As we near the end of summer, we often feel the pull of a final road trip. One last chance to visit a familiar or fresh location. How does the family get there? In a compact SUV, of course. But we’re coming off six months of yo-yoing gas prices that are still substantially higher than they were at the first of the year. The threat of another spike is looming.
Conclusion: We need a compact SUV with electric power to minimize fuel expenses. We have two prime candidates this month.
Kia Sportage PHEV
How about an affordable (definition: costing less than the average new vehicle transaction price, which is about $50,000) SUV that will give you all-electric driving around town—and still be able to take to the highways without having to pre-map a route between chargers?
You could call the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV (for plug-in hybrid) a hedge-your-bets kind of vehicle, but we prefer to think of it as the Swiss Army knife of cars. The model we tested, which was a top-of-the-line X-Line Prestige AWD, had an MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) of $49,730. Other PHEV models start at about $9,000 less, while a non-plug-in hybrid starts at around $30,000.
I think the PHEV is the best choice of the bunch for two reasons. One, part of that higher price covers the inclusion of some great advanced safety technology. Two, the ability to plug in and run up to 33 miles on electricity alone will save money while also helping you take positive action to combat climate change and air pollution.
An EV that turns into a hybrid
Hybrid driving is the default mode for the Sportage PHEV, delivering 38 mpg while shifting between gas and electric drive. The combined 1.6-liter turbocharged gas engine and electric motor deliver a robust 268 horsepower, which comes in handy when the family and luggage are loaded for that last trip.
Consumer Reports gives the PHEV its top safety rating for compact SUVs, based in part on some of its standard advanced technology like rear cross-traffic warning, automatic emergency braking and blind spot warning. Kia adds a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty to its similar (essentially) lifetime coverage for its battery.
Finally, we liked the Shadow Matte Gray paint (a $595 upgrade) on the Kia, which turned a generic SUV profile into a head-turner.
Lexus RZ 550e
One of the most impressive things about electric cars is their constant evolution. The second generation Lexus RZ is a perfect example. The first generation was okay, but had a limited range and other than a great brand reputation, not much to make it stand out in the EV crowd. This time around you can get an RZ with a 300+-mile range and a better on-board charger for faster charging. Finally, it migrated to the Tesla-style NACS charging system, giving access to the extensive Tesla charging network.
All that adds up to a very capable travel vehicle, but more than that, it’s now the Lexus of EVs. Lexus figured out what American luxury is and continues to present it in each of its vehicles. The RZ may be essentially the same vehicle as the Toyota BZ and Subaru Solterra, yet it is distinctly more.
Little touches—the curve of the dash, the choice of fine-touch materials throughout the interior—make the RZ a true luxury EV. To underscore the point, our top-line model had the Luxury Package that included key tech like the Traffic Jam Assist, Remote Park and digital key as well as a Mark Levinson stereo system. I’m still impressed with the standard Dynamic Sky panoramic glass roof that changes from clear to opaque at the touch of a button.
All that put our RZ 550e with the F Sport appearance package at slightly over $62,000, still not an outrageous ticket for a luxury EV with all the bells and whistles. RZ models start at under $47,000. Our model also packed more than 400 horsepower so it’s the sportier way to head out on that last summer trip. Lexus outfits its six RZ models with three different horsepower levels, but they’re all more than adequate for this size vehicle.
For that last summer trip, the Lexus RZ offers luxury with great electric range, while the Kia Sportage PHEV has local electric range and the comfort of a gas engine for extended adventures. It’s hard to go wrong.
