My husband and I are in our early 70s. We’d like to replace our five-year-old Subaru Forester with either a fully electric car or a plug-in hybrid (we need access to the HOV lane.) We’d like something we can drive for the next 10-15 years but we aren’t concerned with distance. Our driving trips are not far. We are interested in a comfortable ride including ergonomic seats but don’t need a lot of room for cargo. We prefer all-wheel drive.
What would you recommend? We have a budget of $60,000 after trade-in. We can wait for 2026 models if that’s prudent. – Miriam
Mark Richardson: I’m going to assume Miriam has done her homework and understands she needs access to a residential electric charging point for an electric vehicle. They’re simple to install if you have your own garage or at least a driveway.
Miranda Lightstone: I still hear about people who buy an EV but live in a condo or have only on-street parking and they need to charge at commercial stations. That’s expensive and it’s time-consuming if you must wait with the car and can’t just leave it to charge overnight.
Richardson: It’s not so important with a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to have a home charger because a PHEV will run on just gas. Its battery is much smaller so it can charge overnight from a regular household socket. My brother-in-law keeps his Toyota RAV4 Prime topped up from just his 110-volt home supply and he’s quite happy with that.
Lightstone: I like Miriam’s honesty about wanting the electrified car to get access to the High Occupancy Vehicles lane, but I can tell you from personal experience that those lanes are getting ever more crowded on a daily basis.
Richardson: The rules may change in the next decade, anyway. In the U.S., many hybrids were permitted access to HOV lanes to encourage their sales, but that quickly ended when the lanes became clogged with single drivers in Priuses. Their point is to reduce congestion, not emissions.
Lightstone: The unusual thing here is that Miriam wants an electric car for HOV access, but in fact, she’s an ideal candidate for an EV regardless.
Richardson: Absolutely. She’s not concerned for driving far and she doesn’t need lots of cargo space. If she can plug in every night to top up her car’s charge, then I’d be recommending an electric vehicle to her anyway.
Lightstone: So what are you thinking for Miriam?
Richardson: My first choice would be a Hyundai Ioniq 6. It’s one of the best all-electric cars out there, but it’s also very comfortable because it’s a sedan. She doesn’t need the extra cargo space of a hatch or an SUV, after all.
2025 Ioniq 6.The Associated Press
Lightstone: The Ioniq 6 is a good overall EV, but I think the exterior look is too extreme. Plus, she did say they would prefer all-wheel drive, which would have me suggest the Kia EV6 instead. It’s the same family of automaker, with a classier exterior and interior and all-wheel drive.
Richardson: They both have comfortable seats, but you’re forgetting the Ioniq 6 is available with all-wheel drive for about $3,500 more than the price of the front-wheel drive. It comes in at just over $61,000 before taxes, however, which is above her $60,000 all-in budget. The EV6 is about the same price, but she doesn’t need its hatchback practicality.
Lightstone: She would likely appreciate the Kia’s body style, especially if she’s used to her Forester and all its cargo space. Speaking of Subaru, Miriam should definitely consider checking out the all-new 2026 Subaru Trailseeker when it’s released.
Richardson: Have you driven it yet? I haven’t, so I can’t vouch for it.
Lightstone: I’ve not, but it’s intriguing with a great driving range of more than 400 kilometres, rugged styling and it will feature all the Subaru bits and bobs Miriam is already accustomed to.
Richardson: Four hundred kilometres is pretty standard for range these days. I think she might prefer the Subaru Solterra though, since it’s a little smaller, but again, I can’t vouch for it. It’s been getting okay reviews, though most people prefer the reputation of the almost-identical Toyota bZ4X. The two cars were developed together in a partnership between Subaru and Toyota.
Lightstone: Oddly enough, I prefer the bZ4x over the Solterra, too. There’s just something slightly more refined about its overall engineering and drive. The 2026 model is now called the bZ, and it’s a lot more powerful and has an increased range of up to 460 kilometres.
The new bZ isn’t an all-new car with changes that target range and charging speed.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: The pricing is less expensive for both of them. The bZ starts at just under $50,000 and there’s a better-equipped version for just under $55,000. That’s right on the money, after Miriam pays the taxes.
Lightstone: We don’t know where Miriam lives and the all-electric Toyota has only been sold in Quebec and British Columbia until now, but 2026 models will be sold across the country.
Richardson: I’d like to suggest a couple of plug-in hybrids, since Miriam’s short-distance drives help a PHEV to make a lot of sense. A plug-in is less expensive than a fully electric vehicle and it’s a waste in so many ways to buy a larger battery that’s never really needed.
Lightstone: I’ll recommend the Prius Prime PHEV. If there’s a company that truly knows hybrids, it’s Toyota. Even in its top trim level, it’s less than $50,000.
2025 Toyota Prius PHEVCourtesy of manufacturer
Richardson: The Prius nameplate is more than 20 years old now and the Prime uses its fifth- generation hybrid powerplant. Like the bZ4X, Toyota’s tweaked the name and now it’s just called the Prius PHEV. Priuses had a reputation as dull tree-huggers, but the latest models are quite sporty and I found it very comfortable. The plug-in isn’t sold with all-wheel drive, though – just the regular Prius.
Lightstone: I Have to agree with you there – the new Prius PHEV is much sportier than previous models. But the lower ride height of a sedan might cause a few issues for older drivers getting in and out. What do you think about the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV? It’s been the best-selling PHEV in Canada.
A 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV at an event to show its all-wheel-drive system in Laval, Que.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: The Mitsubishi is good value and has a great warranty, for fairly worry-free driving over the next decade. It’s more than Miriam needs, though, with its three rows of seats, even if those back rows are cramped when they’re both in use. Cargo space is not as much as you’d expect.
Lightstone: My best friend’s parents, in their early 80s, love their Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. It’s an SUV, but I don’t think Miriam will feel it’s too big or too much. It’s a good city car and it’s always nice to have the extra cargo and interior space if needed.
Richardson: It does tick all the boxes. It’s on budget at less than $50,000 for the nicer, loaded version, though that’s before taxes. It’s comfortable and has a generous all-electric range of more than 60 kilometres that qualifies it to drive in the HOV lanes. Just keep that third row folded flat and you’d never know it was there.
Lightstone: Miriam has some solid all-electric and PHEV choices – mostly from me – within budget to mull over.
Richardson: I’d recommend the Prius PHEV as the best choice for her, if she can live without the all-wheel drive. What’s your top choice, Miranda?
Lightstone: I’ll recommend the Toyota bZ. It’s fully electric, all-wheel drive, well within budget and has access – for now – to the HOV lane. Check, check, check and check.
What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Miranda at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as as part of your subject line. Emails with different subject lines may not be answered.
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