While plugging in and living within your means can seem incompatible, a rising number of cars and SUVs now come with an upfront cost of less than $50,000 and a pure electric range of more than 35 miles. We identified the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that truly deliver for lengthy road journeys by considering both range and miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), which combines electric range with gasoline economy.
2025 Plug-in Hybrid Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius Prime, now known as the Prius Plug-in Hybrid for 2025, keeps its industry-leading plug-in hybrid vehicle specifications. With a pure electric range of 44 miles, it performs better than the competition—including other Toyota plug-in vehicles. Its MPGe is increased to an astounding 127 as a result (or 52 mpg combined in hybrid mode). In comparison, that renders the conventional Toyota Prius mild hybrid insignificant. Nevertheless, the Plug-in Hybrid is more expensive than the normal Prius; the base SE model starts at about $35,000.
2025 Kia Niro PHEV
With 33 miles of pure electric range and 108 MPGe, the plug-in variant of the Kia Niro is just another example of how the lineup continues getting better. It is priced slightly higher than in 2024 at $35,865 for the EX model, similar to the Prius PHEV. The Niro is offered as an all-electric, mild hybrid, and plug-in hybrid electric car (PHEV EX is the best value in the portfolio). SX Touring, the top plug-in variant, is priced at $42,165.
Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid 2025
Ford’s small SUV, the Escape, makes the PHEV list. Positioned as a standard hybrid with a plug-in option, it has a 210 horsepower 2.5-liter engine that powers 37 miles of all-electric range. At $38,400, it’s one of the more affordable PHEVs on the market, priced far under $50,000. With 101 MPGe, its fuel efficiency helps it place higher on this ranking.
The 2025 Plug-in Hybrid Toyota RAV4
The RAV4, another Toyota plug-in, makes an appearance in the top five. The RAV4, which is currently the best-selling SUV in America, will now go by a new name starting in 2025—it’s now the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, joining the Prius. It provides 42 miles of electric range in plug-in mode and 38 mpg combined in hybrid mode. Its 94 MPGe further increases its allure, particularly considering that it is a larger compact SUV than the Prius Plug-in Hybrid sedan. All-wheel drive is standard on both trim levels, with the base SE starting at $43,865.
Kia Sportage PHEV 2025
With the Sportage PHEV, Kia once again makes the list, surpassing the comparable Hyundai Tucson PHEV. The crossover Sportage has a respectable 34 miles of all-electric range; it’s not the finest. It assigns an 84 MPGe fuel efficiency rating to the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Starting at $41,065 for the plug-in hybrid and little under $30,000 for the standard hybrid, the PHEV variant is a substantial premium for the gas savings.
Concluding thoughts
When comparing PHEV prices, it is difficult to disregard the additional cost of plugging in, particularly in lineups like the Toyota RAV4 with its variety of powertrain options. Nonetheless, drivers should take this extraordinary efficiency into account while making long-term estimates due to the additional upfront cost.
The plug-in premium is still less expensive than the majority of all-electric choices (the Kia Niro series, for example, is more than $5,000 more expensive). With home and public charging stations more accessible than ever and the safety net of a regular gas station fill-up, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are having a moment.
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