Best hybrid SUVs in Australia 2026

Updated: October 2026

Looking for the best hybrid SUV in Australia? We've picked five of the strongest hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs on sale right now, based on driveaway price, efficiency, practicality, safety, warranty and how they drive.

These are the five we'd put on your shortlist, each picked for a different kind of buyer.

Our picks

See every hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUV on sale →

Best overall: Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

• Price: From $57,650 before on-roads
• Powertrain: Hybrid
• Power: 172kW
• Fuel use: 5.6L/100km (claimed)
• Seats: 7
• Warranty: 7 years/unlimited km
• The Beep Verdict: 9.0/10

The Santa Fe Hybrid is our top pick and the highest-rated car on this list, scoring 9.0/10 in our review. It does the family SUV job better than anything else here. The boxy styling isn't for everyone, but it pays off inside, with one of the most usable third rows in the class, clever storage throughout and a big, square boot.

Its 172kW 1.6-litre turbo hybrid claims 5.6L/100km, which is competitive for a seven-seat SUV of this size.

If the styling doesn't work for you, the Kia Sorento Hybrid uses the same drivetrain in a more conventional body and is worth driving back to back.

Why we like it

• A genuinely usable third row
• Strong, efficient hybrid drivetrain
• Big boot and smart cabin storage

What we'd change

• Polarising styling
• The Calligraphy flagship tops $77,000 before on-roads

Our pick: Hybrid AWD

View Hyundai Santa Fe driveaway pricing and specifications →

Best plug-in hybrid: Toyota RAV4 PHEV

• Price: From $59,515 before on-roads (RAV4 Hybrid from $45,990)
• Powertrain: Plug-in hybrid
• Power: 201kW (227kW AWD)
• Electric range: Up to 121km (WLTP)
• Seats: 5
• Warranty: 5 years/unlimited km
• The Beep Verdict: 8.7/10

Toyota's first RAV4 plug-in hybrid is the most capable car on this list. The AWD versions make 227kW, the most powerful RAV4 yet, and reach 100km/h in 5.8 seconds, while the front-drive XSE claims 121km of electric range.

In our review we rated it the best family medium SUV on sale, with one big caveat: price. At $59,515 before on-roads, the XSE PHEV costs around $18,000 more than a Starray EM-i Inspire Extended Range with similar electric range.

If you'd rather skip the plug, the RAV4 Hybrid starts from $45,990 before on-roads and is still one of the most efficient SUVs you can buy.

Why we like it

• Up to 227kW and 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds (AWD)
• Up to 121km of claimed electric range
• Toyota's resale value and dealer network

What we'd change

• No ANCAP rating yet, and Toyota says the safety update can't be retrofitted to earlier cars, so check which build you're getting
• Needs 95 RON premium unleaded

Our pick: XSE PHEV (FWD)

View Toyota RAV4 driveaway pricing and specifications →

Read our Toyota RAV4 PHEV review →

Best value: Geely Starray EM-i

• Price: From $37,490 before on-roads
• Powertrain: Plug-in hybrid
• Power: 193kW (220kW AWD)
• Electric range: 83km to 136km (WLTP)
• Seats: 5
• Warranty: 7 years/unlimited km
• The Beep Verdict: 8.8/10

The Starray EM-i is the car that makes everything else on this list work harder. For around the price of a mid-spec self-charging hybrid, you get a plug-in hybrid that covers most daily driving on electricity alone, a cabin that feels a class above its price and a seven-year warranty.

The MY27 update made it better again. The Inspire Extended Range gets a 29.8kWh battery and a claimed 136km of electric range, while the new Inspire AWD brings 220kW and a 6.3-second 0-100km/h time. Charge it at home most nights and the petrol engine becomes the backup for longer trips rather than the daily driver.

It's our best value pick because nothing else here delivers this much for the money. Just make sure a plug-in suits how you live. If you can't charge at home, the X-Trail e-Power below is the smarter buy.

Why we like it

• Up to 136km of claimed electric range in the Inspire Extended Range
• Cabin quality well above its price
• Seven-year warranty and generous standard equipment

What we'd change

• Low braked towing capacity (750kg FWD, 1,050kg AWD)
• Tyre repair kit instead of a spare

Our pick: Inspire Extended Range

View Geely Starray EM-i driveaway pricing and specifications →

Read our Geely Starray EM-i review →

Best self-charging hybrid: Nissan X-Trail e-Power

• Price: From $45,990 before on-roads
• Powertrain: Hybrid (e-Power)
• Power: 150kW
• Fuel use: 5.4L/100km (claimed, FWD)
• Seats: 5
• Warranty: 10 years/300,000km (when serviced with Nissan)
• The Beep Verdict: 8.3/10

The X-Trail e-Power is the closest thing to an EV you can buy without a plug. Its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine never drives the wheels. It acts purely as a generator while an electric motor does all the work, so it's smooth, quiet and responsive in a way conventional hybrids aren't.

The e-4ORCE AWD versions add a second electric motor at the rear and lift braked towing to 1,650kg, well ahead of the front-drive e-Power's 670kg. Pricing starts at $45,990 before on-roads for the ST-L e-Power, and the Ti-L e-Power AWD flagship tops out at $58,215.

Nissan's 10-year/300,000km warranty, when serviced with Nissan, is the longest of any car on this list. When we reviewed the e-Power AWD, we called it the most interesting thing Nissan builds.

Why we like it

• Drives like an EV, with no charging needed
• e-4ORCE AWD with 1,650kg braked towing
• 10-year/300,000km warranty when serviced with Nissan

What we'd change

• The engine can sound strained when it's working hard
• Front-drive versions tow just 670kg braked

Our pick: ST-L e-Power AWD

View Nissan X-Trail driveaway pricing and specifications →

Read our Nissan X-Trail e-Power AWD review →

Best to drive: Honda CR-V e:HEV

• Price: From $49,900 driveaway (national)
• Powertrain: Hybrid
• Power: 135kW
• Fuel use: 5.5L/100km (claimed, FWD)
• Seats: 5
• Warranty: 5 years/unlimited km
• The Beep Verdict: 8.1/10

The CR-V is the hybrid SUV for people who care how a car feels. The steering, ride and refinement are a step above the mainstream pack, and because the e:HEV system drives the wheels with its electric motor most of the time, it's smooth and quiet around town.

The 2026 update added all-wheel drive to the LX and RS grades and Google built-in across the hybrid range. Honda's fixed national driveaway pricing also means you know exactly what you'll pay, whichever state you're in.

At 135kW it isn't the most powerful hybrid here, and it isn't the cheapest. But when we reviewed the e:HEV RS, we rated it the most complete car Honda sells in Australia.

Why we like it

• Best ride and steering of any hybrid here
• Fixed driveaway pricing in every state
• Cheap capped-price servicing

What we'd change

• Just 750kg braked towing across the hybrid range
• Tyre repair kit instead of a spare

Our pick: e:HEV L (FWD)

View Honda CR-V driveaway pricing and specifications →

Read our Honda CR-V e:HEV RS review →

How we chose the best hybrid SUVs

We looked at every hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUV on sale in Australia and judged them on price, equipment, safety, practicality, efficiency, warranty and how they drive. Where we've reviewed a car, our own testing carries the most weight.

Prices are list prices before on-road costs at the time of our last update, unless the brand sets a single national driveaway price. On-road costs vary by state, so check each model page for the driveaway price where you live. We update this guide whenever a new model, price change or update shifts the picture in this category.

What to look for in a hybrid SUV

Hybrid or plug-in hybrid?

A self-charging hybrid needs nothing from you. It recharges its small battery as you drive and saves the most fuel in stop-start city traffic. A plug-in hybrid has a much bigger battery that you charge at home, and can cover most daily driving on electricity alone. It only pays off if you plug in regularly. Skip the charging and you're carrying a heavy battery around for nothing.

Check the towing capacity

Hybrid towing capacities vary enormously. On this list they range from under 700kg to over 1,500kg braked, and front-drive and AWD versions of the same car can differ by close to a tonne, so if you tow a camper or boat, check the exact variant before you buy.

Check what fuel it needs

Some hybrids need 95 RON premium unleaded, which adds to the running costs. Factor that in when you compare fuel figures.

Look at the battery warranty

Most brands cover the hybrid battery for longer than the car itself, but terms differ. Check how long the battery is covered and whether servicing conditions apply.

Check the driveaway price for your state

The prices in this guide exclude on-road costs unless they're marked as national driveaway. On-roads vary by state and can add several thousand dollars, so check the driveaway price where you live before you compare.