Hybrid SUVs have shifted from niche experiments to core products in nearly every major brand’s lineup, and 2025 is shaping up to be a turning point. Buyers who want real-world efficiency without sacrificing torque, towing, or comfort now have multiple genuinely compelling options. For enthusiasts, these models deliver sophisticated powertrains, complex AWD systems, and emerging driver-assistance tech; for families, they promise quieter cabins, lower fuel bills, and long-term value.
This review focuses on five of the most important premium-leaning hybrid SUV nameplates available now or for the 2025 model year, with an emphasis on the details that matter to informed shoppers: powertrain engineering, driving dynamics, packaging, technology, and ownership costs.
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Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance
The Lexus RX 500h is one of the clearest examples of where performance and hybridization intersect in the SUV space. Rather than chasing maximum fuel economy, Lexus uses a turbocharged 2.4‑liter four-cylinder paired with a sophisticated hybrid system and a rear eAxle, producing around 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of combined torque. The result is a two-row SUV that can accelerate with surprising urgency while still delivering an EPA-rated fuel economy notably better than comparable pure-gas V6 competitors. Its DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system continuously varies torque distribution between front and rear, enhancing both stability and cornering response, especially in wet or variable conditions.
Chassis tuning in the F Sport Performance trim leans firmly toward the enthusiast, with adaptive dampers that noticeably tighten body control in Sport S+ mode while still preserving a compliant ride in Normal and Eco modes. Steering feel is light but precise, and the vehicle feels smaller than its footprint when pushed on a winding road. Inside, the RX 500h delivers Lexus’s usual build quality, anchored by a large, responsive touchscreen with clear hybrid energy-flow diagrams and an intuitive drive-mode setup. The trade-off is cargo capacity, which is adequate but not class-leading, and a relatively high price of entry. Buyers who prioritize bulletproof reliability, refined performance, and restrained yet modern design will, however, find the RX 500h F Sport Performance a compelling benchmark in the premium hybrid two-row segment.
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Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX
Where the RX 500h focuses on performance luxury, the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX targets families who need three usable rows, real towing capability, and fewer fuel stops. Its headline powertrain pairs a turbocharged 2.4‑liter engine with a sophisticated hybrid setup tuned for torque rather than outright efficiency, delivering up to 362 hp and 400 lb-ft. With a 5,000‑lb towing capacity and an available all-wheel drive system, the Hybrid MAX flavor of Grand Highlander bridges the gap between minivan practicality and full-size SUV capability. The hybrid system’s integration is notably seamless; electric torque helps mask turbo lag, and the transmission calibration favors smoothness over hard shifts, which will appeal to long-haul drivers.
Inside, packaging is where the Grand Highlander truly shines. The third row can accommodate adults on longer drives, and the flat floor plus abundant USB ports, storage cubbies, and cup holders underline its family focus. Toyota’s latest infotainment suite includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and an array of connected services, with over-the-air update capability that can refine features over time. Safety systems under the Toyota Safety Sense umbrella bring adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic emergency braking as standard, making it a strong value argument. Fuel economy trails more efficiency-focused hybrids but remains meaningfully better than non-hybrid three-row competitors, particularly in mixed city/highway use. For shoppers cross-shopping minivans, non-hybrid three-row SUVs, and crossovers, the Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX offers a nuanced, well-balanced proposition: near‑full‑size utility with significantly reduced operating costs.
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Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (All-New Generation)
Hyundai’s latest Santa Fe Hybrid is a statement piece: boxier, more upright, and more adventure-ready than its predecessor, yet still targeted squarely at the core mid-size crossover buyer. Its 1.6‑liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain delivers an output in the mid-200‑hp range, focusing on fuel economy and smoothness over brute force. A six-speed automatic transmission (instead of a CVT) will appeal to drivers who dislike the “rubber-band” feel of some competitors, and Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system is calibrated to provide added grip without unduly penalizing efficiency. In real-world mixed driving, owners can expect mileage that meaningfully undercuts the fuel consumption of traditional V6-powered rivals.
The new interior is where the Santa Fe Hybrid takes a decisive step upscale. A twin-screen layout, available head-up display, and high-quality materials create an environment that feels closer to entry-luxury than mainstream. Thoughtful details—like dual wireless charging pads, a large center console with configurable storage, and second-row seats that slide and recline—add everyday usability. On the tech front, Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist blends adaptive cruise and lane centering to reduce fatigue on long trips, while the brand’s robust warranty (including hybrid system coverage) is an important ownership-cost advantage. Enthusiasts may wish for a more powerful variant, but for most buyers the real story is the balance: enough power, a dramatically improved interior, strong efficiency, and a styling direction that stands out in a crowded segment.
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Honda CR‑V Hybrid Sport Touring
The CR‑V Hybrid has quietly become one of the most rational choices in the compact SUV segment, especially in top Sport Touring form. Its two-motor hybrid system pairs a naturally aspirated 2.0‑liter Atkinson-cycle engine with twin electric motors for a combined output of around 204 hp. Honda’s setup behaves more like an E‑CVT at lower speeds, using the gasoline engine primarily as a generator under many conditions, then locking the engine directly to the wheels at higher speeds for improved efficiency. The result is a drivetrain that feels electric-dominant in city driving with smooth, linear acceleration and impressively low fuel consumption. Real-world economy often rivals or even exceeds EPA estimates, particularly in urban and suburban use.
From a dynamics standpoint, the CR‑V Hybrid remains one of the better-driving options in its class. Steering is direct, body motions are well controlled, and the brake blending between regenerative and friction braking is among the most natural-feeling in any hybrid at this price point. The Sport Touring trim layers on features like a premium audio system, larger wheels, and additional driver-assistance tech, including one of the more refined adaptive cruise and lane-keeping setups in the segment (Honda Sensing). Practicality is also a strong suit, with a spacious rear seat and wide cargo opening that make it easy to load bulky items. For buyers who prioritize efficiency, reliability, and understated sophistication over maximum tech flash or raw power, the CR‑V Hybrid Sport Touring stands as a benchmark compact hybrid SUV.
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Ford Explorer Hybrid (Law-Enforcement DNA in a Family Package)
The Ford Explorer Hybrid occupies an unusual niche, sharing much of its core architecture with the law-enforcement-only Police Interceptor Utility Hybrid. Built on a rear-drive-based platform with available all-wheel drive, it uses a 3.3‑liter V6 mated to an electric motor integrated into the 10‑speed automatic transmission, yielding roughly 318 hp combined. This layout brings several unique advantages: a more natural towing and hauling character than many transverse-based hybrids, a 5,000‑lb towing rating in properly equipped trims, and a driving feel closer to a traditional SUV than a tall car. Electric assist fills in low-rpm torque, making launches smoother and more responsive while still improving fuel economy over the non-hybrid V6.
The Explorer Hybrid’s cabin emphasizes space and versatility, with a usable third row and fold-flat seats that can transform the interior from passenger-hauler to cargo cave. Trims with the hybrid system skew toward the better-equipped end of the spectrum, delivering large infotainment screens, multiple USB ports, and Ford Co‑Pilot360 driver-assistance tech. The flip side is that pricing can climb quickly, especially once AWD and comfort packages are added. Fuel economy, while better than gas-only Explorers, lags some of the lighter-duty unibody hybrids in this review, particularly in city driving. Where the Explorer Hybrid makes its case is for buyers who need genuine SUV capability—rear-drive architecture, strong towing performance, and an available robust AWD system—but still want to rein in fuel and operating costs compared with a conventional three-row SUV.
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Conclusion
Hybrid SUVs in 2025 no longer require buyers to choose between performance, practicality, and efficiency. The Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance proves that hybridization can enhance driving engagement; the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX shows what electrified torque can do for family utility and towing; the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid raises the bar on design and tech in the midsize segment; the Honda CR‑V Hybrid Sport Touring continues to set the standard for everyday efficiency and refinement; and the Ford Explorer Hybrid delivers true SUV capability with reduced fuel consumption.
For car enthusiasts, these models offer complex, thoughtfully engineered powertrains and chassis setups worth exploring in detail. For everyday buyers, they represent a new baseline for what a modern SUV should be: efficient, safe, versatile, and technologically current. The right choice ultimately depends on your priorities—whether that’s third-row space, towing, driving dynamics, or long-term cost of ownership—but the breadth and depth of today’s hybrid SUV landscape mean you’re far less likely to compromise than even a few years ago.
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Sources
- [Lexus USA – 2025 RX Specifications](https://www.lexus.com/models/RX) – Official specifications, powertrain details, and feature breakdown for the Lexus RX lineup, including hybrid variants
- [Toyota USA – Grand Highlander Hybrid Overview](https://www.toyota.com/grandhighlander/) – Manufacturer information on powertrains, towing capacity, packaging, and safety tech for the Grand Highlander and its hybrid powertrains
- [Hyundai USA – 2024/2025 Santa Fe Hybrid](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/santa-fe-hybrid) – Technical specs, interior features, and safety technology details for the new-generation Santa Fe Hybrid
- [Honda USA – 2024 CR‑V Hybrid](https://automobiles.honda.com/cr-v-hybrid) – Official data on Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, trim levels, and driver-assistance technologies in the CR‑V Hybrid
- [Ford – 2025 Explorer Hybrid Details](https://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/models/limited-hybrid/) – Powertrain information, towing ratings, and feature content for the Explorer Hybrid and its related trims
Key Takeaway
The most important thing to remember from this article is that this information can change how you think about Reviews.
