Toyota Prius vs Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

After decades of being the frumpy leader of the fuel-efficiency movement, the Prius emerges as one of the better-looking new cars to hit the market recently. This fifth-generation revelation in looks is then backed up by a huge jump in power without sacrificing any of the fuel-sipping ways of the earlier model. Add in impressive standard safety features and a reasonable suite of interior tech and comfort goodies, and you have an impressive hatchback that just now happens to be a hybrid.

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When the original Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid debuted in 2014, it was by no means early to the hybrid game. But most hybrids were sedans, and few automakers had attempted a hybrid crossover. As Subaru’s first-ever production hybrid, sold from 2014 to 2016, it signaled Subaru's interest in the green-car market.

After a nearly three-year hiatus, the Crosstrek hybrid is back, now as a plug-in hybrid. However, it has some stiff competition. The compact crossover segment has exploded, and brought us some unique green cars for eco-friendly shoppers on a budget. You could get the RAV4 Hybrid back in 2015, but now there’s also the Kia Niro, Hyundai Ioniq, and Prius Prime (which was introduced in 2016) all offering plug-in capability and some modest utility. The new Crosstrek Hybrid has the latest infotainment and driver-assistance features, but will that be enough to ensure its relevance in this affordable green-car landscape?