The Best Mid

If you need interior space and efficiency, these electrified mid-size SUVs should be on your list.

There are many reasons a mid-size SUV might make sense for you. Maybe you're starting a family. Or maybe you just need a little more space for your friends and your stuff. Whatever your rationale, the mid-size SUV category has plenty of options to choose from. It's worth noting that larger vehicles often come with a fuel-economy penalty. But if you like having your cake and eating it too and can afford to pay a premium up front, a mid-size hybrid or plug-in-hybrid SUV may be just the ticket. These electrified utility vehicles are spacious, comfortable, and most importantly, less thirsty at the pump relative to their strictly gas-fed counterparts. Mid-size hybrid SUVs come in many flavors, from luxurious, style-centric crossovers to genuinely rugged, electric-assisted SUVs that can hold their own off the beaten path. Keep reading for our picks for the best mid-size hybrid SUVs on the market.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size SUV that borders on luxury classification in its higher trims. It's also one of the most off-road-capable vehicles in the class. Admittedly, the Grand Cherokee's gas-electric powertrain is one of this SUV's few sore points, as the switchover between power sources is rougher than we'd like and the gas engine is on the louder side. But if you can charge every night and make use of its EPA-rated 26-mile battery-powered driving range, the five-seat Grand Cherokee 4xe makes for a comfortable and reasonably luxurious commuter that also has real go-anywhere capability when you need it.

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The Kia Sorento is a value-oriented mid-size SUV that comes standard with three-row seating. That third row is on the small side, though. The Sorento offers two gasoline-electric powertrain options: a conventional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. The latter is more powerful and offers an estimated battery-electric driving range of up to 33 miles. It's also more expensive. Unless you absolutely need a plug-in-hybrid Sorento, you're better off saving some cash and springing for the miserly Sorento hybrid.

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The Hyundai Santa Fe is a two-row mid-sizer with a starting price more in line with many compact crossovers, making it an attractive option for SUV shoppers looking to get the most bang for their buck. In addition to being a good value, the Santa Fe is offered in two miserly hybrid variants: a conventional hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. The standard hybrid relies on a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four and an electric motor that's good for a combined 226 horsepower. The plug-in features a more powerful electric motor, which brings the total output to 261 horses. It also features a larger capacity battery pack that affords it an EPA-estimated 31 miles of battery-electric driving. We found that power difference to be negligible and saw no real fuel-economy benefit over the standard hybrid. If you want an electrified Santa Fe, save yourself a few thousand and go for the regular hybrid.

MORE ABOUT THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID AND PHEV

In past years, the Toyota Highlander placed consistently near the top of the mid-size SUV class. Increased competition from Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, and others has dropped the Highlander to mid-pack. But one thing that helps it stand out is its available hybrid drivetrain. The front-drive hybrid Highlander packs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors that produce a combined 243 horsepower. Opting for all-wheel drive nets a third motor that powers the rear wheels. The hybrid Highlander is reasonably quick for a mid-size SUV, scooting to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. It also handles about as well as the turbocharged gas-only Highlander–which is to say it's stable if unexciting. But the fuel-economy benefits over the standard Highlander are huge. A front-drive hybrid Highlander is EPA-rated at 36 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, compared to 25 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway for a front-drive strictly gas-fed Highlander. The Highlander is not as spacious as other three-row mid-size options such as the Chevrolet Traverse, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade; however, those models don't offer a hybrid powertrain option.

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Sometimes the decision to buy a mid-size SUV is driven more by wants than needs. That's likely the case if you're buying a Jeep Wrangler. This icon of off-road performance traces its roots back to the military Jeeps that served in World War II and continues to offer dominating capability where the pavement ends. We think the Wrangler is at its best in stripped-down base form with a few optional creature comforts thrown in to make it more liveable day to day. But if you want the option to motor about without burning gas, Jeep offers the Wrangler in plug-in-hybrid 4xe trim. This variant mates a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 375 horsepower. It can also drive up to 22 miles on electric power alone. However, once the battery is depleted, the 4xe isn't especially fuel efficient. The Jeep's gas-electric powertrain doesn't transition between power sources in a particularly smooth manner, though, and its ability to plug in is of questionable value when you're on the trails. Still, if you want a hybrid that can conquer just about any terrain you can throw at it, this is your rig.

MORE ABOUT THE JEEP WRANGLER 4XE

The Ford Explorer delivers a balanced mix of utility and comfort with standard three-row seating and a generously sized cargo area (with the rearmost bench folded down). With the available hybrid drivetrain, the large SUV gets a bit more efficient, though you'll pay for those fuel savings upfront. The hybrid is available starting with the mid-level Limited trim. It's also available in the more luxurious Explorer Platinum. The electrified Explorer variant is powered by a 3.3-liter V-6 and an electric motor that's good for a combined 318 horsepower. In rear-drive guise, the hybrid Explorer is EPA-rated at up to 27 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway (all-wheel drive is an optional extra, and adding it brings those numbers down a bit). That's not that impressive when you compare it to some others on this list, but if you need space and capability, the gas-electric Explorer is a solid pick.

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The hybrid-only Toyota Venza's raked roofline lends it an attractive silhouette. Alas, the Venza's rear headroom and cargo volume suffer for it. Passengers in the front, however, will appreciate the Venza's relatively upscale interior, which can be enhanced with an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen and available faux leather upholstery. All Venzas are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine assisted by three electric motors. All-wheel drive is standard across the line. This setup is mighty efficient, even if it fails to yield much in the way of driving enjoyment. Blame the powertrain's rather sluggish acceleration and the four-cylinder's buzzy nature.

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