Which company makes best hybrid?

Whether or not an EV is for you depends on your use—where you live and the distances and climate in which you drive, your willingness to plug in as frequently as necessary, and your ability to pay more for the car and reap the benefits in the long run. If you’re keeping a conventional vehicle in your household, the decision is easier.

For now, electric vehicles carry a price premium over comparable gasoline-powered vehicles. (That may change late in the decade.) However, EVs have dramatically lower running costs because they require less maintenance, and depending on where you live, electricity is likely to be cheaper than petroleum. And federal and local incentives can effectively reduce the purchase price.

The range of EV types has grown considerably since 2010, the year Nissan introduced the modest Leaf. Now consumers can choose futuristic-looking models like the Tesla Cybertruck, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6; SUVs such as the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV; high-end cars and SUVs from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz; and even pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and Ram 1500 REV.

Before a large majority of EVs on the road became Teslas, Tesla was the new kid on the block. But now startups such as Afeela, Lucid, Rivian, and VinFast—along with resurrected brands Fisker and DeLorean—are also muscling in. Every major manufacturer is getting into the EV market.

EVs usually cost thousands more to buy than conventional cars, although much of that difference can be offset by federal and state subsidies, and lower maintenance and fueling costs. Pricing ranges from around $28,000 for the Nissan Leaf and can climb well past $150,000 for top-shelf luxury models.

Plus, lower carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, are icing on the cake. And a federal incentive of up to $7,500 for a pure EV—among other incentives—can increase the savings. 

Electric cars are very efficient compared with gas cars, and most new models can deliver from 225 to 300 miles of cruising range to satisfy the needs of many drivers without daily charging. But the relative efficiency and methods for achieving a long range varies among EVs. For example, the Tesla Model Y and Rivian R1T both offer over 300 miles of range, but the Tesla is much lighter and more efficient, and it uses a significantly smaller battery to do it (78 kilowatt-hours vs. 135 kWh). 

EVs are very clean to drive because they have no tailpipe emissions. They are also quiet and provide punchy acceleration. But charging them can take hours—depending on the charging source—and driving them for long distances requires extra planning regarding where and when you’ll charge, especially because most drivers won’t charge them to 100 percent at a public charger. The best EVs include route planning functionality within their navigation systems to help find chargers on long trips to unfamiliar locations.

It’s also well established that cold weather takes a toll on the range of electric vehicles. In our tests, we found that cold weather saps about 25 percent of range when cruising at 70 mph compared with the same conditions in mild weather. Unlike a gas car, where the heat is a byproduct of the running engine, an EV has to produce cabin heat and manage an optimal battery temperature with energy that comes from the battery, in turn reducing range. And shorter trips in the cold with frequent stops and reheating of the cabin can reduce the range by 50 percent. EV drivers can take advantage of “preconditioning,” which heats the cabin and battery before disconnecting from the charger; that saves battery power and range. 

Certain regions of the country are also better suited to using electric cars. Some have better public charging infrastructure, more favorable electric rates, and milder weather, which doesn’t tax the battery as much. And some areas have cleaner electric power generation than others.

If you live in a house, as opposed to an apartment building, it’s feasible to charge your EV at home. We recommend getting a home charger (known as electric vehicle supply equipment, or EVSE) that works on 240-volt (Level 2) charging installed inside or outside your garage. That way, you’ll be able to charge your EV overnight. The cost is typically $500 to $700 for a home charger. Parts and labor can add $1,200 to $2,000.

The 2023 awards recognize the Ford-150 Lightning as the inaugural winner in the Best Electric Truck category.

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today announced the 2023 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars. U.S. News evaluated 107 vehicles and named winners across nine categories.

Lexus and Kia had the most wins of any brand, with two each. The 2023 Lexus ES Hybrid won the award for Best Luxury Hybrid for the second year in a row, while the 2023 Lexus NX Hybrid won the Best Luxury Plug-In Hybrid award. Best Hybrid SUV was secured by the 2023 Kia Niro, and the 2023 Kia EV6 won the Best Electric Vehicle award for the second time.

Along with the EV6 and ES Hybrid, three additional vehicles secured the second consecutive wins in their respective award categories. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid was again awarded Best Plug-In Hybrid, the 2023 Toyota Prius was recognized as the Best Hybrid Car, and the 2023 Lucid Air was named the Best Luxury Electric Car.

Best Electric Truck was introduced as a new category this year, with the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning securing the inaugural win. The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq rounds out this year's winners with the Best Luxury Electric SUV award.

"Electric vehicles continue to gain market share, and we are proud to include electric trucks in our Best Hybrid and Electric Car awards for the first time this year," said Jim Sharifi, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "Covering nine categories of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs, these award winners all deliver a low carbon footprint and a satisfying ownership experience."

The 2023 Best Best Hybrid and Electric Cars:

The 2023 Best Hybrid and Electric Car winners are based on a combination of the cars' overall score from the U.S. News Best Car Rankings, starting price, Level 2 charging rate, and fuel economy and range data from the EPA. U.S. News analyzed data for 107 luxury and mainstream hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars. Within each of the nine categories, the vehicle with the highest composite score is named the winner in that category.

About U.S. News Best Cars
Since 2007, U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings of the majority of new vehicles sold in America. Each year, U.S. News also publishes the Best Cars awards, including Best Vehicle Brands, Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families. U.S. News Best Cars supports car shoppers throughout the entire car buying journey, offering advice for researching cars and finding cars for sale near you. U.S. News Best Cars had more than 81 million visitors over the past year, with the majority actively shopping for a car. More than 70% of active shoppers reported that U.S. News influenced their car-purchasing decision, saying that they trust our advice to be unbiased and that they would recommend our site to others.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.