Hybrid vehicles are great options for those who want to reduce fuel usage but aren’t ready to commit to an electric vehicle fully. Originally, hybrid vehicles were only sedans, but as technology has improved, other vehicles have started having hybrid options.
With so many available, which ones are the best? Let’s look at the best hybrid SUVs with 3rd-row seating.
Contents
What 3-Row SUV Comes in a Hybrid?
There are several SUVs with three rows that come in a hybrid option. We will discuss them later, but here are a few options:
- Ford Explorer
- Honda Pilot
- Toyota Highlander
What SUV With a Third Row Is Most Reliable?
There are a lot of reliable SUVs with a third row, one of them being the Kia Sorento Hybrid. It has an 8/10 reliability score, and most people are delighted with the vehicle’s performance.
Important Considerations in Our Ranking
Many car manufacturers have turned some of their most popular 3rd row-seating SUVs into hybrid options. Before we dive into our ranking of the best hybrid SUVs for 2023, here are the most important considerations that we considered.
Price
The cost of hybrid SUVs with 3rd-row seating is all over the place because of the various brands that make them. Considering the SUV’s price is beneficial to ensure that it is comparable to the SUV’s features.
Gas Mileage
Some vehicles use the most fuel, so getting a hybrid option can be highly beneficial when you still need the space but want to save on gas.
SUVs aren’t known for getting the best gas mileage, so hybrid options are rising in popularity. We wanted to assess the gas mileage of hybrid SUVs with 3rd-row seating to give you a better idea of the vehicle. Depending on how often and far you typically drive, you can then determine whether one of these cars’ gas mileage is worth it or not.
Car Manufacturer
In our ranking, we also decided to consider who the car manufacturer is. While all manufacturers have strict safety ratings and regulations, we wanted to choose brands that consistently have high-quality and safe vehicles.
Safety Features
Safety features are huge when choosing any vehicle, so we factored those in when choosing the best hybrid SUVs with 3rd-row seating. We wanted to ensure ample airbags, seat belts, and other safety features to keep you and whoever you’re driving safe while on the road.
Size
Most hybrid SUVs with 3rd-row seating are similar in size because of their seating; there are slight differences from vehicle to vehicle. We considered the vehicle size when determining the best hybrid SUVs with 3rd-row seating to help you determine which one might be the best option.
5 Best Hybrid SUVs with 3rd Row Seating 2023
Many great hybrid SUV options are on the market, but these are the five best with 3rd-row seating.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a mid-size SUV with excellent fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. The SUV comes with two electric motors and a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that produce 243 horsepower. It has electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) to optimize power.
The SUV is just under 195 inches long, making it the perfect mid-size SUV. Some features that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes with include regenerative braking, LED headlights, keyless start and entry, rearview cameras, tri-zone automatic climate control, and an eight-inch touchscreen.
You can connect your iPhone or Android device via Apple CarPlay or the Android Auto feature. Toyota equipped this SUV with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 which includes safety features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and steering assistance.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given this hybrid SUV with 3rd row seating an estimated fuel economy rating of 35 mpg in the city and highway and 36 mpg combined. The best part is that the two electric motors will run when going at low speeds to help keep them charged for longer and ensure you’re not wasting gasoline.
Pros:
- Two electric motors
- 36 mpg combined
- Toyota Safety Sense
Cons:
- 3rd row is difficult to put down
Kia Sorento Hybrid
Kia is one of the best car manufacturers for affordable yet high-quality vehicles. The Kia Sorento Hybrid is another mid-size SUV with a 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It works alongside a 44 kW electric motor to produce 227 horsepower.
Features of the Kia Sorento Hybrid include regenerative braking, LED headlights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, keyless ignition and entry, a panoramic sunroof, leather seats, several automatic climate zones, and more.
The EPA gives this hybrid SUV an estimated fuel economy of 39 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. The electronic motor will run at low speeds for short distances to help your vehicle be more fuel efficient. The SUV is 189 inches long, making it shorter than some others.
Some safety features that the Kia Sorento Hybrid comes with include blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alerts, and forward collision warning.
Pros:
- Enhanced safety features
- 39 mpg in the city
- Good horsepower
Cons:
- It’s a little short for a mid-size SUV
Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring Hybrid
For those who prefer higher-end cars but still want a hybrid SUV with 3rd-row seating, the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring Hybrid might be the one for you. This luxury SUV combines a 3.0 liter V6 engine with a 75 kW electric motor. The total horsepower is 494.
The Lincoln SUV comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to help optimize the power and efficiency of the vehicle. This mid-size SUV comes with regenerative braking like the other hybrids on this list, and you can operate the electric motor at low speeds for short distances.
The EPA gave this hybrid SUV an estimated fuel economy of 23 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and a combined mpg of 23. It’s not nearly as fuel efficient as other options, but it’s still a tremendous hybrid SUV.
Features that the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring Hybrid comes with include tri-zone automatic climate control, a ten-inch touchscreen, keyless entry and ignition, premium leather seating, a panoramic sunroof, automatic emergency braking, and more safety features.
Pros:
- Ten-inch touchscreen
- Premium leather upholstery
- Intense horsepower
Cons:
- The fuel economy isn’t as great as other options
Ford Explorer Hybrid
Next up, we have the Ford Explorer Hybrid. It’s another mid-size SUV with three rows of seating and a length of 199 inches. It has a 3.3 liter V6 engine and a 35 kW electric combined horsepower of 318.
The SUV has a ten-speed automatic transmission that helps optimize the power and efficiency of the vehicle when using the gas or electric motor. The EPA gives this hybrid SUV with 3rd row seating a fuel economy rating of 23 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined.
The Ford Explorer Hybrid comes with an eight-inch touch screen, a wireless charging pad, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility, seating for seven people with the rear seats being able to fold down.
The safety features of this SUV are excellent. It has a 360-degree camera, so you can see almost everything around the vehicle. In addition to that, it has lane departure warnings, pedestrian detection, a rearview camera, and automatic high beams.
Pros:
- 360-degree camera
- Wireless charging pad
- 199 inches long
Cons:
- It only seats seven people
Lexus RX Hybrid
Another luxury hybrid SUV with 3rd-row seating is the Lexus RX Hybrid. This mid-size SUV has a 3.5 liter V6 engine with an electric motor of 123 kW. The combined horsepower is 308, and the SUV has ECVT for optimization.
The length of the mid-size SUV is just under 193 inches, making it a pretty decent size vehicle. It has an estimated fuel economy rating of 31 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined.
It has one of the largest touch screens, just over 12 inches. Some of the features of this SUV include premium leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a moonroof, and more.
As for the safety features, include a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and others to keep you and your family safe.
Pros:
- 12-inch touchscreen
- Heated seats and steering wheel
- 31 mpg fuel economy
Cons:
- Not all Lexus RX Hybrids have 3rd-row seating, so you need to be cautious when purchasing.
Does a Third Row Make a Difference for a Hybrid SUV?
Having a third row in a hybrid SUV can make a massive difference for some people. Others might not find it as beneficial, but most do. Having a third row provides more seating which is great for large families or people who drive many people at a time.
Besides being able to seat more people, it has far more storage with the third row, which you might need if you constantly transport many items.
