These Are The Biggest Money-Saving Plug-In Hybrid Cars And SUVs For 2022

It should come as no surprise that with sky-high gas prices and the likelihood they might not come back down to earth anytime soon, fuel economy has again become a critical issue among new-vehicle shoppers.

As we’ve seen over the past decades, fuel costs are volatile and can explode at any time due to supply, demand, and geopolitical issues. Gasoline now stands at a national average $4.242 per gallon for regular grade, which is $1.36 higher than it was at this point a year ago. It currently averages a whopping $5.866 in California, with premium gas at $6.196. It literally hurts to own a large fuel-swilling truck or SUV these days.

The most efficient way to cut fuel costs, other than to drive fewer miles, would be to purchase a full electric-powered vehicle (EV) that uses no gasoline whatsoever and produces zero tailpipe emissions. However, with few exceptions electric cars are still priced out of the reach of many new-vehicle shoppers, despite most being eligible for a one-time $7,500 federal tax credit, with some states kicking in incentives of their own.

A more affordable go-between for those who want to both save money and reduce their carbon footprints is to choose a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), which is the vehicular equivalent of the old DVD/VCR players that effectively smoothed the transition between formats.

Like standard hybrids, PHEVs use one or more electric motors to augment a gasoline engine, but they go a step further by including a larger battery pack that allows the vehicle to operate for an extended period solely on electric power. This can run anywhere from around 20 miles to more than 40 miles per charge. Once the battery is depleted, the vehicle continues to operate as a regular hybrid under a combination of gas and electric energy.

Those having modest commutes will tend to save the most money in fuel costs driving a PHEV; owners who stick close to home may only rarely fill up the tank. According to the EPA, driving a plug-in hybrid can cost as little as $800 a year in fuel costs, which would save a driver as much as $8,000 over a five year ownership period compared to the average vehicle from the 2022 model year. What’s more, PHEVs carry federal tax credits of their own between $4,500 and $7,500, based on the capacity of the model’s battery pack, which in many cases is sufficient to negate any up-front price premium.

Unfortunately, the auto industry’s ongoing supply chain issues, exacerbated by the resulting inventory shortage and heightened consumer demand, is making it difficult to find electrified rides in stock and selling for anything resembling sticker price these days.

Still, we’re presenting the top 10 most cost-efficient PHEVs below. Fuel economy ratings and other information comes from the Environmental Protection Agency’s fueleconomy.gov website; stats are given for the highest-rated trim in each vehicle line, with annual fuel costs based on current average per-gallon prices and 15,000 city/highway miles driven per year. Models are ranked according to a combination of their five-year fuel savings and the value of the one-time federal tax credit. All information is accurate as of this posting date.

1. Toyota Prius Prime

133-mpg equivalent on EV power for the first 25 miles; 54 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $800 or $8,000 less than the average vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.

2. Toyota RAV4 Prime

94-mpg equivalent on EV power for first 42 miles; 38 mpg hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $1,000 or $7,000 less than the average new vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

3. Ford Escape PHEV

105-mpg equivalent on EV power for the first 37 miles; 37 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs $950, or $7,250 less than the average new vehicle over a five-year ownership period, compared to the average new vehicle. It’s eligible for a $6,483 federal tax credit.

4. Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

80-mpg equivalent on EV power for first 33 miles; 35 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $1,200 or $6,000 less than the average new vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.

5. Lexus NX 450h Plus

84-mpg equivalent on EV power for first 37 miles; 36 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $1,250 or $5,750 less than the average new vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.

6. Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

79-mpg equivalent on EV power for the first 32 miles; 34 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $1,250 or $5,750 less than the average new vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $6,587 tax credit.

7. Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

82-mpg equivalent on EV power for first 32 miles; 30 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $1,350 or $5,250 less than the average new vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.

8. Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid

76-mpg equivalent on EV power for the first 31 miles; 33 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $1,305 or $5,750 less than the average new vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $6,587 tax credit.

9. Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid

119-mpg equivalent on EV power for the first 29 miles; 52 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $850 or $7,750 less than the average new vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $4,543 federal tax credit.

10. Volvo S60/V60 Recharge

74-mpg equivalent on EV power for the first 40 miles; 31 mpg in hybrid mode. Projected annual fuel costs are $1,400 or $5,000 less than the average new vehicle over five years. It’s eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit.