Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe available 2025 figures identify several three-row SUV candidates, but they do not support a defensible ranking of the “top 10.” The federal Fuel Economy Guide gives ratings by vehicle configuration, and a complete ranking would require checking every eligible trim and setting a consistent method for comparing conventional hybrids with plug-in hybrids. Here are the ratings that can be compared from the available figures—and what each number means.
Which 2025 three-row SUV hybrids have the strongest sourced MPG figures?
In the 2025 EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide, the Kia Sorento Hybrid FWD and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid FWD are each listed at 36 mpg combined. Their AWD configurations are listed at 34 mpg combined. The values are configuration-specific, so an FWD rating should not be applied to the AWD model.
| 2025 model and configuration | EPA/DOE city | EPA/DOE highway | EPA/DOE combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento Hybrid FWD | 36 mpg | 36 mpg | 36 mpg |
| Kia Sorento Hybrid AWD | 34 mpg | 34 mpg | 34 mpg |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid FWD | 36 mpg | 35 mpg | 36 mpg |
| Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid AWD | 35 mpg | 34 mpg | 34 mpg |
The 2025 Fuel Economy Guide reports these ratings by configuration. Its combined estimate weights city driving at 55% and highway driving at 45%, using standardized laboratory testing intended to make comparisons fair. The figures are estimates, not a promise of what a particular driver will get.
How do the plug-in hybrid figures compare?
Plug-in hybrids need a separate comparison from conventional hybrids. Their electric/blended MPGe reflects operation with electric power in the mix; gasoline-only MPG describes operation after the battery’s usable charge is depleted. Electric range adds a third, distinct measure. Comparing MPGe directly with a conventional hybrid’s MPG as if they were the same kind of rating can mislead.
#1 Best Overall
| 2025 plug-in hybrid candidate | Electric/blended rating | Electric range | Gasoline-only rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | 64 MPGe | 38 miles | 26 mpg |
| Mazda CX-90 4WD PHEV | 56 MPGe | 26 miles | 25 mpg |
| Volvo XC90 T8 AWD | 58 MPGe | 33 miles | 27 mpg |
These are 2025 EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide figures. For a PHEV buyer, which number matters most depends on the question: electric range indicates the listed distance available in electric operation; MPGe represents electric/blended efficiency; and gasoline-only MPG is the useful comparison for driving after the battery is depleted. How often the vehicle can be charged affects how much electric operation a driver can use, but the ratings alone do not predict any owner’s fuel use.
Why isn’t this a ranked top 10?
A valid top-ten list needs a complete set of eligible models and configurations, confirmed three-row seating, and a declared ranking metric. The available figures do not establish all ten places or a complete trim-by-trim comparison. They also do not justify combining PHEV MPGe and conventional-hybrid MPG into one ordered list. Assigning ranks would imply evidence that is not available.
The EPA Automotive Trends page also identifies model-year 2025 values in its dataset as preliminary. That is another reason to treat an incomplete selection as a set of useful comparison figures, not a final leaderboard. The 2025 federal guide is the primary source for the listed Kia, Hyundai and PHEV figures.
What about the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
Kelley Blue Book’s 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid model page reports 35 mpg combined across configurations, and the Highlander has three rows and seats at least seven. The exact federal-guide rating for a specific trim still needs confirmation, so this secondary-source figure should not be treated as a verified EPA trim-level entry or used to assign a rank.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →How should you use these ratings when shopping?
- Match the drivetrain: compare FWD with FWD or AWD with AWD; the Sorento and Santa Fe figures show a two-mpg combined difference between their listed FWD and AWD configurations.
- For a conventional hybrid, start with combined MPG: it is the guide’s weighted city/highway comparison figure, not an individualized forecast.
- For a PHEV, keep the measures separate: consider electric range and MPGe for electric/blended operation, then gasoline-only MPG for operation after charge is depleted.
- Verify the exact trim and seating configuration: a model name alone does not establish that every trim has the same drivetrain, rating, or three-row setup.
- Consider the rest of the vehicle’s job: third-row usability, cargo capacity with all rows in use, price, towing needs and access to charging are relevant shortlist criteria, but the figures here do not establish cross-model winners on those points.
EPA estimates provide a standardized basis for comparing vehicles; they cannot account for every difference in route, weather, driving style or charging routine. Use the exact vehicle configuration’s rating as a starting point, then assess whether its seating, cargo and operating characteristics fit your needs.
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