So for shoppers on a budget, the answer may be a plug-in hybrid, like the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Volvo XC90 or the car I'm driving this week, the Mazda CX-90 PHEV.

The CX-90 is a three-row midsized SUV that replaces the CX-9 in Mazda’s lineup. It’s available with both gas-only and plug-in hybrid powertrains, and we tested both versions. Plug-in hybrid ...