The Best And Worst Hybrids Cruisin’ To The Roads In 2023
Gas-powered cars are great. They sound great and are cheap to acquire. But they are bad for the environment... and gas is not exactly cheap. The alternate is electric cars... but they cost an arm and a leg, and they need to hug the charger every time you take them for a spin.
What if we could get the best of both worlds? Well, we can! They are called hybrids. Ever since Toyota made the first commercially viable hybrid, the Prius, all major automakers have been improving on the idea. Let's see what 2023 has in store in terms of hybrid vehicles.
The Good - Dodge Hornet R/T
Dodge is not only going to make a bunch of fully electric muscle cars but also a PHEV SUV for a market that cannot get enough of compact crossovers.
The Dodge Hornet R/T will have a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with a couple of electric motors for a combined output of 285 horses. Not only will the Hornet be the first hybrid car in Dodge's line-up, but also the most advanced car they have made to date.
The Good - Chevy Corvette E-Ray
The C8 Vette is unarguably one of the best generations of this American icon. With a mid-engine layout and Ferrari-rivaling performance, the C8 offers a lot of cars for an affordable price.
The aptly named E-Ray is the next iteration of the Corvette. With a 495-hp V8 and a 160-hp electric motor, it has a total output of 655 horses. The best feature of this Vette is the Stealth mode, allowing you to sneak in and out of noise-restricted areas on battery power.
The Legendary - Toyota Crown
The Crown is making it back to the North American market but only much better and refined than what it used to be. The new PHEV Crown has a design that blurs the line between sedan and crossover.
It will have the Camry and Avalon's 2.4-liter petrol motor up front with an electric motor on the rear axle, giving it a total of 340 horsepower. Being Toyota's flagship sedan, it will also come with all the luxury the Crown name is known for.
The Bad - Kia Sportage Hybrid
Since Tucson and RAV4 got the hybrid variants, it was just about time that the Sportage got one too. That will be a part of the lineup of the upcoming 2023 Sportage Generation.
KIA will introduce a standard hybrid as well as a plug-in hybrid to stay on top of the compact SUV game where every automaker and their cousin have hybrids in their portfolio. Not only the new hybrid will have more power and a low-end electric grunt, but it will also be more comfortable and fun to drive, thanks to KIA introducing a new platform for this SUV.
The Pretty - Range Rover Sport PHEV
Everyone's favorite luxury off-roader, the Range Rover Sport, is also getting a new PHEV for the 2023 model. There are going to be three variations of the drivetrain, a 355-hp, a 395-hp, and a 425-hp one.
With all-wheel drive, lots of power, British extravagance, and its unparalleled legacy, there's not much that the Range Rover Sport PHEV leaves to be desired. However, judging from the frequency of problems in 'simpler' Range Rovers, a PHEV will accrue a hefty maintenance bill.
The Good - Mazda CX-60 PHEV
The upcoming 2023 CX-60 is aimed to push Mazda into the realm of upscale vehicles. As far as the powertrain is concerned, this car will have a 2.5-liter gas engine coupled with a 134-hp motor for a total of 323 horsepower.
Mazda claims that the 17.4kWh battery alone can drive the CX-60 up to 39 miles without having to turn on the gas engine. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive will be standard, as is worthy of Mazda's upcoming flagship SUV.
The Reliable - Honda Accord Hybrid
The Accord has been offering hybrid variants for quite some time now, but starting this year, you will be able to get them across all trim levels. No need to go for automatic climate control if you need better fuel economy.
While the baseline LX trim can still be had with the 194-hp 1.5-liter engine, all other variants come standard with the 204-horsepower hybrid setup.
The Good - Honda ZR-V e:HEV
With a 2.0L direct injection engine and an electric motor, the ZR-V will have enough power for its size. Honda has claimed that it will have performance characteristics similar to those of a 3.0-L V6 engine, thanks to the low-end torque of the electric motor.
Honda has gone so far as to use phrases like 'unleash your potential' and a car that acts 'on the will of the driver'... but we can judge the truth of all these statements once this car goes on sale in April 2023.
The Great - Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
For its 40th anniversary, Mitsubishi is blessing Outlander's 3-row models with a PHEV variant in 2023. This is also a part of Mitsubishi's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030.
The PHEV powertrain will feature Mitsubishi's 2.4-liter petrol engine along with a pair of electric motors for a combined 248 horses. All of that would be articulated using the Super All-Wheel Control architecture to deliver optimal efficiency and performance.
The Renowned - Toyota Prius
Well, no conversation about hybrids can be complete without mentioning the one that started it all. Often regarded as the ugliest and the most hated car of all time, this Japanese hybrid hatch is stepping up its game.
Toyota has given not only the new generation of the Prius a more likable shape but also a 196-horsepower powertrain. This one is going to be the most beautiful, the most powerful, and the most fuel-efficient Prius ever.
The Powerful - Mercedes-AMG C63 Hybrid
The V8-powered C63 is cool and all, but the real deal is the upcoming PHEV variant. While on the surface, this is not a performance car (with a mere 2.0L turbocharged engine), the touch of German engineering does make it special.
The turbocharger here is an electrically assisted one to eliminate turbo lag, and a pair of electric motors complement the small engine to produce 671 horsepower in total, a full 170 more than the V8 double this engine's size makes.
The Legendary - Porsche 911 Hybrid
The 911 is the pride and joy of Porsche, and for a good reason. It is arguably one of the best sports cars ever made. And with the 2023 model, we are going to get an even more refined one with some electric magic.
Porsche's CEO recently revealed that the upcoming hybrid would not be a plug-in one. It is also confirmed that this 911 will have the signature flat-6 engine, but the details regarding total power output and exact battery and motor specs are still shrouded in secrecy.
The Huge - 2023 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid
This Tundra-Based SUV, known for being big, bulky, and guzzling a lot of gas, is one of the most excessive vehicles from the Land of the Rising Sun. However, the 2023 model is going to be all of those things but the last.
For this model, the Sequoia will get a hybrid powertrain comprising a V6 and an electric motor for a total of 437 horsepower. You can now ride the biggest Toyota SUV with a little less carbon guilt, finally.
The Remarkable - BMW XM
Known for making some of the best high-performing passenger cars like the M3 and M5, the M division of BMW is planning to come up with a range-topping SUV that will be placed even higher in the Bimmer hierarchy than the X7.
The XM will drive its muscle from a twin-turbo V8 complemented by an electric motor for a total of 673 horsepower at the wheels and 30 miles of electric-only driving range.
The Meh - Lexus UX
The UX series from Lexus has been around for some time. What's new for 2023 is a hybrid front-wheel drive model with improved comfort and handling, as well as the F-Sport designation.
The focus here is not as much on the performance as it is on comfort and fuel economy. The planned UX will get motivation by a 181-hp hybrid powertrain with a CVT for improved efficiency. I don't know about you, but when someone says CVT, all I hear is cost-saving and a marginally improved EPA rating by sacrificing performance.
The Bonkers - Aston Martin Valhalla
Aston Martin is planning a car to rival the SF90 Stradale from Ferrari. Performance aside, both these cars have the sickest names ever. The Valhalla will have enough power to send the driver straight to Odin's halls if they are not careful.
A Mercedes-sourced V8 is coupled here with an electric system to generate an ungodly 937 horsepower, capable of catapulting this sculpture of automotive art to 62mph in just under 2.5 seconds.
The Beautiful - Alfa Romeo Tonale
If you need a compact crossover with some Italian heritage, wait till the end of this year for the Tonale. While the front end of this Alfa is purely subjective, and you can love it or hate it at your own discretion, the Tonale is going to be a beautiful car overall.
For motivation, we find a 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine under the hood paired with an electric motor on the rear axle for a total of 285 horsepower and a 30-mile electric driving range, thanks to the 15.5kWh battery.
The Affordable - Genesis G90 E-Supercharged
If you need a level of luxury and features comparable to the S Class for a discounted price, the G90 is the way to go. For the 2023 model year, Genesis has ditched the V8 in favor of a twin-turbo V6 with a 48-volt hybrid system.
The gasoline engine and electric motor team up to produce 409 horsepower while providing 29 miles to the gallon on the highway. Now that is an impressive number, ain't it?
The Okay - KIA Niro EX PHEV
The Niro is going to get a new generation in 2023, and the highlight of this generation will be the EX PHEV. The exact details of the motor and battery are still not clear, but the Niro PHEV will have 180 combined horsepower and 33 miles of electric-only range.
While fast charging is not really a thing in PHEVs, KIA still gave the 2023 Niro level-2 charger compatibility, which will enable this car to be fully charged in just three hours.
The Good - Mazda CX-90
The Mazda CX-90 is going to be a new nameplate, and it is still not clear whether it will replace the current flagship CX-9 or will be placed over it. What is clear, though, is the introduction of a brand-new turbocharged inline-6 engine.
This gas motor will be coupled with a 48-volt electric system to form a powertrain good for 340 horsepower. From what's known about the car, it seems like Mazda plans to put it in the same league as the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport.
The Reliable - Lexus NX Hybrid
This is not technically a new car. The NX has been around for a long time, and so has the powertrain that is going to be used to make the PHEV.
For 2023, the NX450h+ will get the powertrain from the RAV4 prime. This concoction of a 2.5-liter inline-4 and a pair of electric motors will be good for 239 horsepower and would go 35 miles without having to turn on the gas motor.
The Ugly - Ford Escape PHEV
The Escape PHEV is Ford's way to compete with the likes of the RAV4 Prime and CR-V. This Ford SUV will get motivation from a 2.5L Inline 4 engine and two electric motors, all coming together to put out 210 horsepower.
The motors in this car get an 11.2kWh battery pack that Ford claims will be good for 37 miles of electric driving without having to switch on the engine. The new Escape will also get some cosmetic upgrades over the current model.
The Patriotic - Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV
The flagship Jeep is another one in the long line of vehicles getting the hybrid treatment. Jeep has come up with one of the most complicated setups to make this powertrain.
The beating heart of the Grand Cherokee's 375-hp motivation unit is a 2.0L inline-4 engine which is assisted by a belt-driven 44-hp motor, and then the 8-speed automatic transmission's torque converter is replaced by another 135-hp motor. However, the 375-hp number is only true as long as the 14kWh battery has a charge in it. After that, you'll only have the 270-ish horsepower from the tiny gas engine.
The Advanced - Nissan Qashqai e-Power
The Qashqai e-Power has one of the most radical powertrain designs of any hybrid car. It is basically an EV with an onboard generator. The gas motor turns a generator that charges the battery as well as drives the wheels via a motor.
In this car, unlike most hybrids, the gas engine has no direct link to the wheels so that the electric motor can provide instant power and good acceleration. We'll have to get our hands on one before we can know how well the system actually works.
The Ugly - Nissan X-Trail e-Power
The X-Trail e-Power with 4orce (not a typo) is another of Nissan's forward-looking hybrid car designs set to hit the Australian market in 2023. The format of the powertrain here is similar to that of the Qashqai.
The advantage of this setup is that while the engine is only good for 140-ish horsepower, the electric motor (which actually drives the wheels) can produce up to 190 hp, thanks to the 1.8kWh battery. As you don't always need the full 190-hp, as soon as the power demand of the car goes down, the battery is charged by the engine. It is a complicated system; only time will tell how well it performs.
The Good - BMW X1
Remember the XM we talked about earlier? Well, that DNA is going to be passed down to other BMW models as well, even the entry-level X1 SUV. The hybrid X1 will be launched only in the EU market at the start.
The only thing that BMW has advertised about the car so far is that it will be able to drive 56 miles without having to switch on the engine, making it possible for drivers to move with zero emissions and 'almost' silently.
The Struggling - Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Hyundai wanted to use the Sonata to compete with the Camry... but that could never happen. The next thing the Koreans had to best the Japanese was to make a hybrid Sonata, and that's exactly what they did.
While we do have the N-Line (Korean for Type-R), the limited hybrid will be positioned on the top of the Sonata pyramid. It will have the smallest engine option among the line-up, a 1.6L inline-4 coupled with a motor for a total of 240 horsepower.
The Good - Prius Prime PHEV
Like the regular Prius, the Prime is also redesigned from the ground up for the new generation in 2023. It does have not only a new powertrain but also a completely changed chassis and suspension too.
Prius's tried and tested 1.8L inline-4 is replaced by a 2.0L engine that will now be assisted by two motors, one on the rear axle and another assisting the transmission to make sure the engine always operates in its most efficient RPM range.
The Nordic - Volvo S90 Recharge
The 2023 model's top-of-the-line version of the S90 will be a mild hybrid. Don't let the 'Recharge' in the name fool you; it is not a plug-in hybrid, but just a mild hybrid.
The Recharge Ultimate will have a total of 295 horsepower, and the focus here, unlike most hybrids, is not the fuel efficiency but just the performance boost that is made possible by adding an electric motor on top of the gas engine.
The Outlandish - Koenigsegg Gemera
The Gemera was introduced back in 2020, but deliveries are yet to start. This is the sickest car on this list, or any list of cars ever made. It is a 1,677-hp family car that can comfortably seat four adults and accommodate their luggage.
The powertrain of this car consists of three electric motors, and the TFG, a 2.0L 600hp engine. If you have 1.5 million Euros lying around, there cannot be a better way to travel with family.
The Meh - KIA Sorento PHEV
The Sorento did have a hybrid model for quite some time, but now they are going to give it a PHEV variant. If auto magazine rumors are anything to go by, the PHEV Sorento will have 261-hp, thanks to beefier batteries and motors, as the engine is the same as the regular hybrid model.
The rest of the drivetrain is the same in this new range-topping Sorento, with the same 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD.
The Legend - BMW 330e Touring Hybrid
While other companies give a smaller engine to hybrid variants and augment their power output with batteries and motors, BMW has given the legendary 330e the biggest engine and then some 48-Volt hybrid system.
The inline-6 engine and electric motor produce a combined 385 horsepower, but the way the whole thing is articulated, it feels like it has even more power. The latest redesigned 3 series with a number of tech improvements will hit the market by mid-2023.
The Economical - Toyota Yaris Hybrid
While the North American market stopped getting the Yaris after 2020, it is still one of the best-selling Toyotas in less fortunate parts of the world. For the 2023 model year, Toyota is going to give this one some motors and batteries in a bid to make it more fuel efficient.
What's considered a hot hatch in the US is actually one of the most famous family haulers in the rest of the world... and it's just reasonable for Toyota to make the car more affordable to operate.
The Workhorse - The Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab
No truck in the world is made with more focus on the needs of a remote job site than the Ford F150. For the first time, this truck is getting a hybrid powertrain, and the focus here is, again, on the practicality of a work truck.
The 400-hp F150 hybrid powertrain is advertised to have a 700-mile range on a single gas tank and will even have an onboard generator to power the job sites that have power outages or no connection at all.
The Outstanding - Ferrari Purosangue
Everyone knows Ferrari will come up with an SUV towards the end of 2023, but what the Purosangue will use for motivation is anyone's guess. What's confirmed, though, is that Ferrari will not settle for anything less than perfection, of course.
There are rumors that this SUV will get an evolved form of the 296 GTB's plug-in hybrid system, consisting of a 7.4kWh battery and a V6 to put out a combined 818 horsepower, or maybe the exact system from SF90 Stradale that produces 900+ horses.
The Rumored - Ford Mustang Hybrid
While the Mustang Mach-E made many of the car's customers happy, many others did not quite like the idea of making the most iconic sports cars electric. The right way to go for Ford might be to come up with something that is in the middle; a hybrid.
It is not yet confirmed if or when such a Mustang can hit the market, but rumor has it that it will be by the end of 2023 for the 2024 model year.
The Good - Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
If you have $35,000 more to pay than the price of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, you can now get an even bonkers 671 horsepower Cayenne E-Hybrid. It will use the same V8 as the Turbo but then some electric sorcery.
The 134-hp electric motor works with the gas engine to produce lots of low-end power to make this car even more desirable and better performing... but don't forget that it will cost an extra $35,000!
The Good - Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
If you need to travel with the whole family in style and comfort while spending the least possible amount of gas, the Pacifica is the best you can do. For the 2023 model year, Chrysler is giving this minivan a bunch of new features and cosmetic upgrades.
Even though the 260 horsepower output of the hybrid system is lower than the gas-only powertrain's 287-hp, the point here is better fuel economy. No one is taking these things to the track!
