There’s no doubt about it: SUVs are a hot commodity in Canada. SUVs outsell cars across the country at a rate of 3 to 1. But inflation continues to take a toll on household budgets, and gas prices are persistently inconsistent. This means fuel efficiency is also top-of-mind for Canadians who are shopping for new vehicles in 2024.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the 10 most affordable SUVs you can currently buy in Canada that come with a fuel-saving hybrid powertrain. These vehicles offer a great mix of practicality, affordability, and fuel economy. Most also come with desirable features such as long warranties for hybrid components, safety features and driver assistance technologies like adaptive cruise control, and tech features such as touchscreen infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Note we’re only looking at conventional hybrids on this list. These are also called self-charging hybrids, and they use electric power part-time to lower their emissions. Unlike plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), they can’t drive solely on electric range for extended periods.
All prices for the best hybrid SUVs listed below include delivery charges and fees but not sales taxes. Prices are subject to change and should be independently verified.
The Cheapest Hybrid SUVs in Canada in 2024
- Kia Niro Hybrid ($33,183)
- Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid ($37,475)
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid ($38,135)
- Kia Sportage Hybrid ($39,483)
- Kia Sorento Hybrid ($40,983)
- Ford Escape Hybrid ($42,544)
- Hyundai Tucson Hybrid ($42,756)
- Toyota Venza ($44,435)
- Lexus UX 250h ($46,333)
- Honda CR-V Hybrid ($48,409)
- Why No Plug-in Hybrids?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Kia Niro Hybrid ($33,183)
The Kia Niro Hybrid is the most affordable new hybrid SUV in Canada for 2024. Priced starting from $33,183 including fees for the base model, it’s the most affordable of the Niro’s three powertrain options, which also includes a plug-in hybrid version and a battery electric vehicle (BEV) version. In the hybrid, four trims are offered, all of which include a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor to produce a combined 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It’s also one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles you can buy that doesn’t require a plug, rated at 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 4.4 on the highway, and 4.4 combined. However, unlike many of the vehicles on this list, the Niro Hybrid is front-wheel drive (FWD) only.
Kia Niro Review
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid ($37,475)
The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is another frugal option for a hybrid car. This subcompact crossover was entirely new in North America for 2022, and the hybrid powertrain was added for 2023. The most affordable grade of the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is the SE, priced at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $37,475 with fees. An XSE trim is also offered with power seats, an upgraded audio system, larger wheels, and more upgrades. Both trims come with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and come with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid drive system making 196 hp and 139 lb-ft of combined torque. Both versions average 5.2 L/100 km in city driving, 6.2 on the highway, and 5.6 combined.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid ($39,035)
You don’t have to look much further to find the third-most affordable hybrid SUV in Canada. The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a compact SUV, one size class up from the Corolla Cross Hybrid, and carries a starting price in Canada of $39,035 for its LE grade. The RAV4 is one of Canada’s most popular vehicles, and as such Toyota offers the hybrid version in five different trims. Some are offered with available packages, including the Woodland Edition that was introduced for 2023. Every RAV4 Hybrid comes with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid drive, plus standard AWD. Natural Resources Canada rates all five trims at 5.8 L/100 km city, 6.3 highway, and 6.0 combined.
Kia Sportage Hybrid ($39,783)
The Kia Sportage compact SUV was fully redesigned for 2023 and is available in gas-powered, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicle versions. The 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid is well-packaged with desirable features in the Hybrid EX trim, which is priced in Canada at $39,783. It includes a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a wireless charging pad, and more. Both the Hybrid EX and the upgraded Hybrid SX trims come with a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and hybrid drive system producing 177 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque sent to standard mechanical AWD. Fuel consumption estimates for both trims are 6.1 L/100 km city, 6.3 highway, and 6.2 combined.
Kia Sportage Review
Kia Sorento Hybrid ($41,983)
There are only two mid-size SUVs on this list. Not only is the Kia Sorento Hybrid the most affordable among them, it’s also the only one that comes with three rows of seats. Both the Hybrid LX and the Hybrid EX trims include second-row captain’s chairs and seating for up to six, but bear in mind the third row here is not especially roomy for everyday use. Still, at just over $40,000 and fuel economy ratings of 6.4 L/100 km in the city, 7.0 on the highway, and 6.6 combined, the Sorento Hybrid is a steal for those who occasionally need a bit more room. It also comes with standard AWD and gets 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque from its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor. The 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid has a starting price in Canada of $41,983.
Ford Escape Hybrid ($43,044)
Amid a sea of Japanese and Korean offerings, the Ford Escape Hybrid is Detroit’s only entry onto this list of Canada’s most affordable hybrid SUVs. The Escape’s hybrid powertrain is offered on four of its five trims, starting from the ST-Line trim one level above base. A plug-in hybrid electric car is also available as the Escape’s top trim. The 2024 Ford Escape Hybrid is priced in Canada starting at $43,044. All versions come with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, using Atkinson cycle for improved efficiency, matched with a 94 kW electric motor, an electronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), and FWD or available AWD. Total system power output equals 163 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. Fuel consumption ratings are the same with either drivetrain option at 5.6 L/100 km city, 6.5 highway, and 6.0 combined.
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid ($43,256)
While the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and Kia Sportage Hybrid are closely related, it’s interesting that the packaging has ended up being so different between the two brands. While Kia offers a more accessibly priced entry trim, Hyundai Canada limits the Tucson’s hybrid powertrain to the SUV’s top two trims, the Luxury Hybrid and Ultimate Hybrid. Both are packaged with standard AWD and include the same 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and hybrid drive system as found in the Sportage, though the horsepower figure is slightly higher at 180 hp to go with the 195 lb-ft of torque. Fuel consumption is also slightly higher at 6.3 L/100 km city, 6.6 highway, and 6.4 combined. And at 1,097 litres with the rear seats up, it also has an excellent amount of cargo space. The 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid has a Canadian new car starting price of $43,256.
Toyota Venza ($45,435)
While most hybrid models are labeled as such by Natural Resources Canada in their Fuel Consumption Guide, if you go looking for something called “Toyota Venza Hybrid,” you won’t find it. That’s because a hybrid powertrain comes standard in every version of the Venza, meaning it’s not necessary to label a separate version with a hybrid powertrain. The 2024 Toyota Venza is priced in Canada at $45,435 for its final model year. It’s being discontinued to make room for the new Toyota Crown Signia hybrid SUV. For now, the Venza pairs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine equipped with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which uses a pair of motors to provide AWD as a standard feature. NRCan ratings for this one land at 5.9 L/100 km city, 6.4 highway, and 6.1 combined.
Lexus UX 250h ($45,586)
The Lexus UX hybrid subcompact crossover sits in a grey area: while Lexus identifies it as a crossover or SUV, NRCan lists it in its car section, suggesting it’s more of a hatchback. Still, at 16 centimetres of ground clearance, the UX lands within the specs most subcompact SUV buyers are seeking for luxury commuting. Sold in a single trim level in Canada, the Lexus UX 250h sells for $46,333 and receives some styling updates as well as an available upgraded infotainment system. Its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid drive system provide standard AWD along with a combined 181 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque. According to NRCan, you can expect fuel efficiency of 5.7 L/100 km city, 6.2 highway, and 6.0 combined.
Honda CR-V Hybrid ($48,409)
For 2024, the Honda CR-V Hybrid makes our list of the most affordable hybrid SUVs in Canada. It couldn’t make this ranking last year, so what changed? For one thing, the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is entering a new generation for 2024, and while pricing hasn’t been announced, we expect the hybrid variant to come in slightly higher than the CR-V Hybrid’s price point. The other change is a new hybrid trim has been added. While the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid was exclusively available in the most expensive Touring trim, the 2024 model adds an EX-L trim in Canada that deletes the most high-end features and brings the price down by several thousand dollars. CR-V Hybrid buyers will receive a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with hybrid drive making a combined system output of 204 hp and 247 lb-ft, powering AWD. Fuel efficiency averages 6.0 L/100 km city, 6.9 hwy, and 6.4 combined. The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid starts in Canada at a price of $48,409.
Why No Plug-in Hybrids?
Plug-in Hybrid SUVs tend to be more expensive and the rebates they qualify for vary significantly across the country, so it’s not possible to provide a fair pricing comparison for them here. However, in provinces with generous rebates, some PHEVs may cost less than some of the vehicles listed below. If you live in Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island, this is worth looking into in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What are the advantages of a hybrid SUV?
Hybrid SUVs offer more power and good fuel economy relative to equivalent vehicles that are exclusively gas-powered. They also typically provide access to features such as all-wheel drive and high ground clearance.
What is the cheapest hybrid SUV in Canada?
The most affordable hybrid SUV in Canada for 2024 is the all-new Kia Niro Hybrid, priced at $32,583 including fees.
What is the fuel economy of a hybrid SUV?
Depending on the size and features equipped, a hybrid SUV’s fuel economy typically ranges from roughly 5.5 to 9.5 L/100 km combined.