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The old reputation of SUVs being gas-guzzlers is over. With more hybrid crossovers on the market, the compromise of sacrificing fuel economy for more versatility is going away, with fuel economy numbers in SUVs you might expect to find in tiny commuter cars. A hybrid SUV won’t cost you an arm and a leg, either, and you can even get one from a luxury brand and another with three rows of seats for less than $40,000.
Here are six great new hybrid SUVs for less than $40,000 for 2020. All prices listed below include destination charges and don’t include any potential tax incentives for plug-in hybrids. Those vary depending on where you live, so your prices on some of these hybrid crossovers could be even lower.
Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX Premium — $36,320
Kia The Kia Niro hybrid
The Kia Niro is one of our favorite hybrids because of how many options it gives you. You can get one as an affordable conventional hybrid, you can get one as an EV or you can split the difference and go with a plug-in hybrid that runs on electricity with a gas engine under the hood to eliminate range anxiety. The result is an impressive 105 combined MPGe rating and an electric range of 26 miles. You can get the top trim of the Niro PHEV while keeping the price under $40k and it gives you leather seating, a heated steering wheel, an excellent UVO 8-in infotainment system, wireless charging and much more.
Lexus UX 250h F Sport — $37,375
Lexus The Lexus UX
That’s right, you can get a hybrid SUV from a luxury brand for less than $40,000. The Lexus UX 250h is actually the most affordable hybrid model that Lexus has to offer. It has a stellar combined miles per gallon rating of 39 mpg and the F Sport trim adds bold styling and an upgraded interior with aluminum pedals, a perforated leather-trimmed steering wheel, sport seats and an 8-in infotainment system. You also get a sport-tuned suspension, adding a little bit of fun to your frugal hybrid.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV — $37,490
Mitsubishi The Mitsubishi Outlander hybrid
The Mitsubishi MSBHY, -0.93% Outlander PHEV is one of the few compact SUVs in its class available with a plug-in hybrid variant. It achieves 74 combined MPGe and it gives you the everyday practicality of a compact crossover, all at a reasonable price. The hybrid powertrain becomes available at the SEL trim level of the Outlander, which has features including leather seats, automatic headlights, a power lift gate and blind spot monitoring. The all-electric range is 22 miles, which makes it nice for getting around town without burning any gas.
Also read: The newest electric vehicles with the most range
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid — $36,155
The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the first-ever plug-in hybrid Subaru and it’s both a good hybrid and a good Subaru. By that, we mean it delivers impressive hybrid efficiency without sacrificing any off-road ruggedness that the brand is known for. For example, all-wheel drive is still standard and the electric torque provided by the hybrid powertrain is actually a benefit for crossing tough obstacles off-road. It also comes with an impressive list of standard features that helps justify the price premium over a standard Crosstrek. The Crosstrek Hybrid achieves an all-electric range of 17 miles and a combined 90 MPGe rating.
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Toyota Highlander Hybrid — $39,320
The Toyota Highlander was fully redesigned for 2020, which means a new hybrid model. The new Highlander Hybrid gets a combined fuel economy rating of 34 mpg, which is outstanding for a midsize three-row crossover. It also wears a modern new look and a roomier interior than its predecessor, plus impressive new technology like the Toyota TM, -0.67% Safety Sense 2.0 safety tech suite on every trim, which includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane tracing assist. The spacious and efficient Highlander Hybrid is the most family-friendly SUV on this list.
Toyota RAV4 Limited Hybrid — $37,750
Toyota Toyota RAV4 hybrid
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is an excellent value in hybrid SUVs and the top trim can be had under the $40k mark. In this case, going with the hybrid does not mean sacrificing performance. The hybrid powertrain is quite peppy with over 200 horsepower while returning 40 combined mpg, and that’s with standard AWD on every hybrid model. The interior is roomy and upscale with a generous cargo area. The Limited trim gives you luxuries like navigation, JBL premium audio, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and the advanced Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of driver-assist technologies.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
