Only 2 Plug-in Hybrid SUVs Are Featured on KBB’s Best Midsize SUV List
Kelley Blue Book ranked the best midsize SUVs of 2022 and 2023. Two plug-in hybrids made the cut. Both of the plug-in hybrids even outranked the popular Hyundai Palisade midsize SUV.
Kelley Blue Book is diggin’ the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid
The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid midsize SUV that uses a turbocharged engine and an electric motor. The PHEV is able to travel on just electricity, extending its total driving range and making it more efficient overall.
The Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid gets a power boost from its electric motor and can go the distance for cheaper than many of its rivals. Its low refueling cost is part of the midsize SUV’s appeal. Kelley Blue Book ranked the 2022 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid over the Hyundai Palisade despite the Palisade’s close relation to the current most popular midsize SUV: the Kia Telluride.
So, why does KBB like the Sorento PHEV so much? The 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid starts at $45,190. It uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor to make 261 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid midsize SUV gets 34 miles per gallon combined. It has a 32-mile electric-only driving range.
The Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive. It includes standard keyless entry, a leather steering wheel, and heated front seats. The Sorento PHEV is an affordable midsize SUV that provides plenty of value as a family hauler.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid competes at the highest level
The Kia Telluride is expectedly at the top of Kelley Blue Book’s list of best midsize SUVs of 2022 and 2023, but the second-place winner is a bit of a shocker. The automotive company ranks the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid right below the popular Kia Telluride.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV starts at $40K. Like the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, the midsize SUV uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to make 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid gets 32 miles per gallon combined, making it slightly less fuel efficient than its South Korean cousin. It can travel for 31 miles using just electricity.
The Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV includes standard heated side mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators, a Hyundai digital key, and all-wheel drive. It provides great value for the money at a more affordable price than Kia’s PHEV midsize SUV.
Why plug-in hybrid SUVs could become wildly popular
We’ve entered an interesting era on the road to electrification. Several major automakers have promised to electrify 40% or more of their portfolios in the decades to come. Automakers like Toyota aren’t going all in on EVs yet, because there are plenty of pitfalls to electric vehicle production. EVs rely on battery minerals that require deep-sea mining.
Charging infrastructure is hardly practical yet. EVs are also significantly more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts. PHEVs are a pleasant middle ground that fans of gas and electric vehicles can admire.
