6 Best Luxury Hybrid and Electric Cars in 2021 According to U.S. News (2024)

The luxury hybrid andelectriccars segment isteeming with competition. U.S. News recently published its choices for the six best luxury hybrid and electric cars from 2021, and it’s hard to argue with them. Proper luxury cars sport comfort, smooth and plentiful acceleration, and amenities with minimal compromise. Although some of these cars lack in certain areas, they all provide an exceptional driving experience in their own way. These are U.S. News’ six choices for best luxury hybrid and electric cars from 2021.

2021 BMW i3: compact fun

6 Best Luxury Hybrid and Electric Cars in 2021 According to U.S. News (1)

BMW’s i3 gets mediocre scores from various sources, despite its ability. It has up to 181 horsepower and can go up to 200 miles. It weighs 3,309 pounds which is light for an electric car, but upon settling inside the cabin, it isn’t easy to see where the weight is. The i3 provides a cramped interior, which becomes smaller when traveling on the highway. With just the driver, the i3 can be a fun experience. Its rear-wheel-drive platform lends itself tight and responsive handling. Taking an i3 for a track day is not uncommon.

The 2021 Lexus ES Hybrid is almost as luxurious as it gets

6 Best Luxury Hybrid and Electric Cars in 2021 According to U.S. News (2)

The Lexus ES Hybrid offers a more luxurious experience, providing a quiet and comfortable cabin. Unfortunately, it lacks the excitement of the i3 and many other Lexus sedans. The car comes with a front-wheel drive as standard, so the AWD ES350H comes highly recommended in comparison. It clocks in a few thousand dollars cheaper than the i3 and provides more interior space as well as a cushier ride. The Lexus certainly accomplishes the goals of a luxury car.

The 2021 Porsche Taycan is a fantastic and expensive luxury electric car

6 Best Luxury Hybrid and Electric Cars in 2021 According to U.S. News (3)

Hands-down the best car on this list, the Porsche Taycan is an all-electric sedan that looks like a 718. It starts at 321 horsepower and goes 200 miles on a charge. Unfortunately, it’s twice the price of the Lexus, starting at $82,700. The Taycan will most likely handle better than the Lexus and the BMW, but it weighs more, and affordability is out the window compared to the competition so far.

2021 Polestar 2: the most well-rounded luxury electric car

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Luckily the Polestar 2 brings us closer to reality with a $61,200 MSRP, and its ability makes the Polestar 2 a bargain. It can go 230 miles on a charge, and that’s with just over 400 horsepower. It’s also quick, sprinting to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. The Polestar 2 provides high-quality interior pieces and an agile chassis. Customers can opt for a performance package for about $5,000 more, which includes Brembo brakes and Ohlin suspension.This is one of the best choices for luxury electric cars.

2021 Tesla Model 3: cheap interior, great everything else

6 Best Luxury Hybrid and Electric Cars in 2021 According to U.S. News (5)

For an affordable luxury electric car, the actual choices start and stop at the Tesla Model 3. It’s quick, has the most range, and is somewhat reasonable, starting at $38,940. Unfortunately, the interior feels like a lego set. The interior is made of cheap materials snapped together, which disheartens the experience. For getting past its weak interior, the car offers simply the best electric car experience so far. It’s a simple car that weighs as much as a petrol sedan and has exceptional interior visibility.

2021 Tesla Model S: better than Model 3

The Tesla Model S wasU.S. News’ number-one choice and rated the most expensive on this list by about $7,000, ahead of the Porsche. With that comes a much more comfortable interior than what the Model 3 has to offer, a longer range, and much more speed. The Model S has lots of grip and ample acceleration, but its biggest problem comes down to the size. It feels big, both in size and weight. The interior offers plenty of space and is comfortable enough for drives of moderate length and time.

Which of these cars is the best luxury hybrid or electric vehicle?

Each of these cars has its strengths and weaknesses. None are perfect, but most of them serve their purpose well. TheBMW i3 depreciatesso quickly that it’s worth waiting a few years for, and valet drivers probably get more chances to drive the Porsche Taycan than the average person. Still, the Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3 are both solid choices.

Related

The Lexus ES Is a Terrible Luxury Car, According To KBB Consumer Reviews

6 Best Luxury Hybrid and Electric Cars in 2021 According to U.S. News (2024)

FAQs

What is the most reliable hybrid car in the world? ›

Most reliable hybrid cars
  • Suzuki Vitara Hybrid (2015-present) Reliability rating 100% ...
  • Lexus NX (2014-2021) Reliability rating 99.8% ...
  • Lexus NX Hybrid and PHEV (2021-present) Reliability rating 99.4% ...
  • Kia Niro Hybrid and PHEV (2016-2022) Reliability rating 98.8% ...
  • Toyota RAV4 (2019-present) ...
  • Toyota Yaris Hybrid (2020-present)
5 days ago

What is the most popular hybrid car in the US? ›

Toyota Prius

It's one of the original hybrids, and set the template for every hybrid to come, with a teardrop shape, hatchback body, and exceptional fuel economy. The latest version is even better.

What is the most successful hybrid? ›

Hybrids have a long history that stretches all the way back to a Porsche in 1901, but the Prius is the model that has endured and thrived.

What is the most sold hybrid car in the world? ›

1: Toyota Prius Hybrid

The Toyota Prius may not be as large as the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, but when it comes to hybrid sales, the Prius is a juggernaut. In 2008, Toyota sold 158,886 Prius hatchbacks. That's more vehicles than the rest of this 10 best selling hybrids list combined.

What hybrid will last the longest? ›

Toyota Prius is the Longest-Held Vehicle

13.7 percent of surveyed owners had owned their Prius for 15 years or longer – and 18 percent of Prius owners had owned their Prius for between 10 and 15 years.

Can hybrid cars last 10 years? ›

For most people driving the average amount of 10,000 miles per year, the original hybrid battery will last long enough to get through a decade of ownership. As many people begin to look for a new vehicle around the 10-year mark, this should be enough.

What is the most successful hybrid car ever made? ›

The Toyota Prius is the world's all-time top-selling hybrid, and also in both Japan and the U.S.

What is the downside of hybrid cars? ›

Higher running costs: Due to their engine and continuous development in technology, it may not be easy to find a mechanic with the required expertise. And they would likely charge you a little more for maintenance and repairs. Moreover, the highest running cost occurs when replacing the battery.

What is better, a hybrid or plug-in hybrid? ›

The main difference between hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles is that plug-in hybrid vehicles can be driven using nothing but electric power—at least for short distances. With a plug-in hybrid, you may be able to charge up overnight and knock out your commute without any gas at all.

Who is the leader in hybrid cars? ›

Toyota, long the hybrid leader, still dominates. Its electric vehicle sales — nearly all hybrids, with a smattering of BEVs and fuel cells — climbed 30% to 657,327 in 2023.

What brand makes the best hybrids? ›

Best Hybrids
  • 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. Compare Model. Positives. Stylish new exterior. ...
  • 2024 Toyota Tacoma. Compare Model. Positives. Hybrid powertrain offers class-leading torque. ...
  • 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser. Compare Model. Positives. Solid off-road chops. ...
  • 2024 Lexus TX. Compare Model. Positives. ...
  • 2024 Kia Sportage. Compare Model. Positives.

What is better than hybrid? ›

But there's your first, oversimplified answer. Over a 180,000-mile life of a vehicle, fully electric vehicles will produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Plug-in hybrids are next best, then regular hybrids, then internal combustion engines.

Which hybrid car is best in the USA? ›

The best hybrid car is the 2024 Toyota Camry Hybrid, with an overall score of 8.4 out of 10. What is the best hybrid SUV? The best hybrid SUV is the 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, with an overall score of 8.6 out of 10. What is the best luxury hybrid SUV?

What is the world's first luxury hybrid vehicle? ›

In 2005, Lexus introduced the world's first luxury hybrid vehicle, the RX 400h.

What is the best-selling plug-in electric car? ›

Here are the best-selling plug-in hybrids (all mileage mentioned are EPA estimates).
  • #8 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid. ...
  • #7 BMW 330e. ...
  • #6 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid. ...
  • #5 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. ...
  • #4 Toyota Prius Prime. ...
  • #3 BMW X5 xDrive 45e. ...
  • #2 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid. ...
  • #1 Jeep Wrangler 4xe.

What is the best hybrid car of all time? ›

"Topping our list is the Toyota Prius with the best fuel economy, undeniable practicality, and exceptionally high resale value," Nerad said. "It's truly the king of all hybrids."

Do hybrid cars last longer than gas cars? ›

Hybrids Excel in Overall Reliability

Hybrids rated as significantly more reliable overall than all other vehicle types (gasoline-only, PHEVs and full electrics) in Consumer Reports' latest Annual Auto Reliability Survey. On average, hybrids had 26% fewer problems on average than gas-only vehicles.

Do hybrids have reliability issues? ›

The most recent Consumer Reports reliability findings show that hybrid cars, on average, come with 26 percent fewer issues than their gasoline-powered cousins. The news isn't so good for plug-in hybrids.

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