5 Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles With the Longest Range
The car industry packed a smaller punch in 2023.
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Looking for an electric commuting fix, but don't want to commit to a full-on electric vehicle (EV)? Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) offer a solid compromise, delivering battery-only cruising backed up by a gas engine that can kick in for longer trips.
Which plug-in hybrids provide the best imitation of an electric car? Here are the five PHEVs with the longest battery range at the time of publishing.
2022 Karma GS-6: 61 Miles
Karma is an unusual company, one that has bounced around the luxury segment in varying forms as an alternative to more established players such as BMW and Audi. The Karma GS-6 is the PHEV version of its current full-size four-door sedan, a vehicle that delivers aggressive styling to go with the 536 hp and 550 lb.-ft. of torque delivered by its gasoline-electric drivetrain.
The $84,000-plus GS-6 relies primarily on its 1.5L, turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine and pair of electric motors for motivation, but its 28 kWh battery pack also allows for 61 miles of EV-only driving. That gives it more electric range than any other PHEV currently on the market.
Land Rover
2023 Land Rover Range Rover PHEV: 48 Miles
The redesigned Land Rover Range Rover brings an upgraded PHEV model into the mix. Known as the P440e or the PHEV, this full-size SUV makes the most of its maximalist dimensions to house a battery that's even larger than that of the Karma. With 32 kWh of storage, the heavier Range Rover PHEV can't quite match the lighter GS-6 in terms of all-electric range, but it still posts an impressive 48 miles total.
When not cruising on electrons alone, the four-wheel drive Land Rover Range Rover 440e makes use of 434 hp and 405 lb.-ft. of torque from its turbocharged 3.0L six-cylinder engine and single electric motor. Pricing for the Range Rover PHEV checks in around $110,000.
Toyota
2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime: 42 Miles
The around $42,000 Toyota RAV4 Prime is the PHEV version of one of the most popular sport-utility vehicles in the U.S. Featuring the same practicality and comfort of the standard RAV4, the Prime ups the ante when it comes to power and performance. Its 2.5L, four-cylinder engine works with a pair of electric motors to send 302 hp to all four wheels, giving it a clear acceleration advantage over other versions of the RAV4. The electric car's 18.1 kWh battery also gives it up to 42 miles of electric driving range.
Ford
2022 Ford Escape SE PHEV: 37 Miles
Hot on the heels of the RAV4 Prime is the considerably cheaper Ford Escape SE PHEV at about $39,000. Its 14.4 kWh battery provides 37 miles of electric driving range, which is only five miles less than the Toyota. When it comes to the overall experience however, the front-wheel drive Escape SE PHEV isn't quite as scintillating in a straight line. Expect several additional seconds to elapse in the sprint to 60 mph compared to the RAV4 Prime. This is due to its more modest 221 hp for the total system, with only a single electric motor working alongside its 2.5L, four-cylinder gas engine.
Lexus
2023 Lexus NX 450H+: 37 Miles
The Lexus NX 450H+ features an almost identical electric drivetrain to the Toyota RAV4 Prime, with which it shares its platform. This means that the extra $17,000 or so spent on the Lexus (about $59,000 MSRP) brings with it more aggressive styling and additional interior luxuries and features rather than a performance upgrade. The NX 450H+ does produce an extra two horses compared to the RAV4 Prime, bringing the total to 304 hp, but the extra weight of its design hobbles the all-wheel drive SUV to 37 miles of electric driving range.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
