Consumer Reports Tests the Most Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Cars, Minivans, and SUVs

Here’s the latest on hybrid car winners in Consumer Reports’ exclusive real-world fuel-economy tests. Plus, find out how long it will take for the gas-saving payoffs to put money back into your pocket on some hybrid models compared to their non-hybrid counterpart.

Getting the Furthest with the Least Fuel

Looking to buy the best of the best when it comes to fuel economy and saving money down the road? Then you are in luck with this latest listing of hybrids under real world road testing that CR analysts determined get the most miles per gallon.

A combination of a gasoline engine with a battery-powered electric motor is what makes a hybrid a hybrid with the benefit of providing the best of both worlds in order to achieve optimal fuel economy---which is becoming increasingly important as gas prices have put the pinch on car owner budgets.

Related article: Recommended Compact Hybrid Cars Per New Consumer Reports Survey

With car owner budgets in mind, a recent Consumer Reports analysis of fuel economy tests with the latest and best-selling hybrids found some surprising results that show which hybrid vehicles are considered better deals by getting the most miles with the least fuel. And at the same time, factoring in sticker price comparisons between hybrids and their most comparable nonhybrid versions to show expected payoff savings in the long run when choosing a hybrid model.

The Most Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Cars, Minivans, and SUVs

That said, here is summary of 17 of the most fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles out there that includes an important benefit or point behind choosing each particular model. Please note that the vehicles listed are ranked in order of their fuel economy.

1. 2022 Honda Insight
Price Range: $25,760 - $29,790
CR MPG: Overall 54 / City 44 / Hwy 62 mpg
Rated #1 of 8 Compact cars

Notable Point: “There is no nonhybrid version of the Insight, but a gas-only Civic would be close.” Plus, this is the last year of the Insight which is expected to be replaced with a Honda Civic Hybrid.

2. 2022 Toyota Prius
Price Range: $25,075 - $33,370
CR MPG: Overall 52 / City 43 / Hwy 59 mpg
Rated #2 of 8 Compact cars

Notable Point: No nonhybrid version of the Toyota Prius; however, there is the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid version.

3. 2022 Hyundai Ioniq
Price Range: $23,600 - $33,250
CR MPG: Overall 52 / City 40 / Hwy 63 mpg
Rated #6 of 8 Compact cars

Notable Benefit: This model now comes standard with better tires and an upgraded brake system.

4. 2022 Hyundai Elantra
Price Range: $20,200 - $33,650
CR MPG: Overall 48 / City 40 / Hwy 55 mpg
Rated #3 of 12 Compact cars

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts, “…The hybrid we tested costs about $1,900 more than a comparably equipped nonhybrid, and its fuel economy is 15 mpg better overall. With gas at $5 per gallon, that difference will pay for itself in three years.”

5. 2022 Toyota Corolla
Price Range: $20,425 - $28,710
CR MPG: Overall 48 / City 37 / Hwy 59 mpg
Rated #4 of 12 Compact cars

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts, “The hybrid we tested costs about $1,615 more than a comparably equipped nonhybrid and gets 15 mpg better overall. With gas at $5 per gallon, that difference will pay for itself in three years.”

6. 2022 Kia Niro
Price Range: $24,690 - $44,650
CR MPG: Overall 43 / City 33 / Hwy 52 mpg
Rated #7 of 8 Compact cars

Notable Point: A plug-in hybrid and an EV version with a 239-mile range are available.

7. 2022 Toyota Avalon
Price Range: $36,825 - $44,150
CR MPG: Overall 42 / City 32 / Hwy 52 mpg
Rated #1 of 4 Large cars

Notable Point: Final year for the Avalon, however, “…the Lexus ES300h is based on a similar design and uses the same powertrain, and is not being discontinued.”

8. 2022 Toyota Camry
Price Range: $25,845 - $36,270
CR MPG: Overall 47 / City 39 / Hwy 53 mpg
Rated #3 of 9 Midsized cars

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts, “The Hybrid LE we tested cost about $2,600 more than a comparable gas-only LE, so it’ll take about four years of fuel savings to pay off that premium.”

9. 2022 Honda Accord
Price Range: $26,520 - $38,450
CR MPG: Overall 47 / City 40 / Hwy 52 mpg
Rated #1 of 9 Midsized cars

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts “The Accord Hybrid EX we tested got 47 mpg overall, and cost $1,435 more than a comparable gas-only EX that got only 31 mpg overall. Owners will save around $660 a year at the pump—which should pay back the price premium of the Hybrid version in about two years.”

10. 2022 Hyundai Sonata
Price Range: $24,150 - $34,750
CR MPG: Overall 44 / City 36 / Hwy 51 mpg
Rated #4 of 9 Midsized cars

Notable Point: According to CR analysts the payoff is not such a good deal---"The Sonata Hybrid SEL we bought had a sticker price that was $3,850 higher than a comparably equipped nonhybrid SEL’s. Even though the hybrid gets 13 mpg better than the nonhybrid, that price premium would take seven years to pay off.”

11. 2022 Toyota Venza
Price Range: $33,240 - $40,730
CR MPG: Overall 37 / City 31 / Hwy 42 mpg
Rated #2 of 11 Midsized sport-utility vehicles

Notable Point: Only available as an all-wheel-drive hybrid.

12. 2022 Toyota RAV4
Price Range: $26,975 - $38,075
CR MPG: Overall 37 / City 32 / Hwy 41 mpg
Rated #9 of 22 Compact sport-utility vehicles

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts, “The hybrid costs about $2,000 more than the comparably equipped nonhybrid RAV4 and gets 10 more mpg overall. With gas at $5 per gallon, that difference will pay for itself in three years.”

13. 2022 Lexus UX
Price Range: $33,450 - $40,790
CR MPG: Overall 37 / City 32 / Hwy 42 mpg
Rated #3 of 13 Luxury entry-level sport-utility vehicles

Notable Point: The nonhybrid version---the UX200---is reported to attain only 32 mpg combined.

14. 2022 Toyota Sienna
Price Range: $35,285 - $51,485
CR MPG: Overall 36 / City 28 / Hwy 43 mpg
Rated #3 of 6 Midsized minivans

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts, “Although there’s no nonhybrid version of the Sienna, we compared it with a similarly equipped Honda Odyssey and found that the Sienna’s 14 mpg advantage would save you about $1,060 a year—and pay for the price difference in just two years.”

15. 2022 Hyundai Tucson
Price Range: $24,950 - $43,200
CR MPG: Overall 35 / City 29 / Hwy 40 mpg
Rated #2 of 22 Compact sport-utility vehicles

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts, “The hybrid costs about $1,225 more than a comparably equipped nonhybrid and gets 9 mpg more overall. With gas at $5 per gallon, that difference will pay for itself in two years.”

16. 2022 Honda CR-V
Price Range: $26,800 - $37,800
CR MPG: Overall 35 / City 32 / Hwy 37 mpg
Rated #4 of 22 Compact sport-utility vehicles

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts, “The hybrid gets 7 mpg more overall than the nonhybrid, and costs about $1,200 more—a difference that will pay for itself in about three years with gas at $5 per gallon.”

17. 2022 Toyota Highlander
Price Range: $35,855 - $51,460
CR MPG: Overall 35 / City 27 / Hwy 41 mpg
Rated #2 of 14 Midsized sport-utility vehicles 3-row

Notable Benefit: According to CR analysts, “The best part of the Highlander Hybrid is that it pays for itself in about two years. The Highlander Hybrid XLE we bought cost about $1,620 more than a comparable nonhybrid XLE with a V6, but the Hybrid gets 35 mpg overall compared with the V6’s 22 mpg. That will save owners about a thousand dollars a year at the pump.”

For a more detailed breakdown of each listed vehicle to get the full picture of its pluses and minuses, please visit the CR website. Note that while access to some information requires a CR membership, the potential savings make it negligible in comparison when looking for the latest information to aid your car buying research.

And finally…

For additional articles about hybrid vehicles, here are a few selected informative pieces for your consideration:

• Roomiest and Comfiest Compact Hybrid Cars Tested by Consumer Reports

• Toyota Hybrid Owner Experience with an Aftermarket Hybrid Battery

• What You Need to Know Before Buying a Toyota or Lexus Hybrid This Year

• Easy Solution to a Common Toyota Hybrid Engine Problem That is Also a Scam

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Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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