Plug-in hybrid technology is becoming more popular in the automotive industry. Nameplates like the Toyota Prius Prime and Toyota RAV4 Prime are gear enthusiasts. PHEVs get more driving range than many hybrid vehicles thanks to electric-only driving range. They also get a power boost from electric motors. A plug-in hybrid SUV ranked higher than the popular Hyundai Palisade in a list of the best midsize SUVs compiled by Kelley Blue Book.
Kelley Blue Book recommends this plug-in hybrid midsize SUV
Kelley’s Blue Book is an automotive research and vehicle valuation company that provides some of the most accurate valuations and ratings in the automotive industry. The company recently compiled a list of the best midsize SUVs of 2022 and 2023.
The Kia Telluride, unsurprisingly, topped the list. Kia’s midsize SUV has dominated the rankings in its segment for the past few years. The second highest-ranking vehicle from Kelley Blue Book will come as a surprise to many drivers.
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid ranks below the Telluride and above its South Korean cousin, the Hyundai Palisade. So the question is, what gives?
In short, the Santa Fe offers incredible value. The PHEV Santa Fe offers even more value in the form of an electric-only driving range for a price that remains affordable. Let’s break down why the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid worked its way so high up the Kelley Blue Book list.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid Specs
The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe plug-in hybrid starts at $40,000. It uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and an electric motor to make 261 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The midsize plug-in hybrid SUV gets 32 mpg combined.
The Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid comes standard with heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also includes heated side mirrors with LED turn signal indicators and a Hyundai Digital Key. The midsize plug-in hybrid SUV also comes standard with all-wheel drive.
The Santa Fe PHEV has many amenities that make it worth the money. It’s a great family hauler. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s unique powertrain is the icing on the cake. The PHEV gets over 601 miles of driving range on a full tank of gas, plus an additional 31 miles of electric-only driving range. Therefore, a Santa Fe PHEV with a full battery and a full tank of gas could travel about 632 miles before needing to refuel. It’s not bad at all.
Should You Get a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid?
If you’re looking for a new midsize SUV, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are worth considering. Drivers who regularly travel long distances and take highway trips benefit immensely from the powertrain system of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid.
The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid may not be the best midsize SUV for the money, but it’s certainly one of the best options available to drivers. Hopefully other automakers will come up with new nameplates to rival and usher in a new era of PHEV midsize SUVs.