Midsize hybrid SUVs don't come much better equipped or priced than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which has been out for three generations.

Toyota started building hybrid SUVs before anyone else bothered to try. That the Highlander Hybrid has survived 11 years with the most meager of sales—typically, it’s less than 3 percent of all Highlander models sold—is evidence that Toyota’s hybrid powertrain is both profitable and highly versatile. Is a semi-luxury SUV sometimes powered by electricity worth all your budget? We’ll say this: The Highlander Hybrid packs a lot more surprises than just fuel economy.