7 Great Plug-In Hybrid SUVs for 2026

Determine if the PHEV lifestyle is for you by learning more about these 7 2026 SUVs.

Tom Murphy | 

Feb 12, 2026 | 5 min read

Toyota

Thanks to a larger battery and more powerful electric drive motor than conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) can travel short distances solely on electricity and then switch to gas-electric hybrid operation during longer trips. Effective PHEVs, such as the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, 2026 BMW X5 xDrive 50e, and 2026 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, bridge the gap between conventional hybrids and pure electric vehicles. 

Usually, a PHEV isn't as efficient as a hybrid unless you maximize its electric-only range. When regularly recharged, PHEVs use less fuel while reducing range anxiety. 

Most modern plug-in hybrids are SUVs. If you're in the market for a PHEV, learn more about these seven 2026 plug-in hybrid SUVs, listed in alphabetical order.

BMW

2026 BMW X5 xDrive50e

A midsize SUV with seating for five people, the BMW X5 is available as a plug-in hybrid: the X5 xDrive 50e. The SUV is equipped with a PHEV powertrain based on a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and includes standard all-wheel drive (AWD).

While BMW is a luxury brand with corresponding prices, this SUV offers plenty for the price: It makes 483 horsepower, can sprint to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, provides an all-electric range of up to 38 miles, and averages 22 mpg when the gas engine is running. Better yet, for the 2026 model year, the X5 PHEV will charge faster at 11 kilowatts (kW), up from the previous 7.4 kW.

Hyundai

2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid

With good reason, the Hyundai Tucson is consistently the Korean brand's bestselling vehicle in the United States. This two-row compact crossover SUV packs a lot of utility into an affordable package that is well-suited for young families. 

With a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid comes standard with AWD and has a total output of 268 horsepower. It can run 32 miles on electricity alone, and this is rated at 35 mpg when driven as a hybrid. Hyundai's ownership perks — such as an above-average warranty — make it even more appealing, even though the automaker has dropped the previously available free scheduled maintenance for 2026. 

Kia

2026 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid

A larger SUV with three rows of seating, the Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid features a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and standard AWD. It delivers 261 horsepower, can travel 31 miles in electric mode, and boasts a combined city and highway fuel-economy rating of 33 mpg when used as a conventional hybrid. 

The 2026 Sorento PHEV offers a new X-Line exterior appearance treatment with glossy black wheels and trim, and the SUV comes standard with Terrain Mode for improved traction on unpaved surfaces.

Lexus

2026 Lexus RX 450h+ Plug-in Hybrid

The 2006 Lexus RX 400h became the world's first luxury hybrid SUV. Conventional hybrid versions of the RX are still available, but so is the RX Plug-in Hybrid, which can drive 38 miles without burning a drop of gasoline.

Two electric motors power the front and rear wheels as long as there's enough juice in the battery pack. When that runs out, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine fires up. The RX 450h+ boasts 304 horsepower and a combined city and highway fuel-economy rating of 35 mpg. For the 2026 model year, Lexus introduces a less expensive Premium grade for the RX PHEV.

Mercedes-Benz

2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e

Last year, Mercedes added a game-changing version of its compact GLC SUV: the GLC 350e, a plug-in hybrid luxury SUV with a claimed electric-only driving range of 54 miles. After that, the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine kicks in to continue the journey as a traditional hybrid, averaging 25 mpg in combined driving. 

That four-cylinder engine pairs with an electric motor and a battery pack with a usable capacity of 23.3 kilowatt-hours (kWh). Total system output measures 313 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, and Mercedes estimates it will accelerate to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. For the 2026 model year, 19-inch wheels are a no-cost upgrade, and the MBUX infotainment system offers Entertainment Plus capabilities for online music and video streaming with the Exclusive and Pinnacle trim packages.

Toyota

2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The Toyota RAV4 is the bestselling SUV in the U.S., and the redesigned sixth-generation model offers a choice between conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. 

Expected to be available in spring 2026, the 2026 RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid will arrive with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a total system output of 324 horsepower, and up to 52 miles of all-electric range. Toyota says the SUV will return up to 41 mpg in combined city and highway driving when used as a conventional hybrid without plugging in. In addition to SE and XSE trim levels, the 2026 RAV4 PHEV is available in rugged Woodland and performance-tuned GR Sport variants.

Volvo

2026 Volvo XC60 T8

Volvo has plenty of experience building plug-in hybrids. The Swedish automaker introduced its first PHEV in Europe in 2012, and recently sold its millionth plug-in hybrid globally. Currently, just two PHEVs are in the Volvo lineup: the XC60 T8 and XC90 T8.

The compact XC60 is Volvo's bestselling model in the U.S., and the T8 plug-in hybrid version is the most powerful and efficient example of the SUV. It employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, delivers a combined 455 horsepower, travels up to 35 miles in all-electric mode, and averages 28 mpg in standard hybrid mode. For 2026, it gets a new infotainment system and a light refresh both inside and out. 

Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy has been a journalist in metro Detroit for 39 years, the last 28 spent covering the auto industry from every angle, reviewing new vehicles, diving into new technology, and building relationships with automotive contacts around the world. During his 25 years at WardsAuto, Tom led the selection process for and expanded the Wards 10 Best competitions from 2009 to 2022. Tom became executive editor at Autoweek.com in January 2022, running the website, learning to appreciate motorsports, and continuing to drive and evaluate new vehicles. He's working as a freelance automotive journalist now and makes time to drive — and wrench extensively on — the 1953 Packard Patrician he bought in 2021. Tom lives in Royal Oak with his wife, has two grown children, runs half-marathons, and has a fish pond.