Today's Most High-Tech Hybrid Cars
If you love technology and are shopping for a hybrid car today, you’re spoiled for choice. In addition to the electrifying technology under the hood, which helps improve performance and reduce fuel consumption, today’s hybrids are also leaders in safety and convenience.
The latest advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) help modern hybrid cars keep you and your family safe by employing a multitude of cameras and sensors to help you stay in your lane, avoid pedestrians and cyclists, and even mitigate injuries and damage if a collision is inevitable.
Modern cars have never been more comfortable or tech-rich. Smartphone connectivity is standard in every new model, and the array of available infotainment features is greater than ever.
Best Mainstream Sedan: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Not only is the midsize Sonata is one of the best-looking four-doors on the road today, with a swooping roofline and high-end details that really set it apart, but it is also packed with innovative technology. We particularly like the clever solar roof panel, which helps recharge its batteries, as well as the LED exterior lighting.
It also comes with a 12.5-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch central touch screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Safety features include forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, rear cross-traffic collision assist, and blind spot monitors.
The Sonata also has a cabin whose luxurious design and furnishings are backed up by a smooth, effortless driving experience. In hybrid form, a 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylinder and electric motor produce 192 horsepower, which wafts the Sonata Hybrid along in silence. The highway MPG figure is 54, impressive for a car of its size and features, and maintenance costs are low as well – in fact, like all Hyundai vehicles, three years of scheduled maintenance is free.
- Starting MSRP: $27,350
- EPA estimated City/Highway MPG: 50/54
Best Road Trip Vehicle: Toyota Sienna Limited
When you think “high tech,” you might not think of minivans – especially because they’re not nearly as common on our roads as they used to be. But while minivans may not be the sexiest, or most image-enhancing vehicles, minivans still are amazing at combining space, features, and economical running. And all that space means that there’s plenty of room to pack features and technology that will please the whole family.
The Toyota Sienna, redesigned for 2022, is a great example. It offers seven seats and a huge cargo area in the same footprint as a five-seater SUV, while sipping less fuel and offering tons of tech. Few vehicles will keep your kids as happy on a long road trip as the Sienna – with seven USB ports, everyone on-board can keep their devices charged and connected.
The standard 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system includes Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa, with a brilliant voice control system. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 also keeps everyone safe, with an array of driver assists including active cruise control, lane assist, automatic braking, and pedestrian detection.
The Sienna’s powertrain is high-tech as well. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine pairs with an electric motor to produce 245 hp, and unlike a lot of minivans, all-wheel drive is available as an option, giving it additional capability. All of which makes for a perfect high-tech family hauler.
- Starting MSRP: $35,285
- EPA estimated City/Highway MPG: 35/36
Best SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
The latest version of the Hyundai Santa Fe is a standout for its sophisticated powertrain as well as its impressive driver assistance features and its gadget count. It is also one of the best-packaged SUVs on the market, offering three rows of space and a generous cargo area on a relatively compact footprint.
What stands out about the Santa Fe Hybrid’s powertrain is its little 1.6-liter four-cylinder, which is turbocharged and enhanced by an electric motor to deliver 226 horsepower and 36 MPG in the city. It offers great power and responsiveness along with standard all-wheel drive and the ability to run short distances on electric power alone. This is one of the most sophisticated hybrids on the market if you don’t want to have a plug-in.
Inside, we really appreciate the high-end design, with premium finishes and a flowing, organic design. The Santa Fe has a fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster as well as a large central touchscreen and standard wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. A suite of safety systems is standard. Hyundai also includes complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first three years of ownership and an industry-leading 10-year battery limited warranty, for additional peace of mind.
- Starting MSRP: $34,300
- EPA estimated City/Highway MPG: 36/31
Best Luxury Car: Lexus LS500h
If you want to cruise in luxury, there is no hybrid luxury sedan that packs as much on-board technology as the Lexus LS500h. The brand’s technology flagship as well as its most expensive four-door, the LS500h has a powerful twin-turbocharged V6, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a lightweight lithium-ion battery, and an integrated electric motor with selectable drive modes. Total power output is 354 hp, and all-wheel drive is standard.
The tech doesn’t stop under the hood, though. The ultra-luxe LS500h is also the most advanced LS in terms of interior features. The plush seats offer more adjustments than anything on the market. There’s a giant touch-screen multimedia interface and a stunning 3-D audio system. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa are standard. There’s a Lexus App that lets you control everything about your car from a smartphone, or even a smart watch. And rear-seat passengers get their own 7-inch touch screen to adjust their individual climate zones, massage settings, and entertainment.
On the move, Lexus’ Safety System+ 2.5 includes a battery of driver assists including pre-collision braking with pedestrian detection, road sign assist, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, and even intelligent high beams.
- Starting MSRP: $113,150
- EPA estimated City/Highway MPG: 22/29
Dream Car: Acura NSX
The Acura NSX is proof that hybrids can be electrifying to drive as well as economical on fuel. With a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and three (yes, three!) electric motors, the NSX is simply one of the most exciting hybrids on the planet.
What do those three electric motors do? One lives in the middle of the car, with the powerful V6 engine and the nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It adds additional torque at low revs to provide instant response and eliminate turbo lag. At the front, each front wheel gets its own electric motor. They can be driven at different speeds to help minimize understeer and help the NSX go around corners with physics-defying grip. Acura calls it “Super Handling All-Wheel Drive,” and that’s accurate.
Hand-built by a small group of master technicians in Ohio, the 600-hp NSX has multiple drive modes to let you go max attack on a racetrack, as well as cruise in comfort. The exterior styling is edgy, but subtle enough that it’s not in-your face, and the interior is a great blend of sportiness and luxury. If you want even more exclusivity, the NSX Type S model is strictly limited to 350 units, with even more distinguishing touches.
- Starting MSRP: $171,495
- EPA estimated City/Highway MPG: 21/22
