With Earth Day 2017 around the corner, the expert editors at Kelley Blue Book named their top picks of new all-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid cars available under $40,000. The variety of electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles recommended by KBB.com editors all offer stellar fuel economy at affordable prices for the environmentally conscious new-car shopper.
“With each new model year there are more ‘green car’ choices than ever before,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Whether you are looking for something that stands out as visually unique to proclaim your environmental friendliness, or if you prefer your vehicle to blend in with the more traditionally gas-powered crowd, automakers now offer several vehicles with a variety of eco-friendly powertrain options to accommodate both the lifestyle and budget needs of just about any buyer.”
Kelley Blue Book’s 2017 5 Best Electric Cars Under $40,000
| Rank | Vehicle | Starting Price | EPA Fuel Economy Equivalent (City/Hwy Combined) | Range Per Full Charge | Charge Time at 240V | Sample Editorial Comments |
| 1 | 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV | $37,495 | 119 MPGe | 238 miles | 9.3 hours | The first all-electric car to combine a sub-$40,000 starting price with driving range of more than 200 miles, the new-for-2017 Bolt also is a pleasure to drive and versatile, too… |
| 2 | 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric | $30,335 | 136 MPGe | 124 miles | 4.4 hours | The most energy-efficient entry on this list also is the most affordable… |
| 3 | 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf | TBA | 119 MPGe | 125 miles | 5.3 hours | Arguably the most fun-to-drive car on this list, the e-Golf combines European driving manners, class-above interior quality and more range for 2017… |
| 4 | 2017 Kia Soul EV | $33,145 | 105 MPGe | 93 miles | 4.8 hours | The Kia Soul is one of our favorite small cars…for buyers who can swing it, the gas-free Soul EV is the coolest Soul of them all… |
| 5 | 2017 Nissan Leaf | $31,545 | 112 MPGe | 107 miles | About 6 hours | Dating all the way back to the dawn of this decade, the groundbreaking and ever-evolving Leaf has received several upgrades and enhancements over the years… |
Kelley Blue Book’s 2017 5 Best Plug-In Hybrid Cars Under $40,000
| Rank | Vehicle | Starting Price | Electric Range | Hybrid Mode Fuel Economy (City/Hwy Combined) | Approximate Charge Time | Sample Editorial Comments |
| 1 | 2017 Toyota Prius Prime | $27,985 | 25 miles (640 miles total) | 54 mpg | 2.2 hours (240V), 5.5 hours (120V) | The Toyota Prius Prime brings together the time-tested reliability of Toyota technology, a pleasantly rewarding drive, and easy-to-use efficiency… |
| 2 | 2017 Chevrolet Volt | $34,095 | 53 miles (420 miles total) | 42 mpg | 4.5 hours (240V), 13 hours (120V) | Beyond efficiency…the Chevrolet Volt is fun to drive…the interior is both more conventional and more high-tech than before….and it looks great… |
| 3 | 2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid | $36,105 | 29 miles (610 miles total) | 40 mpg | 3 hours (240V), 9 hours (120V) | The Optima Plug-In shares its gas-powered sibling’s good looks and elegant interior, but adds 29 miles of all-electric range followed by 40-mpg fuel economy… |
| 4 | 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid | $35,435 | 27 miles (590 miles total) | 39 mpg | 3 hours (240V), 9 hours (120V) | Baked into the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid is the same value proposition you’d expect with any Sonata: standard features include a hands-free smart trunk, 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, seven airbags, heated seats and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability… |
| 5 | 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron | $39,850 | 16 miles (380 miles total) | 34 mpg | 2.3 hours (240V), 8 hours (120V) | Take the sportiness, handling and high-tech cabin of the Audi A3, add an efficient 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, plus an electric motor for 204 combined horsepower, and you have the most fun-to-drive entry on this list… |
Kelley Blue Book’s 2017 10 Best Hybrid Cars Under $40,000
| Rank | Vehicle | Starting Price | Fuel Economy | Total System Power | Sample Editorial Comments |
| 1 | 2017 Toyota Prius | $25,570 | 52 mpg combined (54 city/50 hwy) | 121 horsepower | The competition has never been stiffer, but the proven Prius remains king of the hybrids… |
| 2 | 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid | $23,035 | 58 mpg combined (57 city/59 hwy) | 139 horsepower | Hyundai’s first foray into the dedicated hybrid market, the Ioniq debuts as nothing less than the most fuel-efficient hybrid on the market… |
| 3 | 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid | $30,480 | 48 mpg combined (49 city/47 hwy) | 212 horsepower | In addition to its highly efficient, well-integrated powertrain, the Accord Hybrid delivers all the comfort, convenience and excellent resale value of its more established sibling… |
| 4 | 2017 Kia Niro | $23,785 | 50 mpg combined (52 city/49 hwy) | 139 horsepower | The new-from-the-ground-up Kia Niro is a dedicated hybrid vehicle for efficiency-minded drivers who’d rather drive something that looks more like a regular car… |
| 5 | 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid | $26,890 | 42 mpg combined (39 city/46 hwy) | 192 horsepower | Like its Hyundai Sonata corporate cousin, the edgier Kia Optima midsize sedan also is available as an efficient, smooth-driving hybrid… |
| 6 | 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | $26,835 | 42 mpg combined (39 city/45 hwy) | 193 horsepower | The third of five midsize sedans on this list, the Sonata Hybrid is appealing for all the same reasons as the traditional, gas-only Sonata…it’s roomy, comfortable and has one of the segment’s best-designed and most practical interiors… |
| 7 | 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | $29,990 | 32 mpg combined (34 city/30 hwy) | 194 horsepower | Equipped with the same proven Hybrid Synergy Drive system that powers the Camry Hybrid, the all-wheel-drive RAV4 Hybrid combines class-leading fuel economy with ride height, cargo flexibility and go-anywhere attitude… |
| 8 | 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $28,750 | 46 mpg combined (49 city/43 hwy) | 182 horsepower | The Malibu Hybrid is among the most fuel-efficient midsize sedans on the market, leveraging a version of the same gas-electric hybrid architecture that drives the newest Chevrolet Volt… |
| 9 | 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid | $27,675 | 40 mpg combined (42 city/38 hwy) | 200 horsepower | Start with the best-selling car in the country, add 40-mpg fuel economy, and you’ve got something special… |
| 10 | 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | $37,230 | 29 mpg (30 city/28 hwy) | 306 horsepower | Three rows of seating, 30 mpg in the city and Toyota reliability make the Highlander Hybrid a tempting SUV… |
