The Toyota’s trip computer showed 46.2 mpg, while its pump-calculated fuel economy was 43.9 mpg. Not long into our 200-mile drive route, we hit the interstate, and the higher speeds revealed an interesting difference between the two PHEV drivetrains.Ģ022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid | photo by Christian LantryĪt the end of our 200-mile route, the RAV4 Prime had the higher trip-computer and pump-calculated fuel economy. ![]() ![]() The outside temperature was 37 degrees at the start of our test, with the RAV4 Prime showing 40 miles of electric range and the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid displaying 31 miles - very close to their EPA estimates. EPA-estimated electric-only range for the RAV4 Prime and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid is 42 and 33 miles, respectively. Both vehicles are largely unchanged for the 2023 model year, though the RAV4 Prime gets an updated multimedia system. Our test vehicles were PHEV versions of popular compact SUVs: the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime and 2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid. When we had a chance to test two PHEVs in colder temps, we were curious to see how far we could drive on electric power alone, whether they would live up to their electric range estimates and what kind of overall fuel economy we’d achieve. Range loss in cold weather is something we’ve observed in fully electric vehicles like our long-term Tesla Model Y. Related: Driving 3 EVs in Zero-Degree Temps: What Could Go Wrong? For longer trips, their gas-electric hybrid drivetrains mean you can drive them just like a conventional vehicle without having to plan your trip around charging stops. Plug-in hybrids have considerably smaller battery packs than full EVs, but their electric-only range estimates are still suitable for many drivers’ daily needs. Fully electric vehicles command most of the attention these days as the auto industry ramps up efforts to reduce vehicle emissions, but plug-in hybrids still represent a compelling alternative for shoppers who like the efficiency and lower emissions of EVs but aren’t yet ready to own a fully electric car.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |