Heck yeah, you're right in thinking a hybrid might be a wise choice for your next SUV. You've got petrol becoming so expensive it'll soon be cheaper to fill the tank with diamonds; then you have carmakers saying they're just about done with combustion engines, and finally who doesn't want cleaner air for our kids to breathe?
So, in this comparison we've put hybrid SUVs to the test because while it might be extremely wise of you to think a hybrid SUV is a smart choice, we still want you to pick the right one.
And this review will help you do just that. Oh yeah, and we've thrown in a bit of a twist in the shape of a regular diesel SUV, just to see if these hybrids are really all that efficient over the same roads in our fuel test.
The SUVs we've tested here are the Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid, Subaru Forester Hybrid L, and Toyota RAV4 GXL Hybrid, with the twist being the diesel version of Mazda's CX-5 Touring Active.
All these SUVs are aimed at families and we'll tell you what they're like for practicality, safety, how they are to drive, what features they come with and if they're good value-for-money.
Of course, we'll also talk about our fuel economy findings. We tested these SUVs in the real world and drove them on the same route through the suburbs, into the country, and back into the city, taking in all the sorts of roads you will.
The results surprised us. The CX-5 diesel was actually more fuel efficient than one of our hybrids. I know. Outrageous. You'll have to read on to find which one, and much more.
Price and features
At first glance at the prices in the table it looks as though the Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid is the most expensive competitor in our comparison test. But keep in mind this is the driveaway price for this SUV. That's right. At the time we did this test Haval had applied national driveaway pricing to the H6 Ultra Hybrid.
The prices for Forester Hybrid L, the RAV4 GXL Hybrid and the Mazda CX-5 Touring Active are all list prices, that is, the price before on-roads costs.
What is certain is that the RAV4 GXL Hybrid is the most affordable SUV of this bunch.
As you can see the H6 has more features than any of the others, from its ventilated seats and panoramic sunroof to its enormous display screens. All very impressive.
So, while the H6 isn't the cheapest contender, the value-for-money is excellent and I've awarded it equal top marks with the RAV4 which is priced so affordably and offers excellent value with plenty of great features such as proximity unlocking, sat nav and privacy glass.
| Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
Price | $41,390 (MSRP) | $40,450 (MSRP) | $45,990 (DRIVEAWAY) | $45,680 (MSRP) |
Seat upholstery | Cloth | Fabric | Leather-look | Synthetic suede |
Climate control | Dual zone | Dual zone | Dual-zone | Dual-zone |
Heated seats | Front | No | Front | No |
Ventilated seats | No | No | Front | No |
Multimedia screen | Eight-inch | Eight-inch | 12.3-inch screen | Eight-inch screen |
Digital instruments | No | No | 10.25-inch | No |
Head up display | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | Yes | Yes (wireless) | Yes | Yes |
Stereo | Six-speaker | Six-speaker | Eight-speaker | Six-speaker |
Built-in sat nav | No | Yes | No | Yes |
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Proximity key and push-start | yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power tailgate | No | No | Yes | No |
Headlights | LED | LED | LED | LED |
Wheel size | 17-inch | 18-inch | 19-inch alloy | 17-inch |
Privacy glass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Sunroof | No | No | Yes - panoramic | No |
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Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
8 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
Design
Something happened at Haval about two years ago. Its cars started becoming ridiculously good looking and the H6 Ultra Hybrid is one the Chinese brand's latest models which has the stunning styling I'm talking about.
The studded grille and front bumper design are found on the hybrid variant only. The rest of the styling is no different from the regular petrol H6 with its pleasing side profile and impressive back end with the tail-lights connected by a single LED strip.
The H6 Ultra Hybrid's cabin, too, is identical to the petrol variant with its premium, modern minimalist interior and giant screens.
The Haval is modern and stylish, but could its design hold up as well as the Mazda CX-5's has? Not many cars look as fresh and elegant as the CX-5 does after five years. That's how long this generation has been in market, although it's had a few styling updates along the way.
The CX-5 included here is the Touring Active, a new grade which came out in early 2022 and brought with it sporty green highlights on the grille and inside around the air vents and seat stitching.
I'm not won over by the green bits, but I can't emphasise enough how pretty the CX-5 is, and how well crafted it felt on the test.
Pretty is not how I'd describe the RAV4 GXL Hybrid, but it does have rugged good looks with that confronting face and tough angular styling.
The RAV4's interior is equally rugged with chunky rubber dials for climate, although the fabric spongey seats really look and feel cheap - in a bad way. Apart from the badge there's no difference in the look between hybrid and petrol RAV4s.
The Forester Hybrid L also looks just like the regular petrol Forester. Boxy but adventurous, it's the hiking boot of cars.
The interior of the Forester Hybrid L is no different to other Foresters with an overly busy dash full of buttons, icons and a double-decker screen layout that offers way more information than you need. Percentage throttle applied anybody?
Still, the materials used feel good and the craftsmanship appears to be excellent, as we've come to expect from Subaru.
The H6 looks a lot bigger than the other SUVs here but at 4653mm end-to-end it's almost the same length as the RAV4 (4615mm) and Forester (4640mm), and less than eight centimetres longer than the CX-5 (4575mm).
The H6 and the CX-5 tie here for the Design win. The Mazda's styling has held fast against the winds of time, remaining elegant looking and prestigious feeling, while the Haval has most likely shocked its competitors with its modern, well-executed design inside and out.
Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Practicality
These SUVs aren't performance cars, they're practicality cars. Well, they're supposed to be because they're made mainly for families who need space and utility.
All are mid-size, five-seaters, which will suit a family with one or two kids. If you have three or more children, a larger SUV such as a Hyundai Palisade or a people mover like the Kia Carnival will do a better job.
Some SUVs are more practical than others. The CX-5 may be beautiful to look at but it's the least practical here. Yep, it appears to be a slight case of form over function with a second row that's the trickiest to access due to a sloping roofline and intruding wheel arch and the least legroom and headroom in the second row.
The CX-5's cabin storage is good with a large centre console box, big door pockets and a fold down armrest in the second row with a compartment to stow books and devices.
That's not enough to make up for the lack of people space and the smallest boot, which means the CX-5 doesn't score well here.
The Forester is the opposite of the CX-5 in that its boxy shape has given it tall, wide door openings, and a spacious cabin. There's excellent leg and headroom in the second row, with wide seats in the back and up front.
Cabin storage in the Forester is good, with enormous front door pockets, a big centre console box, and four cupholders onboard. The Forester's boot isn't the biggest but it has a low load lip and is able to take tall objects.
The RAV4 shows flashes of practical brilliance with shelves moulded into the dashboard and chunky, rubbery, easy-to-use dials for climate control, but then the second row feels a bit cramped.
Cabin storage could be better with small door pockets, but there are cupholders and a big centre console bin. Boot space is excellent.
The H6 has the largest of the lot and cabin storage is good, too, with a floating centre console, but the door pockets are on the thin side.
| Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
Boot space (all seats up) | 509L | 580L | 600L | 438L |
Cupholders | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
USB ports | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
12V outlets | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Wireless phone charging | No | Yes | Yes
| Yes |
Rear directional vents | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Under the bonnet
The Mazda CX-5 is the only SUV in our test with a regular combustion engine, a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four. The Mazda uses a six-speed automatic transmission and is all-wheel drive.
The rest are hybrids, each with an electric motor teamed with a four-cylinder petrol engine.
The Subaru Forester's electric motor has the lowest power and torque, making it a 'mild' hybrid as opposed to the H6's system which uses an electric motor that produces a far greater output.
As you can see from the table, the combined output of the H6's engine and motor is enormous for an SUV in this class. These are the figures Haval supplied to CarsGuide.
Rarely, however, do carmakers calculate the combined output of a hybrid system by simply adding the motor and engine outputs together. This is clearly how Haval has calculated its official numbers.
If this combined torque output of 530Nm is correct, the H6 could qualify as the highest torque front-wheel drive SUV on the market. Haval has confirmed these figures are correct.
Toyota on the other hand doesn't calculate the output of its hybrid systems by adding the torque and power of its engines and motors together.
As you can see in the table, Toyota only supplies a power figure for the combined output of the motor and engine, and doesn't even offer a combined torque figure.
| Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
Petrol engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine | 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine | 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol | 2.2-litre four-cylinde turbor diesel |
Engine output | 110kW/196Nm | 131kW/221Nm | 110kW/230Nm
| 140kW/450Nm |
Electric motor | Integrated electric motor 12.3kW/66Nm | Two front 88KW/202Nm | Front 130kW/300Nm | N/A |
Combined power output | N/A | 160kW | 179kW | N/A |
Combined torque output | N/A | N/A | 530Nm | N/A |
Transmission | CVT | CVT | 2spd Hybrid transmission | 6-spd auto |
Drivetrain | All-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
7 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Efficiency
This is what it's all about, right? Well no, because while using less fuel is a benefit of a hybrid SUV, if it's not practical, or safe, not good value, or easy to drive, it doesn't matter if it is super efficient, because it's useless, right?
But if a hybrid SUV isn't very fuel efficient then it's pointless too, isn't it?
Unfortunately, I feel the Forester Hybrid L falls into that pointless category because its hybrid system is so mild that during our fuel test (which was applied to all our SUVs at the same time in a convoy) it used a staggering amount of petrol compared to the H6 Ultra Hybrid and RAV4 GXL Hybrid. Embarrassingly, the diesel CX-5 used less fuel than the Forester on exactly the same test.
Our fuel test took a route through the suburbs, into the hilly countryside, onto a motorway and back into the city between 8.30am and 5.30pm on a weekday. The amount of fuel consumed by each car was measured at the pump at the completion of the fuel test.
Our winner here is the RAV4 GXL Hybrid.
| Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
Official/combined consumption | 6.7L/100km | 4.7L/100km | 5.2L/100km | 5.7L/100km |
Real-world test | 11.3L/100km | 8.0L/100km | 8.6L/100km | 10.8L/100km |
Minimum RON rating | 91RON | 91RON | 91RON | DIESEL |
Fuel tank size | 48L | 55L | 61L | 58L |
Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
6 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Driving
The RAV4 GXL Hybrid has the best combination of comfort, handling and ease of driving.
The four-person CarsGuide test team drove all four SUVs back-to-back on the same urban loop and then on a wider open road test.
Consensus was the CX-5 offered the sportiest driving experience, but that the ride was overly firm. It's not the most comfortable SUV in this test in which to be a passenger.
The Forester is the most comfortable but lacks the better dynamics of the CX-5.
It also feels the least like a 'hybrid' in that it lacks the EV driving range of the H6 and RAV4. The Forester's acceleration isn't in the same league as the others SUVs on test. either.
The H6's hybrid system is the quietest and smoothest in its transition from engine to motor, while the RAV4 is noisiest.
The H6's visibility is hampered by the placement of its wing mirrors, while comfort in the back seat during our test loops wasn't as good as the RAV4 or Forester. The H6 also lacks a good sense of connection between the driver and the road.
The H6's acceleration is excellent, no doubt the result of strong torque supplied by the engine and motor. All that grunt going to just the front wheels causes a loss of traction under acceleration occasionally, even in the dry test conditions.
The RAV4 tested is front-wheel drive (the CX-5 and Forester are AWD) but doesn't have the same loss of traction, with good acceleration, to boot.
The RAV4 is comfortable for passengers and enjoyable to pilot with a great connection between the driver and the road, good brake pedal feel and a CVT automatic which lacks the 'drone' factor of the Forester's CVT under acceleration.
Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
8 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
Safety
All of these SUVs are super safe. You're not going to make the wrong choice here no matter which you pick. That said, while all have the maximum five-star ANCAP rating, the CX-5 was awarded its score back in 2017 when the criteria for full marks wasn't as stringent as 2022, when the Haval H6 was tested.
Models are updated with safety tech over the years as the RAV4 was in 2022.
This CX-5 was ahead of many of its rivals from a safety tech perspective when it launched in 2017, and the same can be said for the Forester.
Strangely, the Forester doesn't come with front parking sensors, but it is well equipped with pretty much everything the others have.
All have AEB (forward and reverse), blind spot warning and lane keeping assistance.
The Haval H6, however, has an edge here with features such as junction assist, AEB, and auto parking.
| Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
Auto emergency braking | Yes (vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian) | Yes (vehicle, cyclist, pedestrian) | Yes (vehicle, cyclist, pedestrian, junction) | Yes (vehicle, cyclist pedestrian) |
Lane keep assist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Blind spot monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rear cross traffic alert | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rear AEB | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Auto parking | No | No | Yes | No |
Rearward facing child seat space | Excellent | OK | OK | Could be better |
Front and rear parking sensors | Rear only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Spare wheel | Repair kit | Space saver | Repair kit | Space saver |
Camera | Front, rear, side | Rear | Rear, 360 | Rear |
ANCAP rating (year tested) | Five (2019) | Five (2019) | Five (2022) | Five (2017) |
Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
7 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
Ownership
The costs of maintaining a car are never ending, but different manufacturers offer better deals on servicing and the duration of warranties.
The H6 offers the longest warranty, but the RAV4 has the most affordable regular servicing costs - half that of the Forester.
| Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
Warranty length | Five-year/unlimited km | Five-year/ unlimited km | Seven-year/unlimited km | Five-year/unlimited km |
Yearly average service price (over five years) | $487.93 | $230 | $330 | $384 |
Service interval | 12mths/12,500 | 12mths/15,000km | 12mths/15,000km | 12mths/10,000km |
Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
7 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Verdict
The Toyota RAV4 GXL Hybrid is our winner. Not only did the RAV4 prove to be the most fuel efficient, it's the best to drive with its combination of good comfort, enjoyable handling and road connection, plus it has good safety tech, great practicality, the lowest servicing costs and the most affordable list price.
The Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid is also very fuel efficient, stunning in its design, impressive in its value-for-money, has a spacious, practical cabin and great advanced safety tech, but lacks the driver engagement of the RAV4 and comes with higher servicing costs.
| Forester Hybrid L | RAV4 Hybrid | H6 Hybrid | CX-5 Diesel |
Price and features | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
Design | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
Practicality | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Powertrain | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Fuel consumption | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Safety | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
Ownership | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Driving | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
OVERALL | 7.3 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 7.3 |
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