Top 10 Hybrid Cars With AWD

Hybrids are gaining traction—both on the sales chart and on the road.

As every automaker looks for gas-engine efficiency gains wherever they can find them, hybrids have spread across the industry. At the same time, marketing departments have hit a home run with the push for all-wheel drive. (We have to say it: a good set of snow tires matters more when the white stuff is everywhere.)

Combine the two and you've got a potent pairing: more traction and better fuel economy. Hybrid cars with AWD now come in all shapes and sizes; here, in alphabetical order, are our 10 favorites.

BMW's brutalist 7 Series cuts an imposing silhouette in its latest form. For the current generation, buyers have plenty of propulsion choices too, from gas to full electric. The 750e combines both with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. While this big four-door is rear-drive as standard, buyers can opt for the xDrive setup as well. The result is a strong 483 horsepower and, like its 330e little brother, the ability to drive on pure electric power—in this case, up to 35 miles. Sorry, Canadians; the PHEV isn't an option for you.

Yes, the Corvette has gone all-wheel drive. And hybrid. And it's super-quick.

The C8 generation has ushered in plenty of change for America's sports car. While the standard car debuted the mid-engined layout and the end of the manual transmission, the E-Ray adds a compact electric motor acting on the front axle. The hybrid setup isn't about efficiency—it's actually slightly worse than the regular Vette there—but about the added shot of torque out of corners. That's why the E-Ray is the quickest C8 to 62 mph (100 km/h). The added bonus? It'll do a handful of miles before the V8 springs to life, so you can let your neighbors sleep in before that Sunday drive.

Admit it: you kind of forgot about the Lexus LS. It's okay, we do too from time to time. The big limo that put the luxury scene on notice back in the '90s remains a super plush, left-field choice in the full-size segment. When this generation debuted, Lexus also introduced a new hybrid powertrain. Pairing a high-efficiency V6 with an electric motor results in 354 horsepower and a slight decrease in straight-line speed, all for an improved city fuel economy figure. The trick gearbox pairs the traditional power-split device with a four-speed automatic to simulate 10 gears.

Following the big sedan trend, we find the Mercedes-Benz S-Class in its plug-in hybrid form. The S 580e pairs the brand's sweet-and-smooth inline-six turbo engine with an electric motor for a combined output of roughly 500 horsepower, though how the two deliver their power is very different. This limo is still quick in many ways, however: it'll run to 62 mph in under 5 seconds, while the large 28.6-kWh battery pack is capable of DC fast charging. This might just be the best current S-Class you can buy; in other words, the best Benz.

We swear, we're almost done with the luxury German sedans. The Porsche Taycan may get the lion's share of the attention as the brand's all-electric cutting edge model, but the venerable Panamera is the one that offers the most variety. Not only are there three body styles—standard, long wheelbase, and sleek Sport Turismo wagon—there are three different plug-in hybrid powertrains. Even the "base" Panamera 4 E-Hybrid throws down with 455 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a dash to highway speeds in the low 4s. It just gets quicker from there, with the bonkers Turbo S E-Hybrid spitting out 690 hp and accomplishing the dash in an even 3 seconds. It's the priciest car on this list, however, and the Porsche's smaller battery means a shorter EV-only range.

Get ready for some pricing whiplash: you could buy four Toyota Corolla Hybrids for the price of one of the S 580e models listed above. The humble Corolla saw an important update for the 2023 model year, expanding the hybrid availability and adding AWD. The result is the pick of the compact car's sizeable litter—unless you want a hot hatch, in which case it's GR Corolla time. With a sub-$30k price tag, the Corolla offers a totally rational, practical, and very fuel-efficient daily driver package.

Next up on the this article's very own Toyotathon is the confounding Crown. A long-running and storied nameplate back home, the Crown hadn't been seen in decades on these shores until this high-rise sedan landed in late 2022. Like the next Toyota on this list, it's unique in being exclusively hybrid-powered; going further, it's the only one to check the other requirement box of this list on all trims. Whether you go for the fuel-efficient XLE or Limited, or the 340-horsepower—and surprisingly fun—Platinum, the Crown has a unique style that sets it apart on the road.

You've heard it everywhere, yet it bears repeating: the Prius is cool now. With a wicked, wind-swept look and a playful cabin design, the de facto hybrid poster child has become one of the most exciting everyday cars on the market. Toyota has given it a major power boost too, with 194 hp for the front-drive model and 196 hp for AWD cars, the latter of which is standard in Canada. It's still incredibly efficient too; somehow better than the Corolla, even. Sadly, if you want the excellent Prius Prime plug-in, you're still left with front-drive only.

We end this list with a cool and calm Scandinavian. The Volvo S60 is one of our favorite premium sedans: handsome, spacious, smooth-riding and, in T8 Recharge form, seriously quick. The Swedish company recently revamped the plug-in hybrid T8 models, dropping in a larger-capacity battery and stronger motors. The result is a 455-horsepower four-door that's something of a bargain at well under $60,000. When you aren't keeping Mustangs honest, the S60 will happily do 40 miles (64 km) on pure electric power, too.