Latino Traffic Report

Remember when the auto industry looked at hybrids with a stink eye? That was back when in 1999 when the modern versions first emerged. According to Axios, electrified vehicle sales—hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles (EV)—reached 17.7 percent of auto sales in the United States in 2023 with the Honda CR-V hybrid leading hybrid sales. Government mandates for increasing fuel economy combined with fluctuating gas prices, encourage car buyers to seek vehicles that save gas or better yet, don’t use gas at all. With that in mind, Latino Traffic Report (LTR) offers this list of recently tested gas savers for our readers to consider.

Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

When Toyota announced plans to build the 2022 Corolla Cross, it created an immediate buzz. Many wondered if Toyota could or should attempt to improve on the top-selling Corolla by making it sportier and more versatile, i.e. a compact crossover?  Enter 2023 and Toyota has taken the Cross one step further by introducing a hybrid version, the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

On the outside, the hybrid version differs from its gas-powered sibling with unique front and rear styling. The test model, Corolla Cross HV HSE, also came with the available two-tone paint, and 18-inch alloy wheels. All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is standard on all Cross hybrids.

Assembled in  Huntsville, Alabama at the brand-new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant, the  hybrid is available in three new grades: S, SE and XSE. As a hybrid, it’s is also priced above its gas-powered sibling.

That means the all models come with an improved Toyota Safety Sense suite that includes pre-collision warning with emergency braking, dynamic radar cruise control, road sign assist to read speed limits, and the all-important blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert. Also standard on the top-of-the-line test model were premium LED head lamps, taillamps and fog lamps, Softex-trimmed seats with the addition of heated front seats and a power driver’s seat.

Happily, the Toyota Audio Multimedia System, with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB-C charge ports is standard on all trims. Users can interact with the system through intuitive touch and voice activation controls.

Under the hood is a peppy 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 196 horsepower. Fuel savings being the optimum question for a hybrid, it has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 45 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. It averaged 38 mpg during the test drive. Adding to that is 63.8 cubic feet of cargo room with the second-row seat folded flat.

Having spent a week in the Cross Hybrid, LTR can confirm that a more versatile and fuel-efficient Corolla was definitely a good idea. Pricing for the 2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid starts at $29,320 and the as-tested price for the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE came to $37,208. All prices include destination fees.

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Freshened in 2021, the Hyundai Santa Fe didn’t just get a modified exterior, that year also introduced a new hybrid powertrain with AWD and extensive new driver safety and convenience features. LTR recently tested the 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid Limited AWD. In typical Hyundai fashion, the hybrid brought an extended package of luxury features, like a panoramic moonroof, leather seating with heated and cooled front seats, and heated rear seats, combined with a respectable average fuel economy of 29.8 miles per gallon on the test drive.

Powered by a 1.6 inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 178 hp and 195 ft.–lb. of torque and matched to a six-speed transmission with paddle shifters, the hybrid did have a turbo delay when accelerating but switching to the Sport mode, one of three available, seemed to cure that. The hybrid propulsion system is the first application of its kind in the Hyundai SUV line-up.

Advanced technology included smart cruise control, surround view and blind spot monitors, Blue Link connected services for three years, and Harman Kardon premium audio. Unique to Hyundai, is the blind spot camera that displays in the instrument cluster, which is preferable to displaying in the entertainment screen, as others have done, which is distracting.

For fans of the Santa Fe, particularly its design, 2023 will be the last year to purchase one as the fifth generation, all-new 2024 Santa Fe is coming and it marks the debut of a completely new look for Hyundai. Judging from initial images, it borrows design cues from Ford on the headlamps, and Land Rover on the silhouette. Pricing for the 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid starts at $37,545 with destination fees. The as-tested price came to $43,115.

Lexus NX 350h

LTR had the unique opportunity to test two versions of the Lexus NX 350, the gasoline-powered and most recently, the hybrid version, NX 350h. Like its sibling, the 350h includes the lux styling and amenities that Lexus is known for, but as a hybrid, it’s the top-of-the-line model, which promises a little more features, as well as impressive fuel economy.

Fully redesigned from the inside out in 2022, it’s powered by Lexus Hybrid Drive system that  pairs the fuel injected 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 189 horsepower with two high-torque electric drive motor-generators that assist with acceleration and passing. It has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 41 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway. The test model achieved 32.5 mpg during the week-long test drive.

Standard safety features on the test model included the essential blind-spot monitor, Road Sign Assist, and Dynamic Radar cruise control.

The beautifully finished interior on the test model included tan heated and cooled leather seats, wood accents, and the huge and optional 14-inch touchscreen (the 9.8-inch is standard) that comes with a three-year trial for Drive Connect location guidance services like Cloud Navigation, Destination Assist, and Intelligent Assistant. The larger screen also included Lexus Interface that guests can use a Bluetooth handheld device, smart key or manual login to access. Lexus Interface also incorporates a Voice Assistant available through voice activation or accessible via a button on the steering wheel.

Other standard features included the Head-Up Display, a power moonroof, and Intuitive Parking Assist. The steamlined door handles fit nicely into the door panel but opening the door took a little figuring out.

The test model also included 18 stand-alone options varying in price from a key glove ($25) to 20-inch alloy wheels ($1,310) and which added an extra $10,000 to the starting price of $48,795. Other interesting options included power folding heated rear seats, the Mark Levinson audio system, and a panoramic view monitor.

As-tested MSRP came to $58,445. Pricing for the 2024 NX 350h starts at $44,665.

Genesis Electrified G80

While hybrids have improved gas mileage, the best gas saver is one that doesn’t use gas at all, or electric vehicles (EVs). Genesis joined the EV market with the 2023 Electrified G80 sedan. Initially, the challenge for EVs was their limited range. The restricted range at the onset—as well as charging infrastructure or lack thereof—labeled them as secondary vehicles, limited to city driving. The Electrified G80 hit the market with an impressive range of 282-miles enough to take on a road trip from Austin to Johnston City or roughly 100 miles round trip, and the childhood home of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. It handled the challenge nicely although it did lose 20 miles of range compared to the actual mileage of the trip.

The latest Genesis exterior design is a head turner. Distinctive without looking overworked, the signature Crest Grille has been adjusted for the EV to make it more aerodynamic.

Inside, the premium sedan did not disappoint, with Nappa leather seats, matte wood trim, and a huge 14.5-inch HD screen for the infotainment system and a 123-inch digital instrument cluster. For an added touch, Genesis sourced various natural or recycled materials for its interior such as leather with natural dyes for the seats, console, and rear seat armrest, recycled wood, and environment-friendly, recycled PET fabrics.

Safety features were also well represented with a blind-spot monitor, smart cruise control, and forward and parking collision avoidance, among other features.

While charging infrastructure for EVs has improved, especially with onboard technology that helps drivers locate the nearest charging stations, during the test drive, the Electrified G80 would not charge from a the standard 110-volt home outlet. Another concern about EVs is their incompatibility to extreme weather, which made charging in hot Texas weather tough and expensive. While the quick charger cut off after 20 minutes, the 20 miles of charging that was successfully added cost $10. The only extra feature was the Hallasan Green exterior paint ($575). Available in only one trim, the as-tested MSRP came to $81,495.