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[bigedole]

Hello all, wife and I are finally in the market for a new vehicle and we know we want a hybrid/plug-in type SUV. My personal preference has settled on the Toyota Rav4 Prime but apparently they are near impossible to get due to low production. I am also a huge fan of the Audi Q5, mostly because both of these cars have an engine that supports fully electric for up to 40 miles or hybrid gasoline for longer distance. It is very appealing to be able to do all my daily driving to and from work or around town without using a speck of gas, but have the ability to utilize gas for longer drives/family road trips which is important to us. We absolutely do not want to go fully electric at this point in time.

Unfortunately, the Q5 is probably a little outside of our budget, so I thought I would appeal to all of the random car experts who might be visiting this forum to hear some suggestions/thoughts you all might have for what would be a good fit for our family of 4. SUV w/ 40+ MPG city is a must, we're pretty flexible feature wise though really. Our budget comfortably goes to around 40k, though even the Q5 isn't completely outside the realm of possibility...

 

[INC]

 

[Soltype]

Would you be willing to get a car instead?, or do you need the space?

 

[daveonezero]

Volvo?

 

[navii]

I thought of the RAV4 even before I clicked the thread. Can you order and wait it out?

I'm opposed to luxury cars since I got rid of my mini cooper. One thing I didn't consider when I was buying it at a "great' price is that the initial buy in is just the start of the cost of the car. Maintenance and parts were incredibly expensive. Korean, maybe, but I would never buy a non Japanese car again... Unless I win lotto or something.

 

[navii]

Volvo?

If you want to send lots of money to China why not an MG?

 

[Bluntman]

RAV4 PHEV is way overpriced and has a very lastgen infotainment system.

I would look for a KIA/Hyundai in the same vehicle size.

 

[bigedole]

I thought of the RAV4 even before I clicked the thread. Can you order and wait it out?

I'm opposed to luxury cars since I got rid of my mini cooper. One thing I didn't consider when I was buying it at a "great' price is that the initial buy in is just the start of the cost of the car. Maintenance and parts were incredibly expensive. Korean, maybe, but I would never buy a non Japanese car again... Unless I win lotto or something.

I spoke with someone in an Austin dealership and they said the car is only sold in California and due to the worldwide chip shortage they don't expect it to be available in other states until late 2022 or 2023 They could be wrong, if you know of somewhere I can order one or get on a wait list by all means please share!

Would you be willing to get a car instead?, or do you need the space?

No, we definitely need the space. We don't want a large vehicle, definitely looking in the small-midsized SUV range. We plan to take 2ish road trips a year and want everyone to feel roomy and comfortable.

RAV4 PHEV is way overpriced and has a very lastgen infotainment system.

I would look for a KIA/Hyundai in the same vehicle size.

The KIA looks cheap to me for some reason My round trip commute to work is about 20 miles, so I'm not sure the electric-only mode would hold up after the first year since it only claims a capacity of 26 miles. The Hyundai doesn't have a plug in SUV that I can find that's out now. The Tucson is coming this summer it looks like but will not be sold in Texas...

 

[juliushandle]

rav4 prime is the only answer. u gotta wait it out or else keep waiting on full electric like the ionic 5.

 

[Pagusas]

I’ve got a 2020 rav4 hybrid limited and love it. So much so I bought my wife one too. The prime is likely amazing

 

[Rival]

I have a 2019 rav 4 hybrid and love it. I will buy a prime in a few years.

 

[Quasicat]

RAV4 PHEV is way overpriced and has a very lastgen infotainment system.

I would look for a KIA/Hyundai in the same vehicle size.

I have been really looking into a Hyundai Kona EV after field testing it at a dealership last year. The problem is, when I asked about it, they said it was only for sale in California (I live in Ohio) and they hadn’t even fully settled on a price yet. My Tucson is only a couple of years old and I keep my cars until they fall apart, so I’m hoping what I want will be available in 8 to 10 years.

 

[Ownage]

Recent BMW X3 PHEVs have a decent ev range, and you get the turbo 4 as backup. X5 PHEVs have even greater ev range.

 

[navii]

I spoke with someone in an Austin dealership and they said the car is only sold in California and due to the worldwide chip shortage they don't expect it to be available in other states until late 2022 or 2023 They could be wrong, if you know of somewhere I can order one or get on a wait list by all means please share!

No, we definitely need the space. We don't want a large vehicle, definitely looking in the small-midsized SUV range. We plan to take 2ish road trips a year and want everyone to feel roomy and comfortable.

The KIA looks cheap to me for some reason My round trip commute to work is about 20 miles, so I'm not sure the electric-only mode would hold up after the first year since it only claims a capacity of 26 miles. The Hyundai doesn't have a plug in SUV that I can find that's out now. The Tucson is coming this summer it looks like but will not be sold in Texas...

jesus. are they made in mexico? could you buy it from there?

 

[bigedole]

Recent BMW X3 PHEVs have a decent ev range, and you get the turbo 4 as backup. X5 PHEVs have even greater ev range.

Just looked into it, they're definitely nice but it's basically the same as the audi Q5 which I think I would prefer slightly.

 

[Ownage]

Just looked into it, they're definitely nice but it's basically the same as the audi Q5 which I think I would prefer slightly.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is comfortably in your budget. They're everywhere these days. Fully loaded it's a nice SUV, and the warranty is great. If I lived in Malaysia I'd be all over it.

 

[bigedole]

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is comfortably in your budget. They're everywhere these days. Fully loaded it's a nice SUV, and the warranty is great. If I lived in Malaysia I'd be all over it.

Mitsubishi is not really a reliable brand though, it's a tough sell to my wife. I did come across the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and it looks pretty good, but it was hard to tell what features came standard on their website. I think the most likely outcome is we're gonna go with a Rav4 Hybrid or CR-V Hybrid. If I could wait another 2 years I'd be all over the Rav4 Prime but it's just not an option. Our 2001 Honda Accord (My first car!) isn't something we can last another couple years with and we really want to get the family road trips rolling starting in a few months.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Volvo?

Yup, their SUVs are great. With two kids you can get XC40, with 3 XC90. It’s a monster but you guys in have lots of parking spaces.

 

[Bluntman]

Mitsubishi is not really a reliable brand though, it's a tough sell to my wife. I did come across the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and it looks pretty good, but it was hard to tell what features came standard on their website. I think the most likely outcome is we're gonna go with a Rav4 Hybrid or CR-V Hybrid. If I could wait another 2 years I'd be all over the Rav4 Prime but it's just not an option. Our 2001 Honda Accord (My first car!) isn't something we can last another couple years with and we really want to get the family road trips rolling starting in a few months.

The Mitsubishi PHEV is very reliable as far as I know but you should check.

Its not the best looking on the inside tho, at least not for my taste. Outside it's great tho.

 

[TheContact]

The Toyota RAV4 hybrid is great
Do not buy Volvo. Go with a reliable brand like Toyota , Mazda , honda , and certain Kia/Hyundai vehicles. If u wanna buy Chinese or German, just lease.

 

[daveonezero]

OP why a hybrid suv? For the price you could get a small commuter car and a bigger SUV when you need to move the kids around.

Mitsubishi is not really a reliable brand though, it's a tough sell to my wife. I did come across the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and it looks pretty good, but it was hard to tell what features came standard on their website. I think the most likely outcome is we're gonna go with a Rav4 Hybrid or CR-V Hybrid. If I could wait another 2 years I'd be all over the Rav4 Prime but it's just not an option. Our 2001 Honda Accord (My first car!) isn't something we can last another couple years with and we really want to get the family road trips rolling starting in a few months.

Toyota also just announce the Hybrid Venda too I think. Or I’m seeing ads for it.

 

[bigedole]

OP why a hybrid suv? For the price you could get a small commuter car and a bigger SUV when you need to move the kids around.

Toyota also just announce the Hybrid Venda too I think. Or I’m seeing ads for it.

We won't want to own that many cars and neither my wife nor I want a bigger SUV. Hybrid SUV lets us have our cake and eat it too, more room than a sedan + AWD but not so big and bulky that we can't park 2 cars in the 2 car portion of the 3 car garage.

 

[Romulus]

RAV4 PHEV is way overpriced and has a very lastgen infotainment system.

I would look for a KIA/Hyundai in the same vehicle size.

The prime can be got for low $30s with the tax rebate. SE is 38k but you get a $7500 back on taxes. That's untouchable for 90mpge suv with 300hp and AWD. It actually performs better than 300hp.
Hell the regular rav4 hybrid is more expensive with the higher trims and it gets way worse mpg and it's way slower.

 

[Bluntman]

The prime can be got for low $30s with the tax rebate. SE is 38k but you get a $7500 back on taxes. That's untouchable for 90mpge suv with 300hp and AWD. It actually performs better than 300hp.
Hell the regular rav4 hybrid is more expensive with the higher trims and it gets way worse mpg and it's way slower.

Yeah sorry, don't know about American prices, should've thought of that. It's like almost double the price of the regular hybrid here in Europe.

 

[Romulus]

Yeah sorry, don't know about American prices, should've thought of that. It's like almost double the price of the regular hybrid here in Europe.

Yes in the US, the top-level trims see markups, but the SE has plenty of options and rarely sees much markup. If you don't qualify for the rebate in the US, the argument is somewhat less compelling though.

 

[Coolwhhip]

If you want to send lots of money to China why not an MG?

Yeah it's a shame volvo is chinese now, their SUVs look great.

 

[Bluntman]

Yeah it's a shame volvo is chinese now, their SUVs look great.

It's still made in Sweden tho, by Swedish people. Mostly migrants then I guess, but still.

 

[bigedole]

The prime can be got for low $30s with the tax rebate. SE is 38k but you get a $7500 back on taxes. That's untouchable for 90mpge suv with 300hp and AWD. It actually performs better than 300hp.
Hell the regular rav4 hybrid is more expensive with the higher trims and it gets way worse mpg and it's way slower.

Yes the prime is amazing, but how the heck do you get one? Apparently it is only sold in California in the US.

 

[Romulus]

Yes the prime is amazing, but how the heck do you get one? Apparently it is only sold in California in the US.

Thats not true. Check the east coast, NC, NJ etc.

 

[Romulus]

Take a look at the base sante fe and sorento hybrids too. Way more roomy, comfortable and respectable mpg for low $30s.

Plug in sante fe is coming too in summer. 30 miles electric 100k warranty. My brother has the regular hybrid sante fe and its far and away a better driving experience. He gets around 35mpg, but it's a much better suv than my prime in normal driving.

My prime just feels clunkier, much more confined, and just overall less refined despite being more economical and faster.

I'm considering getting the sante fe plug in too now, driving that vehicle really changed my mind about the brand.

 

[bigedole]

Take a look at the base sante fe and sorento hybrids too. Way more roomy, comfortable and respectable mpg for low $30s.

Plug in sante fe is coming too in summer. 30 miles electric 100k warranty. My brother has the regular hybrid sante fe and its far and away a better driving experience. He gets around 35mpg, but it's a much better suv than my prime in normal driving.

My prime just feels clunkier, much more confined, and just overall less refined despite being more economical and faster.

I'm considering getting the sante fe plug in too now, driving that vehicle really changed my mind about the brand.

The plug in santa fe also won't be sold in Texas But I spent a bit looking at the regular hybrid and it's actually very appealing. Almost 20% more passenger space than the Rav4 and spec'd out ot my preference it's actually slightly cheaper it looks like. I'm definitely adding it to my list of contenders, thanks for the suggestion!