We are in our mid-70s and would like to replace our 2018 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack with a hybrid. The new car must have about the same amount of cargo space with the back seats folded down as our current car, to fit in two e-bikes, but we don’t want a much bigger car than the Alltrack. We are sorry to give up the VW brand because of the simple but tasteful and well-thought-out design, especially of the interior. And my partner is not ready to go full-electric or plug-in hybrid.
We are looking at the Subaru Forester Premier Hybrid, the Toyota RAV 4 Limited Hybrid and the Kia Sportage SX Hybrid, all in our price range. We do city driving, some winter driving in Ontario ski country and enjoy some longer road trips to the East Coast. – Elizabeth
Mark Richardson: This question hits close to home for me – I bought a 2018 VW Golf Alltrack a year ago as our family car, and we’re still very happy with it. It’s a wagon rather than an SUV, and it’s more satisfying to drive because of it.
Miranda Lightstone: Have you had any issues with it?
Richardson: My mechanic warned me against it – against any used Volkswagen – but that year’s model had three known issues and all three had been repaired under warranty by the previous owner. It’s been trouble-free for me.
Lightstone: I have to agree that the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack is a winner (we also have a 2018 model in our extended family), if maintained properly and under warranty.
Richardson: It’s too bad North Americans don’t like wagons. The Golf Alltrack’s production ended after 2019 and it was replaced here by the Tiguan SUV and all-electric ID.4 crossover, but neither have the same satisfying driving dynamic.
Lightstone: If they want to move away from VW ownership, I think the transition into the Subaru family lineup may be the easiest. Even though she says she wants a hybrid, I’d steer Elizabeth and her husband toward the Outback instead of the Forester.
The styling on the new Subaru Forester has been cleaned up with a less polarizing face and a neater, boxier aesthetic.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
All trims on the new Subaru Outback except the base model come with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: Because it’s bigger? She doesn’t want much bigger than the Golf Alltrack. It’s a few thousand dollars more expensive, too.
Lightstone: Yes, the Outback is pricier, but it’s more than just larger – it matters how the vehicle drives, because they are used to a Volkswagen. If fuel economy is their main concern, the difference is minimal between the Forester Hybrid at 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres and the Outback’s 8.1 litres, both combined. Both are made in Japan, but the Outback feels sportier than the Forester Hybrid.
Richardson: Nonsense. That’s just the more powerful engine kicking in. I think Elizabeth knows what size she’s looking for, and that’s not as big as the Outback. And she wants a hybrid engine, though it’s a $3,000 addition to the top-of-the-line Forester.
Lightstone: I’m not totally against the Forester. I just feel like the Outback might be better suited to what they are used to with the Alltrack. I think we can at least agree that she and her husband look at the lineup Subaru has to offer, both hybrid and non-hybrid.
Richardson: I’m sure she’ll like the made-in-Canada Toyota RAV4 hybrid, too, though she’ll likely have to wait a few months for delivery of a new one.
The RAV4hybrid is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and an electric motor.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Lightstone: The RAV4 is a popular choice for those in the market for a hybrid crossover that’s reliable and comfortable – this year, it’s only sold in Canada as a hybrid. In terms of cargo space, the RAV4 has more than 1,000 litres compared to the Alltrack’s 880 litres behind the second-row seats. Lots of room for those e-Bikes.
Richardson: This generation is peppier than it used to be, too, thanks to using the hybrid engine as much for extra performance as for saving on gas. It doesn’t have the sportier, car-like handling of the Volkswagen or Subaru Forester, though. It’s closer to the Outback you’re recommending for size and dynamics.
Lightstone: The top-of-the-line Limited edition is just over $55,000, which is $3,500 more than the Forester Hybrid.
Richardson: The interest rate is slightly higher, too, if Elizabeth wants to finance the purchase: 6.89 per cent for Toyota over five years, compared to 5.99 per cent for Subaru.
Lightstone: But what if Elizabeth isn’t willing to hang tight for a few months until her RAV4 is delivered?
Richardson: Then the Forester is a solid choice, but she should certainly look at the Kia Sportage hybrid as well. It doesn’t have the satisfying dynamics of the Subaru, nor the reputation and resale value of the Toyota, but it’s less expensive than both. Kia’s finance rate is a more reasonable 3.99 per cent over 60 months, too. It’s made in Korea.
2026 Kia Sportage HEVCourtesy of manufacturer
Lightstone: You’re right, the driving dynamics of the Kia aren’t as precise as the Subaru, but the fuel economy is on par with the Forester with a combined 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Which means impressive time between quick gas-station stops, which is the real perk to a hybrid, after all. She may prefer the interior design and look of the Kia over the Subaru, though.
Richardson: That’s up to her. She’ll know her impression of it if she visits a Kia showroom. It’s important to always see an actual vehicle in the metal before committing to it. Photos are a guide, but they can sometimes gloss over something you’ll not notice until you’re standing next to the vehicle.
Lightstone: Or when you sit behind the wheel. I don’t know how tall Elizabeth is, but I know I am sometimes shocked at blocked sight-lines or not-so-easy-to-adjust seats or difficult-to-reach toggles and buttons on the centre console for someone of my five-foot-two stature.
Richardson: You’re right – you can’t replace bums on seats for perhaps ruling out a vehicle choice for potential discomfort. Kias tend to be among the more adjustable of cars, though. Remember my six-foot-seven nephew in a previous question, who told me that the most comfortable cars for him are Kias and Hyundais?
Lightstone: So what’s your first choice for Elizabeth?
Richardson: The Subaru Forester, to be closest to that Volkswagen, though I’d suggest she considers saving $3,000 and buys the non-hybrid version. She probably won’t save enough on gas to make it worthwhile, and the fewer pollutants it produces in its lifetime will likely be offset by the creation of the hybrid’s battery.
Lightstone: While I still think she should at least take the Outback for a test drive, I think the Toyota RAV4 is the best choice here, as long as she has the patience to wait for it, and is willing to keep her Alltrack around until then.
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