The Electric Advantage: Why Hybrid SUVs Are Better Than Gas-Only in 2024
- Hybrid SUVs can travel further on a single tank of gas
- Hybrid SUV models are cheaper to refuel than their gas counterparts over time
- Hybrid SUVs often come with better standard tech and creature comforts than gas counterparts
Hybrid vehicles have become incredibly popular over the last two decades. In fact, even luxury and performance automakers are making hybrid powertrain systems standard on certain vehicles. Hybrid SUVs are better than gas SUVs because they’re more efficient, often more powerful, and provide better long-term value. Here’s why 2024 could be the year of the hybrid SUV.
Hybrid SUVs beat gas-only, data shows
If you’re hating on the electric revolution, I have bad news for you. Hybrid technology has crept its way into just about every crevice of the automotive industry. Hybrid powertrain systems are even replacing mighty V8 engines in bulky SUVs like the Toyota Sequoia.
Proposing that hybrid SUVs are superior to typical internal combustion engine SUVs may seem cringeworthy, but let’s look at the facts. Thanks to automakers like Toyota, hybrid tech and hybrid vehicles are more capable than ever before in history. Non-ICE models are more powerful and more efficient than ever. Furthermore, the advent of plug-in hybrid models (which still technically fall under the same umbrella) has changed the world forever.
The fact is, ICE isn’t so hot anymore. There’s a clear industry shift to HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles), PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles), and BEVs (battery-electric vehicles). The Tesla Model Y’s astronomical sales year is solid evidence of this phenomenon. Once the EV hype dies down, many consumers will realize that hybrid vehicles are far superior to internal combustion vehicles based on several important criteria.
In the simplest of terms, hybrid SUVs can get you further for cheaper than most gas SUVs. Additionally, they tend to come with better standard features than their gas counterparts. So, why aren’t more drivers making the switch?
Hybrid and electric resistance is slowly disappearing
A decade ago, flying the hybrid flag meant subjecting yourself to the ridicule of your peers. Today, hybrids rock. The redesigned Toyota Prius even won MotorTrend’s Car of the Year award. Clearly, hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs are improving.
There was once a strong resistance to the electrification of automobiles. Now, it seems like more drivers are on board with the idea of greener vehicles than ever before. Models like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid are accounting for more of the overall market share.
The Toyota Sequoia is proving even massive full-size SUVs can be powered by hybrid powertrain systems. There are still plenty of gas SUVs on the market that offer adequate value for the money, but hybrids are noticeably more appealing as daily drivers thanks to superior fuel economy and other perks. In fact, there are several SUV nameplates that offer more value than hybrids.
SUVs that are better as hybrids for 2024
There are plenty of popular SUV nameplates that have hybrid counterparts. All the models listed below, excluding the Sequoia full-size SUV, have available internal combustion engine siblings that are inferior in terms of fuel economy and cost of ownership savings. Furthermore, the Sequoia hasn’t been more appealing in at least a decade. Part of that appeal is its improved efficiency.
10 SUVs that are better as hybrids for 2024
- Toyota RAV4
- Kia Sportage
- Hyundai Tucson
- Toyota Highlander
- Kia Sorento
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Toyota Grand Highlander
- Honda CR-V
- Toyota Sequoia
- Ford Escape
The gas relatives of the hybrids listed may produce more torque and may be more affordable, but is that enough to convince consumers to get them? Numbers don’t lie, and hybrids are proving to be better buys than gas models in countless head-to-head comparisons. Are gas models losing steam as the year comes to a close?
