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7 Reliable Hybrid SUVs For 2026
SUVs have replaced sedans as the default choice for most new car buyers, and it’s easy to see why. Today’s SUVs require far fewer compromises than they used to. For example, while gas guzzling was once the norm, many SUVs now offer fuel-efficient hybrid powertrains. Saving fuel helps keep ownership costs low, but that can be negated by poor reliability.
That’s why we’ve identified the most reliable hybrid SUVs for the 2026 model year. Predicting long-term reliability for brand new vehicles is always challenging, but by analyzing past model years and real-world data, we can pinpoint which models are most likely to keep running smoothly for years to come.
Honda CR-V Hybrid
Honda has one of the best reputations for reliability in the business, and while it does have several SUVs in its lineup, only the CR-V is offered with a hybrid powertrain. That’s okay, though, because the CR-V is Honda’s bestselling model in North America—SUV or otherwise.
Honda’s two-motor hybrid system eliminates a conventional transmission for maximum efficiency, giving the CR-V up to 40 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 37 mpg combined with all-wheel drive (it’s the only Honda hybrid available with all-wheel drive).
The CR-V Hybrid is a few years into its current generation, which should mean fewer potential issues. For 2026, it gains larger touchscreens, standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, and a new TrailSport trim level.
Kia Sorento Hybrid
The Sorento Hybrid was the top-ranked three-row SUV in Consumer Reports’ most recent reliability survey, making it one of a handful of models to outperform their non-hybrid counterparts. The current generation arrived for the 2021 model year but received a facelift for 2025 that makes it look a lot more current inside and out.
Unlike Honda, Kia prefers to use a conventional six-speed automatic transmission with an integrated electric motor, a setup that returns up to 37 mpg combined in front-wheel drive models and 34 mpg combined in all-wheel drive models. For 2026, a Terrain Mode is now standard with all-wheel drive, and a new X-Line package adds blacked out trim.
Lexus NX Hybrid
Lexus is a fixture in pretty much every reliability survey and study, and the NX compact SUV doesn’t let the side down. It was among the most reliable models in the most recent Consumer Reports rankings, after all.
Last redesigned for the 2022 model year, the NX uses Lexus parent Toyota’s ubiquitous hybrid system and adds a lower-priced front-wheel drive option in addition to the previously available all-wheel drive model, which uses a dedicated electric motor to drive the rear wheels in place of a driveshaft. The NX Hybrid is EPA-rated at 40 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 39 mpg combined with all-wheel drive.
Lexus RX Hybrid
If you’re looking for a bigger SUV, the Lexus RX is available with the same hybrid system as the NX, and also has a good reputation for reliability. It was the second-ranked midsize premium SUV in the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, behind the Lexus GX (which isn’t sold as a hybrid).
Lexus actually has two RX hybrid models: the RX 350h and the RX 500h F Sport Performance, both with standard all-wheel drive. The RX 350h is EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined, but the RX 500h drops to 27 mpg combined, a tradeoff for this model’s 366 horsepower—120 hp more than the RX 350h.
Subaru Forester Hybrid
The Forester was just redesigned for the 2025 model year, adding a hybrid powertrain option for the first time. While redesigns can sometimes compromise reliability as new components and production processes are introduced, the Forester maintained a well-above-average reliability score in the latest Consumer Reports survey.
The hybrid model also combines tried-and-true components, including Toyota’s hybrid system and a Subaru boxer engine and mechanical all-wheel drive system. Its 35 mpg combined EPA rating is slightly less than some competitors, but Subaru viewed it as a reasonable compromise to maintain greater off-road capability.
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid is a reliable and frugal compact sedan, but for those who want more cargo space, or who just like the look of an SUV, Toyota also offers the Corolla Cross. This cute ute shares the Corolla’s TNGA-C platform and powertrain, albeit with a larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that bumps up horsepower to account for the Cross’ added weight, and standard all-wheel drive.
The Corolla Cross Hybrid was introduced for the 2023 model year and gets a mild facelift and larger available touchscreen for 2026, while maintaining its impressive 42 mpg combined EPA rating.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
One of the first hybrid SUVs, the Highlander Hybrid has become a staple of taxi and ride-share fleets because of its dependability, fuel efficiency, and three-row seating. It was the second-ranked three-row SUV in the most recent Consumer Reports reliability survey (just behind the Kia Sorento Hybrid discussed above), which bodes well for the 2026 model, as it carries over basically unchanged.
Using similar powertrain tech to other Toyota and Lexus hybrids, the Highlander Hybrid is estimated to get up to 35 mpg (all-wheel drive was made standard for the 2025 model year) while offering seating for up to eight and a 3,500-pound towing capacity.
10 Reliable Cars For 2026: Top Picks From Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and CarEdge
With new car prices on the rise, predicted reliability is as important a factor in a potential purchase as it’s ever been. The less likely a car is to have mechanical issues, the lower the cost of ownership and the longer you’ll be able to keep it. While the future reliability of any specific new car is always uncertain (it’s still possible to get stuck with a lemon, after all), we’ve selected these 2026 model year vehicles based on their reliability and maintenance-cost track records from previous model years, as well as the general reputation for reliability of their respective brands.
Honda HR-V
Average selling price: $30,495
Honda was among the top five brands for reliability in the most recent Consumer Reports rankings, as well as CarEdge’s rankings for brands with the lowest 10-year maintenance costs. Consumer Reports also predicts above average reliability for the HR-V, a subcompact crossover SUV that channels Honda’s considerable experience with small cars, going back to models like the original Civic and the CR-X. Fully independent rear suspension benefits ride and handling, while also accommodating flat-folding rear seats. Today’s HR-V debuted for the 2023 model year as the nameplate’s second generation, and finally gains standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for 2026.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
Average selling price: $25,819
The Elantra Hybrid was among the top-ranked sedans in the latest Consumer Reports reliability survey, while Hyundai itself has a solid reputation for reliability, backed by warranty coverage that beats other brands. The hybrid model’s EPA-rated fuel economy of up to 54 mpg combined helps save money at the pump as well. It was introduced as part of the Elantra’s last redesign, for the 2021 model year. The intervening years should have given Hyundai time to work out any bugs, which bodes well for the future reliability of 2026 models, which are essentially unchanged from the 2025 model year.
Kia Sorento Hybrid
Average selling price: $40,183
Based on its most recent survey data, Consumer Reports named the Kia Sorento Hybrid the most reliable three-row SUV. And while it’s just one model year off a major update, the powertrain and many other components have been essentially unchanged since the 2021 model year, with few indications of potential problems during that period. One of the few three-row midsize SUVs with a hybrid powertrain option, the Sorento Hybrid returns up to 37 mpg combined with front-wheel drive (34 mpg with all-wheel drive) in EPA testing, and its interior is a cut above the segment norm.
Lexus NX
Average selling price: $50,896
Lexus was the highest-ranked brand in the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, and the NX compact crossover SUV was among the highest-ranked models in the most recent Consumer Reports reliability survey. These results are not an aberration—Lexus has topped the J.D. Power rankings for three years running—so Toyota’s luxury brand is generally a good bet when it comes to reliability. The NX offers a variety of powertrain options, including turbo-four, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, some of which get cheaper for the 2026 model year. Major changes to the NX, which was last redesigned for the 2022 model year, are minimal, so that above average reliability should remain in place.
Lexus RX
Average selling price: $59,257
Shoppers looking for a bit more space should also check out the Lexus RX. The brand’s first crossover SUV has grown into a proper midsize model, although thankfully Lexus no longer bothers with the cramped third-row option (the TX now fulfills that role). Like the NX, the RX is generally considered to have good reliability even by the already-high Lexus standard, and offers conventional gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. Currently in its fifth generation, the RX was last redesigned for the 2023 model year and carries over to 2026 essentially unchanged.
Subaru Forester
Average selling price: $39,527
Both the Forester and the Subaru brand as a whole regularly score above average in Consumer Reports reliability surveys. That includes the current, sixth-generation Forester, which was introduced for the 2025 model year. Rugged and simple, with standard all-wheel drive and EyeSight driver-assist tech, the Forester makes it easy to see why Subaru inspires such strong brand loyalty. With its latest redesign, the Forester accrued tech updates, chassis refinements, and a first-ever hybrid model. For 2026, a redesigned version of the Forester Wilderness off-road model joins the lineup.
Subaru Impreza
Average selling price: $27,003
Looking for Subaru reliability, standard all-wheel drive, and plenty of cargo space in a more compact package? The Subaru Impreza remains a great option, even if it’s been overshadowed somewhat by its rough-and-ready spinoff, the Crosstrek. It scored impressively in the most recent Consumer Reports survey and is one of the few non-SUV options for all-wheel drive from a mainstream brand. Available only as a five-door hatchback, this sixth-generation Impreza was introduced for the 2024 model year and carries over essentially unchanged for 2026.
Toyota Camry
Average selling price: $34,952
You only have to look at the taxi fleet of any major city to know that the Toyota Camry is a tough and dependable vehicle. The Camry was also the highest-ranked midsize car in J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, showing that private owners are still finding their cars to be trouble-free. That’s after the Camry saw a major overhaul for the 2025 model year that included dropping the V6 engine for standard hybrid power, while retaining optional all-wheel drive. Toyota considers this a distinct, ninth generation of the Camry, but it’s based on the same body shell and platform as the previous generation. The only significant change for 2026 is a Nightshade Edition trim package.
Toyota Corolla
Average selling price: $25,560
The Corolla remains the bestselling nameplate in automotive history because it’s consistently provided reliable transportation across many generations and forms. That remains the case with the current-generation Corolla, which was the highest-ranked compact car in the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study and is available in both sedan and hatchback body styles, with hybrid and non-hybrid powertrains. There’s also a raucous GR Corolla hot hatch and the related Corolla Cross crossover. It’s been a while since the Corolla was last redesigned, and changes remain minimal for 2026, but that means fewer potential surprises for buyers looking for something simple and reliable.
Toyota Prius
Average selling price: $35,718
Both the standard Prius and the plug-in hybrid version are among the least expensive vehicles to maintain in CarEdge’s 10-year maintenance-cost rankings, and like its Corolla and Camry stablemates, the Prius comes with the peace of mind of the Toyota badge. The car that took hybrids mainstream, the Prius boasts up to 57 mpg combined in front-wheel drive form (all-wheel drive is also available), while the plug-in hybrid model can drive up to 45 miles on electric power alone. There are no significant changes for the 2026 model year—the 25th for the Prius in the U.S.—but the sleek shape that debuted for 2023 still looks great.
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