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Hybrids are growing in popularity. That should come as no shock to anyone. Bloomberg even features a story talking about how hybrids are keeping the electrification plans of automakers afloat.
One thing mentioned in the article is that the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid is the quickest-selling hybrid of the year. That shouldn’t surprise anyone, either, considering it’s good.
As EV sales, predictably, slow as incentives go away, hybridization of the automotive fleet remains the only real effective way to reduce carbon emissions and improve fuel economy numbers.
If the hybrid is good, I’m personally all for it. I think the F-150 PowerBoost is a good hybrid. I think the Toyota Tundra could use some work on fuel economy. I think the new Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid is a bit lackluster, while the all-electric version is one of the best cars I’ve driven all year, and a solid premium EV.
The EV thing, though, makes me wonder. When automakers put more and more EVs on their lots, there was backlash about consumer choice (which I think is a misnomer). When the government suggested that EVs would ultimately be a thing, it was the dreaded EV mandate.
Where are those people now? Let me explain.
Last year, the Toyota RAV4 was the best-selling non-pickup truck in the country. People like the RAV4. There’s a RAV4 for everyone. With the new and significantly improved RAV4, there is still a RAV for every customer. That is, unless you want a gasoline-only, non-hybrid version.
Yes, the entire 2026 Toyota RAV4 lineup is completely hybrid-powered. It’s up to you if you want a plug on top of that. However, the most popular vehicle in the country is an electrified-only model.
Now, I think that’s a good thing. But is that not being forced to buy a hybrid? If you want the most popular vehicle in the country, you have to get one with a battery. Where are the people worried about mandates? Where are the outcries of the lack of choice?
Oh, and the Camry? It’s all hybrid, too. In fact, there’s no reason to believe that in the near-ish future, the entire Toyota lineup will be electrified.
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There needs to be good hybrids out there. My default recommendation for someone interested in an EV is that if they can charge easily at work or at home, then an EV might be the right choice for them. If they don’t have that available, then they should look at a good hybrid offering.
But the lack of outrage at Toyota for going all-hybrid with the RAV4 and Camry, or lack of general outrage at the more and more hybrids currently available, is additional proof that the EV outrage was, and is, complete bullshit.
EVs aren’t for everyone, but they are greener than gas cars from cradle to grave, a lot of fun to drive for most people, and a viable option for many.
Speaking of EVs, it’s also important to remember that as we near the end of the month and of the year, sales reporting will happen soon.
💡Do you have information about your company’s hybrid plans? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me on Signal at chadkirchner.1701, or with another secure communication method.
Many people who were in the market for an EV, and could afford to pull the trigger, purchased before the end of the EV tax incentive at the end of September. That means that this last quarter of the year will be down. It’ll possibly be down a lot. But considering we’re in the hangover stage of incentive ending, the data should be taken at only face value.
The end of Q1 of 2026 will be a more accurate reflection of how the industry will stabilize on EV sales without an incentive in place. Be wary of anyone who jumps to a few too many conclusions based on Q4 of 2025’s EV sales percentage.
And with that bit of opining about EVs, we’ve reached the end of the year here at The Kirchner Report. I appreciate everyone who subscribes and shares my work, at either the free or paid tier, and I hope to bring you more news and analysis in the upcoming year. Happy New Year!