The best hybrid 4x4s in Australia

When most people think of off-road four-wheel drives (4WDs), they tend to picture beefy, petrol or diesel-guzzling beasts that only look legitimate when equipped with winches, caked with dried mud and decorated with a constellation of bugs.

The thought of a 4x4 or utility truck going all-electric, and thus entirely silent rather than shouty - a future that passenger cars are rapidly heading towards - may seem strange, or possibly even distasteful to some, but it will most certainly happen. Jaguar Land Rover is already working on an all-electric version of its iconic Defender off-roader, and UK company Ineos is working on a hydrogen-powered version of its Grenadier 4x4. 

A wide choice of fully electric 4x4s from major car manufacturers is still a way off, but steps are being made in that direction thanks to a host of hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that are currently available for drivers who want a 4x4 that’s a little more environmentally friendly. 

For those unfamiliar with what a hybrid is, the answer is simple: it’s a vehicle that has both a petrol-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) and a self-charging, battery-powered electric motor. A PHEV differs in that it needs to plug in to an external power source to recharge, with the added benefit being that you can drive in all-electric mode if you want to - typically for 50 to 60km - thanks to a bigger battery. 

The benefits of hybrids and PHEVs are simple and best defined by the phrase “the best of both worlds” - they allow you to choose to release fewer harmful emissions into the atmosphere by running in EV mode, but you don’t have to worry about running out of volts and not being able to find a charging station, because you can use a petrol engine as well (plus there are the obvious savings on fuel costs - which is why there are so many available for sale on the Australian market (over 20, at last count). 

While it’s possible to buy a conversion kit to make your 4WD, ute or ATV all-electric, it’s uncommon to see cars converted into a hybrid with both an ICE and electric motor.

Hybrid 4x4 Australia: 8 of the best

Kia Sorento PHEV

Kia Sorento PHEV.

Price: From $79,330, plus on-road costs

Although a touch on the expensive side, this hybrid 4WD from Kia has plenty of space - it’s a seven-seater - and a 14kWh battery pack that offers close to 70km of all-electric driving range.

Lexus UX250h

Lexus UX250h.

Price: From $56,525, plus on-road costs

This luxury small hybrid 4x4 SUV has a battery pack that self-charges via regenerative braking - a process where kinetic energy produced by braking is either directed to the electric motor or stored in the battery for future use.

Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e 4Matic PHEV

GLC 300e 4Matic PHEV.

Price: From $93,172, plus on-road costs

This luxury SUV comes with Mercedes-Benz’s patented ‘4matic’ all-wheel-drive system, which offers excellent traction during slippery driving conditions. All-electric driving range is around 43km, and the drivetrain has a maximum torque of 350Nm and maximum power of 155kW.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV.

Price: From $46,490, plus on-road costs

Offering a claimed 55km of driving range in all-electric EV mode, the all-wheel-drive Eclipse Cross can have its battery charged from empty to full via a domestic power socket (around seven hours), a wallbox charger (around 3.5 hours), or via a DC fast charger (30 minutes or less). 

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid.

Price: From $141,200, plus on-road costs

If you’re after something with a sporty edge, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid more than delivers. It comes in six different trim options, all of which offer an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. All-electric driving range is 47km. 

Range Rover Sport P400e

Range Rover Sport P400e.

Price: From $136,187, plus on-road costs

This off-road hybrid large luxury SUV comes packing a 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that’s coupled with an electric motor, for combined outputs of 297kW/640Nm. 

Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid

Toyota RAV4 GXL hybrid.

Price: From $39,070, plus on-road costs

This incredibly popular small SUV from Toyota comes with a 131kW 2.5-litre engine coupled with an 88kW electric motor, with the e-Four all-wheel drive variant adding a 40kW rear-mounted motor for extra traction. 

BMW X5 xDrive45e

BMW X5 xDrive45e.

Price: From $129,900, plus on-road costs

This BMW PHEV is an eight-speed automatic with all-wheel drive, and the all-electric driving range is a sizeable 80km. The X5 xDrive45e pairs a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for punchy combined outputs of 290kW/600Nm.

Volvo XC90 Recharge

Volvo XC90 Recharge.

Price: From $116,990, plus on-road costs

This bulky seven-seater large SUV PHEV comes with a handy 360-degree parking view supplied by four cameras, as well as 44km of all-electric driving range and a host of safety features that make it a cut above. It comes with a four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, for combined outputs of 600kW/660Nm.