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Plug-in 2021 BMW X5 SUV gets $3,300 price bump, big pump in performance and range

By Donna R. Walsh 3 weeks ago

BMW’s newest crossover with a plug will manage more than double the all-electric range of its predecessor, the automaker announced Wednesday.

The 2021 BMW X5 xDrive 45e upgrades from a 308-horsepower turbo-4 with a 9-kwh battery to a 389-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 with a 24-kwh battery. All performance measures improve for 2021, but the price only jumps from $63,095 to $66,395, including $995 destination.

The all-electric range of the plug-in crossover SUV increases from 14 miles to 30 miles, but BMW seems more intent on overall performance than maximizing range. The turbocharged inline-6 and electric motors generate 443 pound-feet of

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2020 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid has 37-mile range, starts below $35,000

By Donna R. Walsh 4 weeks ago

The 2020 Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid has an EPA-estimated 37 miles of electric range and starts at $34,285, including $1,245 destination, the automaker announced Monday. 

The Escape PHEV comes in SE, SEL, or Titanium trim, and the Titanium nudges the price over $40,000. The 14.4-kwh lithium-ion battery pack qualifies the Escape PHEV for a federal EV tax credit of $6,419, according to our calculations. 

The best-selling Ford behind the F-150 pickup truck and Explorer midsize SUV, the 2020 Escape compact crossover comes with four different powertrains, including two turbocharged gas models and a gas-electric hybrid that gets 44 mpg city,

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2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid crossover SUV will cost $39,220 to start

By Donna R. Walsh 1 month ago

The quickest Toyota RAV4 SUV will also be the most expensive—at least initially.

That’s according to Toyota, which announced Friday that the 2021 RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid crossover will cost at least $39,220 when it goes on sale around the end of June or early July.

The 302-horsepower plug-in hybrid crossover that can sprint from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds can also be less expensive in some states than the RAV4 Hybrid, which costs at least $29,470 for a 2020 version.

The $39,220 price tag includes mandatory destination charges but doesn’t include any applicable state or federal tax

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2021 BMW 330e plug-in hybrid sedan rated for up to 23 miles of electric range

By Donna R. Walsh 3 months ago

The EPA this week released its ratings for the upcoming 2021 BMW 330e plug-in hybrid sedan and said the updated powertrain can manage up to 23 miles of all-electric range on a single charge. The 330e xDrive all-wheel-drive version is rated for up to 20 miles of electric range.

The ratings are significantly higher than the last plug-in 3-Series sedan sold by BMW, also named the 330e, which was last sold for the 2018 model year. The new 330e will complement the BMW 330i and M340i already on sale.

The EPA rated the 2021 330e at 28 mpg combined when

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