Thumbs up to Lincoln for offering us a gas-electric hybrid Aviator able to cover about 15 miles on electrons when conditions are just so. But here’s the rest of the story: second-tier hybrid engineering at a first-tier-plus price. The standard.
2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge Review: More Tired Than Wired ++
Verdict 8.7 / 10
For a time, it seemed like plug-in hybrids would be the stepping stones for the mass EV adoption. People could get comfortable with charging and retain the flexibility of gas, while the public EV infrastructure had time to build up. The Volvo XC90 T8 is a good example of why that idea never really came to fruition.
With just 14 miles of electric range when it arrived in 2015, the $69,095 2016 XC90 T8 carried a price tag nearly $20,000 higher than a comparable gas-powered model. Sure, it was more powerful and came with a federal income-tax credit, but neither an extra 130 horsepower nor a $4,600 savings from Uncle Sam could overshadow its poor value.
As an indication of just how important three-row SUVs are right now, Tesla has not one but two all-electric seven seaters in its ever-growing lineup. The Tesla Model Y should gain ever more appeal among families thanks to the recent addition of a new third-row option. For an extra $3,000, the 2021 Tesla Model Y can be equipped with a third row that increases the seating capacity to seven passengers.
Accessing the third row is made easier thanks to sliding second-row seats that provide plenty of room for ingress and egress, and for added convenience, the rearmost seats even come standard with USB-C charging capability. In its standard configuration, the all-electric 2021 Tesla Model Y has a range of 244 miles, but the Long Range model increases that number to over 300 miles. Plus this compact SUV has the ability to two up to 3,500 pounds. Get pricing on the 2021 Tesla Model Y.
Review: Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid boasts eco-friendly luxury
By Jerry Kronenberg of Cheapism |
The Eco SUV
The idea of an eco-friendly three-row SUV might sound like an oxymoron, but Ford has actually done it with the all-new 2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring edition. A new model for 2020, the automaker based the Aviator on the completely redesigned Ford Explorer SUV. But Ford added plug-in hybrid technology and tons of luxury accoutrements along with a hefty sticker price. (North of $80,000 on my test model.)
Review: Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid boasts eco-friendly luxury
By Jerry Kronenberg of Cheapism |
The Eco SUV
The idea of an eco-friendly three-row SUV might sound like an oxymoron, but Ford has actually done it with the all-new 2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring edition. A new model for 2020, the automaker based the Aviator on the completely redesigned Ford Explorer SUV. But Ford added plug-in hybrid technology and tons of luxury accoutrements along with a hefty sticker price. (North of $80,000 on my test model.)