Best Used Plug-In Hybrid Cars for Range and Fuel Economy

It depends on the car and how you drive it. You’ll want to look for a PHEV with a long electric-only range and good gas-only fuel economy. But PHEV technology has advanced a lot in recent years, so some older models have very short electric-only ranges—sometimes as little as 11 or 12 miles. As a result, they might not stay on electric power for the entire typical commute and could cost you more to fuel than a conventional hybrid or fuel-efficient gas-powered car.

PHEV electric ranges and fuel economy have increased dramatically over the years. The 2023-2024 Toyota Prime had an all-electric range of 42 miles, but the 2017-2022 Prius Prime went only 25 miles on a charge, and the 2012-2015 Prius Plug-In could only go 11 miles! Similarly, if you were in the market for a Volvo XC60 PHEV, a 2019 model gets 17 miles on electric power and 26 mpg on gas, while the 2023 model gets 36 miles of electric range and 28 mpg on gas.

If you buy an older model with a short electric-only range, it’s more likely you’ll be using gas to get around, defeating the purpose of a PHEV. “Buying a PHEV and not plugging it in almost daily is leaving money on the table,” Harto says.

The results of our reliability survey indicate that, in general, PHEVs are often less reliable than other kinds of cars, largely because they’re more complex than conventional hybrids or gas-only cars. But our survey results show that reliable brands tend to make reliable PHEVs, and brands that struggle with reliability tend to make less reliable PHEVs. The same goes for maintenance costs. Some PHEVs from Chrysler and Jeep have had frequent recalls and battery issues.

If you’re shopping for a used car, the answer is yes. All new PHEVs on the market today in the U.S. are called “parallel hybrids,” in which the electric motor and gas engine work together (aka "in parallel") to power the drive wheels. But some older PHEVs, including the BMW i3, Chevy Volt, Cadillac ELR, and Honda Clarity, are called “series hybrids.” They use the gas engine to generate electricity, while the electric motor drives the wheels. In the case of the Volt, ELR, and BMW i8, the series hybrid design makes for quick, EV-like acceleration. But the Clarity’s gas engine kicks in with a loud drone, and the i3 uses a tiny gas engine as a range extender that’s loud and needs frequent refueling.

These cars and SUVs have EPA-estimated electric-only ranges greater than 25 miles and gas-only overall fuel economy above 30 mpg. Members can see additional information by clicking on the vehicle name, including CR’s reliability and owner satisfaction ratings.

These vehicles have EPA-estimated electric-only ranges under 15 miles, and none of them have standout gas-only fuel economy in their vehicle categories. We left off supercars and ultra-luxury models from Bentley, Ferrari, McLaren, and others.

2016-2018 Audi A3 E-Tron 
Range: 16-17 miles electric + 384-413 gas
Gas-only mpg: 34-39

2016-2018 BMW 330e
Range: 14 miles electric + 336 gas
Gas-only mpg: 30-31

2016-2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e
Range: 14 miles electric + 526 gas
Gas-only mpg: 24 

2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz C350e
Range: 9 miles electric + 338 gas
Gas-only mpg: 30 

2017-2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e
Range: 10 miles electric + 340 gas
Gas-only mpg: 25 

2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE550e
Range: 10-12 miles electric + 448 gas
Gas-only mpg: 21 

2018-2021 Mini Cooper Countryman All4
Range: 12-18 miles electric + 258-282 gas
Gas-only mpg: 27-29

2016-2023 Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid
Range: 12-17 miles electric + 348-476 gas
Gas-only mpg: 18-22

2012-2015 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Range: 11 miles electric + 529 gas
Gas-only mpg: 50 

2017 Volvo XC90 PHEV
Range: 14 miles electric + 336 gas
Gas-only mpg: 25