Top 10 Hybrid SUVs 2021
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the best hybrid SUV of the 2021 model year: Toyota’s site listed the LE Hybrid at $28,800, and the EPA rates it 41/38/40 mpg city/highway/combined with AWD. The 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid is the best value at $28,030.
At a glance
| # | Pick | Starting MSRP (2021) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (XA50) | $28,800 (LE Hybrid, toyota.com starting MSRP in June 2021) | The best mix of 40 combined mpg, standard-AWD hybrid and a $28,800 starting price |
| 2 | 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid (CX482) | $28,030 (Escape Hybrid, ford.com 2021 nameplate pricing, June 2021) | The lowest starting price here and 41 combined mpg in front-wheel drive |
| 3 | 2021 Toyota Venza (XU80) | $32,470 (LE, excluding $1,175 delivery); XLE $36,000; Limited $39,800 | A hybrid-only, AWD-only two-row crossover at 39 combined mpg |
| 4 | 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid (RW) | $30,560 (EX AWD, excluding $1,225 destination) | AWD standard on all three trims with 38 combined mpg |
| 5 | 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid (MQ4) | $33,590 (S 1.6T Hybrid FWD, excluding $1,175 destination) | A 1.6-liter turbo hybrid with 37 combined mpg and few NHTSA complaints |
| 6 | 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (XU70) | $38,735 (Hybrid LE, toyota.com starting MSRP in June 2021) | The family hybrid pick with 36 combined mpg in FWD |
| 7 | 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime (XA50) | $38,100 (SE, excluding $1,120 delivery); XSE $41,425 | A plug-in with 42 miles of electric range and 302 hp |
| 8 | 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (GT) | $35,345 (single trim, plug-in hybrid) | Snow and dirt roads in a plug-in with 8.7 inches of ground clearance |
| 9 | 2021 Lexus NX 300h (AZ10) | $40,160 (NX 300h AWD, excluding $1,025 delivery) | A compact luxury hybrid with no 2021 recalls filed on NHTSA |
| 10 | 2021 Lexus RX 450h (AL20) | $47,920 (RX 450h AWD, excluding $1,025 delivery) | A V6 hybrid luxury SUV with no 2021 recalls filed on NHTSA |
Pick by what you want
The ranking
2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (XA50)
Toyota’s own site listed the 2021 RAV4 Hybrid LE at $28,800, and the new XLE Premium grade started at $32,500. The EPA rates the hybrid 41/38/40 mpg city/highway/combined, and NHTSA lists 1 recall and 22 complaints under the 2021 RAV4 Hybrid.
2021 Ford Escape Hybrid (CX482)
Ford’s 2021 pricing listed the Escape Hybrid at $28,030. The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive version 44/37/41 mpg and the AWD version 43/37/40. NHTSA lists the 2021 Escape under ESCAPE HYBRID (1 recall, 8 complaints) and ESCAPE HEV (0 recalls, 351 complaints).
2021 Toyota Venza (XU80)
Toyota priced the 2021 Venza LE at $32,470, the XLE at $36,000 and the Limited at $39,800, excluding the $1,175 delivery fee. It is hybrid-only with standard Electronic On-Demand AWD and 219 total system horsepower, rated 40/37/39 mpg; NHTSA lists 2 recalls and 188 complaints.
2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid (RW)
Honda priced the 2021 CR-V Hybrid at $30,560 for the EX, $33,150 for the EX-L and $36,350 for the Touring, all AWD, excluding the $1,225 destination charge. Every trim is rated 40/35/38 mpg; NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 444 complaints.
2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid (MQ4)
Kia priced the 2021 Sorento Hybrid S at $33,590 and the EX at $36,590, both front-wheel drive, excluding the $1,175 destination charge. The EPA rates it 39/35/37 mpg, and NHTSA lists 2 recalls and 21 complaints.
2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (XU70)
Toyota’s 2021 Highlander Hybrid started at $38,735 for the LE, with the XLE at $41,535, Limited at $45,490 and Platinum at $48,690. The EPA rates FWD at 36/35/36 mpg and AWD at 35/35/35; NHTSA lists 4 recalls and 15 complaints.
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime (XA50)
Toyota priced the 2021 RAV4 Prime SE at $38,100 and the XSE at $41,425, excluding the $1,120 delivery fee. It makes up to 302 horsepower, goes 0-60 mph in a projected 5.7 seconds, and has up to 42 EPA-estimated miles on battery and up to 94 combined MPGe. NHTSA lists 4 recalls and 99 complaints.
2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (GT)
Subaru priced the 2021 Crosstrek Hybrid at $35,345 in a single trim. The plug-in is rated 35 mpg and 90 MPGe with up to 17 miles of electric driving, 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive; NHTSA lists 1 recall and 1 complaint.
2021 Lexus NX 300h (AZ10)
Lexus priced the 2021 NX 300h AWD at $40,160, the Luxury at $46,610 and the Black Line at $46,910, excluding the $1,025 delivery fee. The EPA rates it 33/30/31 mpg; NHTSA lists 0 recalls and 17 complaints.
2021 Lexus RX 450h (AL20)
Lexus priced the 2021 RX 450h AWD at $47,920, with the three-row RX 450hL AWD at $51,310 and the Luxury at $57,210. The EPA rates the RX 450h AWD 31/28/30 mpg; NHTSA lists 0 recalls and 70 complaints.
How we ranked these
Questions people ask
What was the best hybrid SUV of 2021?
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Toyota’s site listed the LE Hybrid at $28,800, and it is EPA rated 41/38/40 mpg city/highway/combined with AWD.
What was the cheapest 2021 hybrid SUV?
The 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid at $28,030 on Ford’s 2021 nameplate pricing, with 41 combined mpg in front-wheel drive.
Which 2021 hybrid SUV got the best mpg?
The front-wheel-drive 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid, EPA rated 44/37/41 mpg city/highway/combined. The 2021 RAV4 Hybrid AWD is rated 40 combined.
Which 2021 hybrid SUV is a plug-in?
The 2021 RAV4 Prime has up to 42 miles of EPA-estimated electric range and starts at $38,100. The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is also a plug-in, with up to 17 miles of electric driving at $35,345.
Published starting MSRP, 2021 model year (USD) at a glance
Official sites
- 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (XA50) · web.archive.org
- 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid (CX482) · web.archive.org
- 2021 Toyota Venza (XU80) · pressroom.toyota.com
- 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid (RW) · hondanews.com
- 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid (MQ4) · kiamedia.com
- 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (XU70) · web.archive.org
- 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime (XA50) · pressroom.toyota.com
- 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (GT) · media.subaru.com
- 2021 Lexus NX 300h (AZ10) · lexus-cms-media.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com
- 2021 Lexus RX 450h (AL20) · lexus-cms-media.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com
Sources
- pressroom.toyota.com
- pressroom.toyota.com
- fueleconomy.gov
- fueleconomy.gov
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- fueleconomy.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.