photo by Kia

2018 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid

The Porsche Cayenne might be out of reach for many with a starting price of $79,900, but it’s unique on our list for being a true performance SUV with an available hybrid powertrain. Its supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine and electric motor boast 416 net system horsepower with 435 lb-ft of torque. It will do 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, making it exceptionally quick for an SUV.

The Cayenne has strong reliability ratings, but despite being a hybrid, its fuel economy isn’t particularly impressive. A plug-in hybrid, it achieves an EPA-estimated 46 MPGe with a 14-mile all-electric driving range. It takes 2.7 hours to fully charge with the standard 3.6-kilowatt onboard charger or as little as 1.3 hours with an optional 7.2-kilowatt charger.

Photo by Porsche

2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e

The BMW X5 plug-in hybrid is a luxury SUV with room for five passengers. An optional third row expands seating to seven, but it’s a squeeze. The X5 is best for five with a comfortable cabin and numerous standard amenities. Pricing starts at $63,750, making it a comparatively affordable choice for those who want a luxury performance SUV but have a smaller budget.

Power comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It can travel up to 14 miles in electric mode and has 308 net system horsepower. The X5 hybrid achieves an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe and can be fully charged in as little as 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Photo by BMW

2018 Volvo XC90 T8 eAWD Plug-In Hybrid

The Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid is a luxury SUV with elegant styling and room for up to seven passengers. It has a starting price of $64,950 and comes standard with all-wheel drive. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor with 400 net system horsepower and an all-electric range of 19 miles.

EPA-estimated fuel economy is 62 MPGe gas and electric combined. Factor out the plug-in range and fuel economy is 26 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. When it comes time for cargo, there’s 85.7 cubic feet behind the front seats with the second and third rows folded.

Photo by Volvo

2018 Volvo XC60 T8 eAWD Plug-In Hybrid

The Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid comes in two trim levels with standard all-wheel drive. It has the benefits of a hybrid powertrain with slightly smaller packaging than the XC90. It also has a more affordable starting price of $56,700. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor with 400 net system horsepower. It posts a 0-60 mph time of only 4.9 seconds.

EPA-estimated fuel economy for the XC60 plug-in hybrid is 59 MPGe gas and electric combined. Minus the all-electric range, it's rated for 26 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. There’s room for five passengers and plenty of cargo with 63.3 cubic feet behind the front seats.

Photo by Volvo