These 3 Hybrid 3rd-Row Full-Size SUVs Might Be Available Within the Year
If you’re interested in a 3rd row SUV with a hybrid powertrain, you know there are not many options. In Part One of my hybrid 3rd row SUV series, I discussed the options by Ford and Toyota and the Lincoln and Lexus SUVs that share these chassis. In Part Two I went over their competitors from Kia, Volvo, and Range Rover. But of all these vehicles, only the Toyota Sequoia is a true full-frame, full-size fully hybrid SUV. Here are three more full-size hybrid 3rd row SUVs on the horizon.
Grand Wagoneer 4xe
Jeep offers a plug-in hybrid 4xe drivetrain in its Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe. But it doesn’t offer any of its current 4xe vehicles with a 3rd row of seating. That’s all going to change with the arrival of the Wagoneer 4xe.
During Jeep’s “4xe day” press event, the automaker showed the first glimpse of its new Grand Wagoneer 4xe. The automaker added that with 500 miles of combined electric and gasoline range the plug-in hybrid will be able to drive from New York, NY to Toronto, Canada on a single tank/charge–or 500 miles. But how much of this range will actually be electric? Well, the 1,000-pound lighter Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offers 24 miles of all-electric range. We hope the Grand Wagoneer 4xe gets a bigger battery and maintains or improves that 24-mile number.
Lexus LX600
Though we have no official announcement from Toyota Motors, a hybrid 2023 Lexus LX600 is very likely. Here’s the backstory: in the fall of 2021, Toyota rolled out an all-new Tundra that is powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 instead of a V8. Shortly after, Lexus launched the LX600 with the same chassis and drivetrain as the base Tundra. Recently, Toyota began building a top-trim engine for the Tundra: the powerful i-FORCE MAX hybrid version of the same V6. It also began building the all-new Sequoia SUV, every one of which will have the hybrid powertrain.
It’s highly unlikely Toyota will let the Sequoia outshine its Lexus cousin. We fully expect to see every 2023 LX600 SUV with a hybrid engine. The 3.44-liter twin-turbocharged V6 actually began its life in the LS 500. With the addition of an electric motor, the i-FORCE MAX makes 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. In the 2WD Sequoia, it gets 21 city/24 highway mpg (22 combined).
Ford Expedition
Over a year before Toyota rolled out a hybrid Tundra, Ford launched its own hybrid pickup truck: the F-150 PowerBoost. The PowerBoost hybrid drivetrain benefits from Ford’s time-tested 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, a durable turbocharged engine that has won over many V8 fans. Ford also opted for a lithium-ion battery instead of Toyota’s nickel unit. The result makes 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque.
In the Tundra, Toyota’s hybrid gets 20 city/24 highway mpg (22 combined)–according to the EPA. This doesn’t come close to the PowerBoost F-150’s 25 city/25 highway (25 combined). We could expect a PowerBoost Expedition to have a similar edge over the Sequoia. So will we ever get a hybrid Expedition? The PowerBoost is already the top-trim F-150 engine. If Ford is undecided about offering it in the Expedition, you can bet company brass will be watching hybrid Sequoia sales closely.
Next, learn more about 3rd row hybrid SUVs or check out Jeep’s Grand Wagoneer 4xe teaser in the video below:
