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Fuel frugality has been revived by the emergence of gasoline at as low as two dollars per liter. According to an Auto Pacific survey, almost three quarters of American SUV owners would consider electrification in order to reduce the pump pain. Market reports have shown that this green-ness is real. Recent reports show that the number of zero-emissions electric cars has risen due to a shortage of crude oil. However, we’re not ready to give up our road-hogging machines. Only 17 percent of those surveyed said they would downsize.
In all the fossil-fueled angst, it is often overlooked that hybrid technology offers a cost-effective alternative to pure ICE power. Hybrid technology is mature enough to allow for a very competitive markup, especially when compared to their more advanced, but more expensive, plug-in alternatives. Hybrids can be very cost-effective, and provide the fastest return on your emissions.
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This is true even for sport-brutes with three rows of seating. Many people try to emulate their smaller siblings in fuel consumption and penny-pinching. All comparisons will be made using Natural Resources Canada’s most recent figures. NR Can estimates annual fuel costs based on the $1.00 per litre average gasoline price. Current pricing, according to globalpetrolprices.com, is more than double that. This new reality will be reflected in our payback calculation.
2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid
Toyota is so associated with hybrids, it’s not surprising to see a Kia top the list of fuel-efficient three row SUVs. If you drive the electrified South Korean sportbrute, it will cost you only $1,320. That’s based on 6.4/7.0/6.6 L/100 city/highway/combined consumption. If you are concerned about such things, it only emits 157 grams CO2 per mile.
Although it may only be a $20 advantage and 1 gram CO2 per kilometre over the Toyota Highlander’s, any time Toyota is displaced in the hybrid sweepstakes, it is news. It is worth noting that Kia’s compact Rio consumes 6.6 L/100km more than Toyota’s RAV4 hybrid average of 6.0 L/100km.
This is achieved by combining the turbocharged four of 1.6-litres with an electric motor of 44 kilowatts. This combination produces 227 horsepower. The Sorento may offer more flexibility and economy. Although it has a modern dual-clutch manual transmission, it only sports six speeds as opposed to the seven and eight of more advanced systems. Despite this, the Sorento still achieves a remarkable fuel economy when all-wheel-drive is used.
As for payback, a purely ICE-powered Sorento would cost you $1,980, says NRCan (based on 10.9/8.7/9.9 L/100 km consumption in the city/highway/combined cycles), an uptick of $660. Based on current pricing, an annual savings of $1,450 might be more realistic. This figure would make the hybrid at $36,695 more affordable than the Sorento at $34,595 in 18 months.
2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
We can all agree that 20 measly lonies per year for gas is not a good reason to purchase a hybrid over another. Powertrain delineation might be. The base engine of the Kia is a turbo 1.6L, with a single 44-kilowatt-motor. However, the Highlander uses turbocharging to power its 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson-cycle 2.5-litre four. Two electric motors are added. Toyota’s 243-hp “system” is a little more powerful than the Sorento’s 227-hp.
Although the powertrain of the Kia is slightly sweeter than that of Toyota’s 2.5L, it is still smoother and less louder. Let’s just be honest: No one ever bought a Toyota Hybrid for its harmonious exhaust note. The Highlander Hybrid is a bit like a bunch of marbles dancing to a beat when it’s being pushed. The Toyota will probably use less fuel than the Hyundai if you have a lead foot. Although small turbocharged engines are able to be sluggish when tiptoed they can also eat gas fast when pushed. The Highlander is a better choice if you are a hard charger.
As for payback, a conventionally-powered Highlander AWD will cost you $2,060 a year in gas, an increase of $720 over the $1,340 annual cost for the Hybrid (which likewise drives all four wheels). This equates to a $1,580 savings, which will mean that the $46,750 Hybrid LE will be paid back in less than one year compared to the base $44,750 Highlander LE VI6.
It is worth noting, however, that the previous generation Highlander Hybrid had all its electrification hardware added to a 3.5-litre engine. Although the combination was more smooth and powerful than the 2.5L model, it could not match the 2022 model’s 6.7/6.8/6.7 l/100 km NRCan rating.
2022 Lexus RX450h Lhik
On the other hand, Lexus’ hybrid version of its mid-sized RX is powered by a V6, in this case a double-overhead-camshaft 3.5-litre V6. The combination produces 308 horsepower. Although it isn’t exactly barn-burning, the combination produces 308 “net” horsepower. The throttle response is quick thanks to the prodigious low end torque and 160 kilograms less than the RX350 gas-only motor.
As for how this saves the environment, the 450h’s NR Can numbers are 7.5/8.4/7.9 city/highway/combined, for a total yearly expenditure of $1,738. The base engine, a V6, is not as powerful as its ICE-powered counterpart. The RX350 requires $2,160 per year for the same mileage. This is an increase of $422. Even taking into account today’s fuel prices, the $60,250 450h still has a $930 annual advantage over the base $57.500 RX350. The RX450h will pay for itself in three years if you account for the difference in price between them.
In a move that seems to be prescient of today’s gas price woes Lexus has redesigned its 2023 RX Hybrid with the Highlander electric powertrain. The 2.5L Atkinson cycle four, mated with twin electric motors, now produces 246 horsepower and averages 7.1 L/100km fuel consumption for the RX350h. This is 0.8 L/100km more than the V6 model, and only 0.4 L/100km less than the Highlander EV.
A plug-in hybrid RX450h+ model will be available later in the year. The RX500h hybrid is a combination of the torquey 2.4L turbocharged four and an electric motor with high output that drives both the rear wheels. It produces a total of 367 horsepower and 406 pound feet. It can accelerate to 100 km/h in a mere 6.1 seconds, according to Lexus. However, it has not yet stated how economical it will be. The RX is a three-row hybrid SUV that offers three electrified trims: the 350h, the plug in 450h+ and the performance-oriented 500h. We hope that it has more space in the third row, as the current L is quite cramped with 130mm less legroom than the Highlander.
2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid
Ford’s Explorer Hybrid has six seats and 245 mm more legroom in the third row than the Lexus six-seater. The Explorer Hybrid’s powertrain is a problem. The Explorer Hybrid’s powertrain is a bit lacking. While most Fords now have turbocharged Eco Boost power, it still uses a 3.3L naturally aspirated V6, which is a very capable V6. It’s not as fuel-efficient as the 2.3L Eco Boost four, which boasts a 9.6 L/100km combined, but it isn’t that much more. The Explorer 2.3L Turbo is cheaper if you drive a lot on the highway. Its 8.6 L/100 km open road rating is lower than the Hybrid’s 9.0L/100 km.
NR Can estimates that the Explorer Hybrid will run you $1,920 per year, which is $140 less than the base 2.3L. For the record, the base four is almost the same power as the 3.3L Hybrid’s 300 hp. It also has a much faster speed of 100 km/hr because it weighs in at 284 kilograms. The Explorer’s fire-breathing twin turbo 3.0L V6 Timberline AWD version will cost you only $440 per year in gas, or $960 today at current prices. It also offers significantly superior performance. This sow’s ear can’t be made into a silk purse by inflation.
A minivan is the best choice if you are looking for a hybrid people-hauler that has the largest third-row seats. The sliding door gives you better access to the third-row seats, while the Sienna offers slightly less legroom in the front.
The Sienna is also very economical, NR Can rated it for the same $1,320-a year fuel cost as the Sorento. Although the Sienna has a higher fuel consumption on the highway, it consumes less in the city due to its 200-kilos weight. The Sienna’s base price of $41,050 MSRP (or $42,890 for AWD) is almost four times that of the Highlander Hybrid. Despite sharing the same 2.5-litre hybrid engine and being larger, it’s quite affordable. Unfortunately, we can’t compare the 2022 Sienna to its conventionally-powered sibling because this latest version — like the Venza crossover — is only available with what Toyota is now calling a “self-charging hybrid electric” powertrain.
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