If an electric car stirs your interest but the lifestyle changes sound daunting, consider a plug-in hybrid. A plug-in hybrid is simply a rechargeable hybrid, with a larger battery than a standard hybrid that enables a short range of fully electric driving. A regular hybrid recharges by capturing energy during braking, and usually only engages battery power at low speeds or cruising. A plug-in hybrid recharges from an electrical outlet, often from a 240-volt (or Level 2) connection found in garages or public chargers, and can typically travel between 30 and 50 miles on electricity before a gas engine takes over.
Plug-in hybrids are ideal for drivers with short commutes or local routes that can be covered with electric range but who still need a gas engine for longer trips. Plug-ins come with compromises, though. Theyre often heavier, pricier, and less fuel-efficient than standard hybrids after the battery runs out, and some sacrifice cargo space to accommodate the larger battery packs. Still interested? Below are five of our top plug-in picks. Pricing includes destination fees.
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid continues Toyotas legacy of unbeatable fuel economy. Its EPA-rated 45-mile electric range beats competitors, although our testing yielded a more modest 34 electric miles. In hybrid mode, with the gas engine and electric motor trading off depending on conditions, it returns up to 52 mpg combined. Befitting its sleek look, the Prius Plug-in is also reasonably quick, reaching 60 mph in about 7 seconds, a second faster than the regular Prius. Recharging takes four hours, and while the battery reduces cargo space to 20.3 cubic feet 3.5 cubic feet shy of the regular Prius the hatchback design ensures easy loading.
2026 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid starting price: $34,970
For about the same price as the Prius, the Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid gives you some unexpectedly advanced tech features. Theres a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen, and the adaptive cruise control automatically slows for turns by using the navigation system. Its 33-mile EPA electric range estimate trails the Toyotas, but Edmunds testing shows that in the real world the Niro goes 31.8 miles, close to the Prius. When it is operating as a hybrid, its EPA-estimated 48 mpg is also easily achievable. Topping it off is Kias industry-leading 10-year warranty.
2025 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid starting price: $35,935
The Tucson tops our list of plug-in SUVs by balancing comfort and value. While its 32-mile electric range trails several rivals, the Tucsons spacious interior, reclining rear seats, slick in-car tech, and driver assistance features give it an edge over competitors like the Ford Escape and Mitsubishi Outlander. In our testing, the Tucson Plug-in covered just 29 electric miles but surpassed its EPA estimate with 37 mpg combined in hybrid mode. On a Level 2 connection, it recharges in two hours, and at around $42,000, the Tucson is one of the most affordable ways to get into a plug-in SUV.
2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid starting price: $41,675
If you need three rows, the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid offers 30 miles of electric range and averaged up to 41 mpg combined in our testing. Recently updated with sharper styling echoing Kias electric models, the Sorento also features a 12-inch touchscreen and USB-C ports in all three rows to keep everyones devices topped up. Notably, the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid sacrifices no cargo space compared to the non-hybrid model, retaining full utility for passengers and storage. Just note that towing capacity is limited to around 1,600 pounds, compared to the standard Sorentos 4,500-pound rating. Recharging takes about 3.5 hours.
2026 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid starting price: $49,735
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is an answer to a question that no one asked, but it brings plug-in technology to the trail. It combines a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and electric motor for a stout 375 horsepower, and a 17-kWh battery for 22 miles of electric range (19 miles in our testing) and the oddly appealing prospect of silent off-roading. While the 4xes 20 mpg combined rating is only average, it matches the non-hybrid V6s efficiency and makes more power. The 4xe recharges in about two hours but sacrifices about 4 cubic feet of cargo space compared to the regular Wrangler.
2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe starting price: $52,690
Edmunds says
High prices limit the appeal of plug-in hybrids, but for many buyers, they hit the sweet spot between the efficiency of an EV and the versatility of a gas engine.
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This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds .
Dan Frio is a contributor at Edmunds.
若电动汽车令您心动却又担心生活方式改变带来的挑战，不妨考虑插电式混合动力车。这类车型本质上是可充电的混合动力车，其电池容量大于普通混动车型，支持短途纯电行驶。普通混动车通过刹车能量回收充电，通常仅在低速或巡航时启用电池驱动；而插电混动则通过电源插座充电——常见于车库或公共充电站的240伏（即二级充电）接口，纯电续航里程通常可达30至50英里，之后汽油发动机才会介入工作。
插电式混合动力车非常适合日常短途通勤或仅需纯电续航即可满足出行的驾驶者，同时仍能为长途旅行保留燃油引擎。但这类车型也存在一些不足：电池耗尽后，它们通常比普通混动车更笨重、价格更高且燃油效率更低，部分车型还会因搭载大容量电池组而牺牲储物空间。若您仍感兴趣，我们为您精选了五款推荐车型，所列价格均包含运输费。
普锐斯插电混动版延续了丰田在燃油经济性方面的不败传奇。其美国环保署认证的45英里纯电续航优于竞品，不过我们的实测结果为更保守的34英里。在混动模式下，汽油发动机和电动机根据路况协同工作，综合油耗可达52英里/加仑。与流畅外观相称的是，普锐斯插电混动版加速表现不俗，约7秒即可达到60英里/小时，比常规版普锐斯快1秒。充电需时4小时，虽然电池组使载货空间缩减至20.3立方英尺（比常规版少3.5立方英尺），但掀背式设计确保了装卸便利性。
2026款丰田普锐斯插电混动版起售价：34,970美元
与普锐斯价格相近的起亚极睿插电混动版，却提供了令人惊喜的先进科技配置。该车标配10.25英寸触控屏，自适应巡航系统能结合导航数据自动过弯减速。虽然其33英里（EPA标准）的纯电续航略逊于丰田车型，但Edmunds实测数据显示，极睿实际续航可达31.8英里，与普锐斯不相上下。混动模式下，其48英里/加仑（EPA预估）的油耗表现也轻松可达。更值得一提的是，起亚还为该车提供了业内领先的10年质保服务。
2025款起亚Niro插电混动版起售价：35,935美元
现代途胜凭借舒适性与性价比的平衡，荣登我们插电式SUV榜单榜首。尽管其32英里的纯电续航里程略逊于部分竞品，但宽敞的内部空间、可倾斜的后排座椅、流畅的车载科技以及驾驶辅助功能，使其在福特锐际和三菱欧蓝德等竞争对手中脱颖而出。在我们的测试中，途胜插电混动版纯电续航仅29英里，但混动模式下综合油耗37英里/加仑，超越了美国环保署的预估数值。使用二级充电桩时，仅需两小时即可充满。约42,000美元的售价，也让途胜成为入手插电式SUV最具性价比的选择之一。
2026款现代途胜插电混动版起售价：41,675美元
若您需要三排座椅配置，索兰托插电混动版可提供30英里的纯电续航里程，在我们的测试中综合油耗最高达41英里/加仑。该车型近期经过升级，采用与起亚电动车型相呼应的锐利设计风格，并配备12英寸触控屏及三排USB-C接口，确保每位乘客的设备都能随时充电。值得注意的是，与非混动版相比，索兰托插电混动版并未牺牲载货空间，乘客乘坐与储物功能保持完整。但需注意其牵引能力限制在约1,600磅，而标准版索兰托的牵引能力为4,500磅。充电时间约为3.5小时。
2026款起亚索兰托插电混动版起售价：49,735美元
Jeep牧马人4xe虽非应需而生，却为越野领域带来了插电混动技术。它搭载涡轮增压四缸发动机与电动机，可迸发375马力的强劲动力，并配备17千瓦时电池组，纯电续航达22英里（实测为19英里），静音越野的独特体验颇具吸引力。尽管4xe综合油耗20英里/加仑仅为平均水平，但其效率与未混动的V6车型相当，且动力更胜一筹。该车型充电约需两小时，但相比常规版牧马人，行李厢空间减少了约4立方英尺。
2025款Jeep牧马人4xe起售价：52,690美元
埃德蒙兹表示
尽管插电式混合动力汽车的高价限制了其吸引力，但对许多消费者而言，它恰好兼顾了电动车的能效与燃油车的多功能性。
本文由汽车网站Edmunds提供给美联社。
丹·弗里奥是埃德蒙兹网站的特约撰稿人。
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