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For those of us not fully ready to embrace going all-electric, these plug-in hybrids are the best choices to bring home.
The age of the EV is upon us, and the internal combustion engine is set to fade out soon enough. However, while there's still a bit of time left before that inevitably happens, there are millions of drivers who aren't quite ready to switch to electric vehicles just yet. Call it a love for all things gasoline or a fear of being stranded without a battery in the middle of nowhere, a major share of customers today still haven't made the switch to all-electric cars. This is where plug-in hybrids come in. Dubbed PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles), these vehicles come with an all-electric range which isn't much, but enough to run on all-electric power for about 25-50 miles. There's always the gas engine ready to back you up in case you ever run out of juice in PHEVs, which inspires confidence in PHEV drivers.
The gas engine and electric motor work in tandem in PHEVs, and this combination is perhaps one of the most popular ones today. Every single segment across the board now has plug-in hybrids on offer, spoiling customers for choice, while assuaging their collective conscience with a smaller carbon footprint. Until public charging stations increase, batteries get a lot larger in EVs, or their prices come lower, plug-in hybrid cars do seem to be the way to go, and here are 10 of the great ones that we'd love to have in our driveway.
Honda discontinued their Clarity sedan last year, and while the battery-only variant of the car suffered from low range and low sales, the plug-in hybrid variant has plenty to write home about. With a 48-mile electric range thanks to a 17 kWh battery pack, the Clarity comes with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
Combined, the PHEV Honda Clarity makes 212 horsepower, and a comfortable ride quality that ensures a relaxed commute makes the Honda Clarity PHEV a great everyday sedan to have. With a combined fuel efficiency of 42 MPG and 110 MPGe, this is one car that could help you really get your money's worth, thanks to the PHEV system, and it also receives a full $7,500 tax credit.
The Chrysler Pacifica is one of the best plug-in hybrid minivans on the market. Packed with a 16 kWh battery, the electric range for the Chrysler Pacifica is 32 miles. The model packs a 3.6-liter V6 engine that comes with two electric motors.
When you need an everyday car that packs your entire family and still leaves room for groceries, all while having more fuel efficiency and a smaller carbon footprint, the Chrysler Pacifica proves a great choice.
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Kia offers the 2022 Niro as a hybrid, PHEV, and all-electric vehicle. With attractive styling and remarkably decent interiors, the 5-seater plug-in hybrid delivers 48 MPG in the city and 44 MPG on the highway.
A hybrid compact SUV, the Kia Niro has great handling for its segment, and its light weight also ensures that acceleration isn't a complete dud. The Niro PHEV also comes with a $4,543 credit, and its all-electric range stands at 26 miles. It also charges quickly in 2.5 hours, and there is no denying that the Kia Niro is one of the best cars you could bring home today.
For those of us who want all the utility of a big SUV but don't want to have a gas-guzzling monster in the garage, the Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid is a great option. The 2022 model retails with a big 13.8 kWh battery pack, which offers a 30-mile all-electric range.
The PHEV comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder power unit mated to a 90-hp electric motor, combining to produce 260 horsepower. With leather seats and a host of technological features making the cabin plush and refined, the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV is a great car to bring home and can be driven confidently for both everyday commutes and interstate traveling.
RELATED: 8 Reasons Why You Should Consider One Of Hyundai's SUVs
The Hyundai Ioniq comes as a solid hybrid and plug-in hybrid version and is one of the best sedans an environmentally-conscious buyer could get. A fuel-sipper, the Ioniq PHEV returns over 50 miles to the gallon in both city and highway scenarios.
While it could do with a little more refinement, it manages to deliver a decent, comfortable, and most importantly, efficient ride. The 1.6-liter I4 engine delivers power to the front wheels, and the electric range is 29 miles. An impressive 119 MPGe makes the Ioniq a great PHEV to buy today.
A higher-priced sedan that sits in a segment above the other PHEV sedans on this list, the Volvo S60 recharge comes in 4 trims. The most popular one is by far the Ultimate Dark Theme, which comes with a plug-in hybrid 2.0-liter I4 Turbo engine, which delivers power to all four wheels.
A 31 MPG combined fuel efficiency ensures that the Volvo S60 Recharge remains a gas sipper instead of a guzzler, and it has an impressive range of 41 miles on battery power only. As long as you've got a charging station at or near work, you could find yourself commuting to work and back every day on battery power alone, with the 400 horsepower always ready to kick in when needed.
RELATED: Why The Volvo C40 Recharge Is One Of The Safest Electric Cars You Can Buy
The best-selling vehicle from the South Korean brand, the Hyundai Tucson PHEV is one of the best choices in the hybrid and plug-in hybrid crossover segment. The Tucson manages to check all the right boxes, with impressive performance, great ride quality, gorgeous looks, and agile handling.
All of that comes with a fuel efficiency of 35 MPG in the Tucson PHEV, which runs on a 1.6-liter I4 turbo engine mated to a powerful 66.9 kW electric motor. Again, a 33-mile all-electric range could well cover the commute with battery power alone, ensuring you get to work in style and comfort, and turn heads without draining gasoline every day.
In the subcompact SUV class, there aren't a lot of vehicles that can compete with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman. One of the more upscale choices on the market, the PHEV model for the Countryman isn't too easy on the wallet, but its rich, plush cabin and interior room, along with the quintessential styling that sets every Mini apart make up for it.
The plug-in hybrid Countryman offers great performance and nimble handling, and it is a great PHEV option for sportier customers. With just 17 miles of all-electric range, this isn't the most frugal entry on the list but goes to show how every single segment has been infiltrated with PHEVs and hybrid models.
RELATED: 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider A Mini Countryman (5 Reasons Why We Wouldn't Buy One)
One of the first plug-in hybrids to ever hit the market, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV now has plenty of rivals on the market. However, for a big, butch, full-fledged SUV that also comes with a plug-in hybrid system, the Outlander is easily the choice to go with. Redesigned for 2022, it comes with a 2.4-liter engine, which makes 221 horsepower combined with its electric motor.
The all-electric range of the new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is 24 miles, which is impressive for a car of its size. And while the total range, at 320 miles, could have been better, the Japanese SUV makes up for it with great technological options, and by returning over 26 miles to the gallon.
The quintessential plug-in Hybrid car, Toyota has simply done no wrong with the RAV4 Prime PHEV. The crossover SUV's 18.1 kWh battery delivers 42 miles of all-electric range which should easily cover the commute on battery power alone. A whopping 300 horsepower also makes the RAV4 Prime punchy and powerful.
If you're considering bringing home a plug-in Hybrid car that gets everything right and excels in every aspect, the RAV4 Prime is the car to go with. A 40 MPG fuel efficiency in the city and 36 MPG on the highway make the car a great choice for longer rides as well.
If it has wheels and an engine, Samarveer Singh is going to be obsessed with it. He is a budding Indian motorcycle racer, competing at the national level in his country in his very first year, chasing his dream around every corner of the racetrack. A touring enthusiast, Samarveer is forever stuck between the urge to constantly redline his bike, or save its clutch plates for longer.