With the national average price of gas topping $4 per gallon for most of the past few months, car buyers have been flocking to hybrid vehicles as they search for ways to maximize the fuel efficiency of their rides.
We’ve recently tested two of the most popular hybrids on the market currently: the 2026 Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid and the 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid. The RAV4 was already Toyota’s top selling model, and new hybrid versions of it have become of the most sought-after vehicles on the new and used car markets as drivers prioritize fuel efficiency above almost everything else.
The CX-50 is the hybrid version of Mazda’s top selling U.S. car, the Mazda CX-5.
Here’s how the two attractive midsize two-row SUV hybrid options compare and which model is best for different types of car buyers.
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Is Sporty and Efficient
As drivers prioritize fuel efficiency, the Toyota RAV4 remains a top seller, with the 2026 model offered only as a hybrid.
I drove the hybrid version of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 for a week to see if it is deserving of its Kelley Blue Book’s Compact SUV Best Buy Award and 2026 Green Car of the Year award from the Green Car Journal.
The Toyota RAV4 GR Sport model that I tested is the highest trim of the plug-in hybrid version of the very popular two-row SUV, and it starts at $48,500. Entry-level hybrid trims that don’t plug up start a little under $32,000. Plug-in hybrid models start at $41,500.
The Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid stands out for its standard features, competitive pricing and everyday practicality. It offers a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride while delivering strong fuel economy as a hybrid. It handles well, and its acceleration is quick enough to keep daily driving fun.
The 2026 Mazda CX-50 Is Practical and Sturdy
The 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid is one of the cheapest hybrid SUVs in the country, according to Carfax. The affordable crossover SUV comes in both hybrid and gas-powered formats.
I drove the 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid for a week to see if it is deserving of its ranking as a 2026 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick Plus and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 5-Star Overall Safety Rating award.
The Mazda CX-50 hybrid I tested is the Premium Plus, which is the highest trim model of the popular two-row SUV, and it starts at just under $40,500. Entry level hybrid trims start at a little under $35,000, while the base model of the similar gas-powered Mazda CX-5 SUV starts at just under $30,000.
The 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid stands out from rivals in its segment because of its unique exterior and interior designs. It also has a strong value proposition for a personal or family car, which propels it to the top of ranking lists at a time when the average new car costs nearly $50,000, according to Cox Automotive.
In a week of testing, the Mazda CX-50 hybrid’s interior and cargo area felt spacious for daily driving needs. I also enjoyed the CX-50 hybrid’s large screen for infotainment and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The CX-50 hybrid’s knob control system near the gear shift took some getting used to, though.
Like the RAV4, the 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid offers a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride, and it has excellent gas mileage as a hybrid vehicle.
2026 Toyota RAV4 vs. 2026 Mazda CX-50: Which One Is Better?
There’s been a lot of debate about whether it is worth it for plug-in hybrid drivers to bother charging their cars since they can also be powered by their traditional gas engines. The debate raged so loudly that Toyota sought to answer the question with a study that found drivers of its RAV4 connect to chargers on seven out of every 10 days of driving, and Lexus NX 450h hybrids drivers charge eight to nine times in a 10-day period.
The study found only 9% of Toyota drivers and 4% of Lexus drivers said they rarely plug in.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs as they are sometimes referred to, usually have a significantly larger battery pack that allows the car to be operated on electric power for stretches of time that can last about 40 to 50 miles, according to Edmunds. A plug-in hybrid drives like a fully electric car until the battery gets low, then switches to gas power until the battery is recharged.
In a week of testing the RAV4 plug-in hybrid, I did not have to charge once and I got over 500 miles on a single tank of gas.
Most regular hybrids like the CX-50 have batteries that get their power from regenerative braking, according to Edmunds. Mazda says the hybrid CX-50 SUV achieves an estimated 38 mpg combined (city and highway). Our Premium Plus trim test vehicle got over 430 miles on a single full tank of gas.
The CX-50 hybrid is cheaper than the RAV4 plug-in hybrid, but the Toyota gets better city mileage, while the Mazda gets better highway mileage. The CX-50 hybrid is a little bit bigger, measuring 185.4 inches long, 63.8 inches tall and 74.5 inches wide without mirrors. The Toyota RAV4 hybrid is 182 inches long, 65.4 inches tall and 74 inches wide, also without mirrors.
The RAV4 offers more cargo space. The GR Sport trim model I tested offers 37.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, which I found sufficient for luggage and grocery hauls. The Mazda CX-50 hybrid Premium Plus trim model I tested offered 29.2 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats up. The Mazda’s amount of cargo space goes up to 56.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, while the RAV4 goes up to 63.2 cubic feet if you fold the rear seats.
If you’re looking for an affordable hybrid crossover-SUV that is practical and gets the job done that you can get for less than $35,000 if you opt for a base model, the Mazda CX-50 hybrid is probably the way you should go. If you want a sporty plug-in hybrid that you can charge daily to get over 500 miles on a single tank, the Toyota RAV4 might be the car for you.
Keith Laing is an automotive reporter on the National Trending Desk at USA TODAY. This report was distributed via USA TODAY Network and Reuters Connect.
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