Go with the mid-grade XSE trim for heated seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat and the option to upgrade to a 12.3-inch touch screen. (The closest priced competitor on this list is the BMW 330e, which starts at $44,900 - or nearly $10,000 more.) The Prius Prime also returns the highest fuel efficiency ratings of any model on this list.Īll models come with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot and an 8-inch touchscreen, as well as advanced safety features such as a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and safe-exit assist. The XSE trim is well-equipped with comfort, safety and tech features - and it costs several thousand dollars less than rival PHEVs.

Our picks are here.) Our Picks for the Best Plug-In Hybrid CarsīMW 530e - Best for Features and TechnologyĪ plug-in cousin to the pioneering regular Prius hybrid, the Toyota Prius Prime is an affordable, fuel-efficient and sporty plug-in hybrid that’s fun to drive. The specs listed below each review are for the trim level we assessed, which was the one we judged offered the best value for the money. (The latter includes their fuel efficiency, which we list below as MPGe - which is how far the car would run on the equivalent in electricity of a gallon of gas.)īelow are four top choices, with explanations on how each stands out from the pack. We evaluated the best plug-in hybrid cars on the market for the attributes that we think matter most - including value for money, safety, battery range and performance. That means most PHEV owners can travel to work (or run the day’s errands) on a single battery charge, and turn to gas power as needed on days when they’ll drive further than usual. A couple of the PHEV cars on this list have an electric range of at least 40 miles, which is the length of the average U.S.

The battery range of plug-ins is much shorter than that of EVs (like electric cars and electric SUVs) but that may not be a major problem for drivers. A PHEV travels a certain number of miles on electrical power alone, before switching over to its gas engine when the battery has run down. Their powertrains combine an electric motor with a traditional gas engine.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles, known as PHEVs, let car shoppers go electric without giving up the range and reliability of a gas-only vehicle.

Plug in hybrid vehicle