We take a look at two of the most anticipated plug-in hybrid SUVs of the market.
Hybrid crossovers are popular. The Ford Escape Hybrid arrived in 2004 and was the pioneer in a market packed with internal combustion engines. But as electrified vehicles started getting more attention and governments imposed harsher regulations to cut CO2 emissions, new hybrid SUVs arrived. In recent years, however, some automakers have taken further steps in the electrified scenario, developing plug-in hybrid SUVs.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime and the 2020 Ford Escape PHEV are the two newest mainstream plug-in hybrid compact crossovers, offering more power and range than their regular hybrid variants. Here’s a look at some of their specs, including fuel economy, range, and recharging times.
Bentley’s new saloon takes on the biggest, baddest Merc S-Class.
Let’s get one thing straight – neither of these is the best car in the world. It’s been a long time since the luxury saloon was the highest point on the automotive landscape, the pinnacle to which we all aspired. Now it’s a cul de sac off the SUV highway. And the cars themselves have suffered as a result.
Let’s use Maybach to illustrate the point. A proud luxury brand before WW2, Mercedes brought it back in 2002 as a standalone brand, poured millions into the development of two limousines and predicted global sales of 2,000 cars per year. In fact only around 3,000 were sold in total before Merc pulled the plug ten years later. Now, Maybach is little more than a badge applied to the fanciest Merc S-Class.
We compare two sizes of $50,000 SUV from Chevrolet to see which is best for you.
We’ve tested the Chevrolet Blazer extensively since it was released in 2019. At our SUV of the Year competition, the RS trim impressed us with good road manners and a high-quality interior, but we were disappointed that those traits didn’t extend to the base offering. More recently, we had another go in the Blazer RS, and instead of comparing it to the competition, we thought it best to look within Chevrolet‘s own extensive lineup of SUVs to see how it stacks up against the larger but similarly priced 2019 Chevrolet Traverse Premier FWD (front-wheel drive).
The Blazer and Traverse are not direct competitors, and as such, this isn’t a classic MotorTrend comparison test. We typically try to match cars up within their segments. That’s why the Ford Mustang gets matched up with the Chevrolet Camaro, not the Alfa Romeo Giulia. But Chevy recently ditched sedans in the United States, meaning that, like Ford, it’s going to be filling our streets with SUVs of all shapes and sizes for the foreseeable future. As such, you might want to know which sub-$50,000 Bow Tie-badged SUV is right for you.
Two rivals compete for hybrid SUV supremacy, and it’s a close fight. Go ahead, splurge. Treat yourself to the best compact SUV in the showroom—just don’t let the hybrid badge surprise you. If that h-word provokes associations of stodgy, slow, compromise-mobiles, consider this: The 2020 Honda CR-V and 2020 Toyota RAV4 offer engine upgrades that deliver more responsiveness and efficiency than almost any SUV under $40,000.
Oh, and you’ll retain the interior space you expect while traveling more than 100 miles longer between fuel stops. When it comes to having your cake and eating it, too, the hybrids of these segment-dominating rivals provide satisfying and guilt-free motoring. At the higher end of the segment, though, which is the best hybrid SUV—the CR-V Touring or the RAV4 XSE?
The 21st Century has seen Americans ditching minivans for midsized three-row SUVs. In the last decade and a half, about a dozen minivans have been discontinued as the family-hauler of choice. And in the past three years, new names like Atlas, Ascent, Telluride, and Palisade have joined the hyper-competitive three-row SUV segment.
I grew up surrounded by minivans because our family of six required a family hauler that was spacious and comfortable. And we made good use of them. A big family like ours needed a vehicle with plenty of space for six and their gear; a minivan was the only option. Space, safety, and reliability were at the top of my parents’ list of must-have transportation features. SUVs were for off-roading, not the road trip or morning school run.
But now, SUVs have evolved and taken over the carpooling and road-trip game. And there are so many to SUVs choose from. So MotorTrend will answer for you: Who makes the best midsize three-row SUV for a big family?
It’s the kind of bargaining we do every day: Should I buy the store brand or pay a few dollars more for the name brand? Most of the time, it’s the same thing, but sometimes it’s worth it when you just like the name brand better. We do the same thing when we’re car shopping: buy the car that fits our spreadsheet of criteria, or the one that speaks to us? Sometimes, though, you get both in the same package, like when you’re cross-shopping the 2020 Kia Soul and 2020 Nissan Kicks.
Does the new 208 have what it takes to topple the mighty Fiesta?
In the blue corner we have a car you’ll recognize, because they’re bloody everywhere. Ubiquity, thy name is Fiesta – if you don’t have one yourself, the odds you’re closely related to someone who does are overwhelming. Yep, it’s Britain’s best-selling car, a now three-year-old model that recently fended off attacks from the new (and very good) Renault Clio and new (and, erm, quite good) Vauxhall Corsa in TG #331. Read the test by clicking on these blue words, then come right back.
Done? Enter, then, the new, very yellow Peugeot 208, which is in essence the same car as the Corsa. Only it’s much better. See a couple of years ago Vauxhall had a new Corsa signed-off and ready to go. But then the company was bought by Peugeot’s owner PSA, meaning all of a sudden Luton couldn’t stick its new supermini on sale, because it was based on a General Motors platform and used GM engines and tech’.
In addition to offering a sporty driving, these two sedans bring luxury and convenience to all occupants. Besides offering an engaging drive, sports sedans have been known for providing terrific luxury and comfort features. From plush leather to heated steering wheels, and even massaging seats, luxury automakers are equipping their cars with components we once thought to be the domain of living rooms. The 2019 Volvo S60 and 2019 Genesis G70 are two of the newest sports sedans in the market, and they were both designed to treat their passengers with luxury. We took our long-term Volvo S60 Momentum and compared its interior to our long-term Genesis G70 Elite. Although the Volvo is priced at $50,630 and the Genesis at $46,495, both are medium-spec trims, and each brings plenty of features while still delivering good value.
Welcome to Fabulous Auto Club, and here we have a Special Edition article which includes the Best Luxury SUVs List. We sort them into electric, compact, midsize, and full-size. Congratulations to all the automakers who made it onto the list!
Electric
1. Tesla Model X
2. Audi e-tron
3. Jaguar I-Pace
Compact
1. Volvo XC40
2. BMW X1
3. Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Midsize
1. Mercedes GLC300Coupe
2. Porsche Cayenne
3. Audi Q8
Full-Size
1. BMW X7
2. Land Rover Range Rover
3. Infiniti QX80
Genesis Lineup
Genesis is probably the newest popular automaker. A lot of people might not believe that it’s as good as Mercedes, BMW, or Audi. However, this is a good time to buy a Genesis (which is actually better than its rivals).
G70
The G70 (blue, middle) is a midsize luxury sedan starting at $42000 CAD ($31790 USD) set to compete with the C-Class, 3 Series, and A4. The exterior looks very sporty with an aggressive grill and side vents. And the interior is extremely luxurious and high-quality coming from a new automaker.
G80
The Genesis G80 (black, right) is also a midsize sedan which is $58120 CAD ($43997 USD) which is for buyers looking for an E-Class, 5 Series, or A6. I think that the exterior is a bit too normal. It actually looks a bit like the Ford Fusion, which is not a compliment. The interior is just okay, but not as good as its rivals. The infotainment is not as good as the G70’s or G90’s. This is not a recommended car to buy.
G90
The G90 (grey, left) is a full-size luxury sedan, a successor of the Hyundai Equus (which is a very good deal for a used car), and it costs around $86750 CAD ($65664 USD). It’s much better than the G80, and even better than an S-Class or A8. The G90 looks very unique outside, and has very many features for the passengers inside.
Today’s hybrid crossovers and SUVs offer excellent fuel economy, and they don’t have to break the bank. Check this out if you’re looking for a large hybrid SUV, and keep reading here to find out the most efficient small hybrid SUVs on the market right now. Fuel economy figures on the list represent combined city and highway driving.
