The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid is the least expensive electrified vehicle to insure among 10 models Mercury Insurance evaluated, the carrier said this week. Mercury’s Research & Development team compiled the annual ranking of the most affordable new 2026 model year electric and hybrid vehicles to insure using its internal insurance analysis. Hybrids account for eight of the 10 entries, with two battery-electric models filling out the rest of the list.
Highlights
- The Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid takes the top position among the 10 vehicles Mercury ranked.
- Eight of the 10 entries are hybrids. The Chevrolet Blazer EV, at No. 2, and the Chevrolet Equinox EV, at No. 9, are the only fully electric models.
- Mercury’s Research & Development team analyzed insurance costs for new 2025–2027 model year hybrids and EVs.
- Rankings reflect Mercury’s internal insurance analysis, and individual premiums vary by driver profile, location, coverage selections and other underwriting factors, the company says.
Hybrids Occupy Eight of Ten Positions
Mercury’s 2026 list places hybrid models in eight of 10 slots, a distribution the company attributes to buyers treating hybrids as an intermediate step toward electrification while fully electric models continue to gain share.
The Chevrolet Blazer EV and the Chevrolet Equinox EV are the two battery-electric entries. The remainder spans compact and midsize crossovers, a three-row SUV, and two minivans.
- Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
- Chevrolet Blazer EV
- Kia Sportage Hybrid
- Ford Escape Hybrid
- Honda CR-V Hybrid
- Kia Sorento Hybrid
- Toyota Sienna Hybrid
- Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
- Chevrolet Equinox EV
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
“Electric vehicles have become increasingly mainstream,” said Chong Gao, Director of R&D for Mercury Insurance. “Understanding insurance costs before making a purchase can help drivers choose the vehicle that best fits both their transportation needs and their budget.”
What Drives Insurance Costs on Electrified Vehicles?
According to Mercury, insurance costs for electrified vehicles are shaped by many of the same inputs that determine premiums on conventional vehicles: repair costs, replacement parts, safety technology and historical claims data.
Gao framed premium cost as one line item among several that buyers weigh. “Insurance should be considered alongside charging capability, driving range and fuel savings when evaluating an electrified vehicle,” he said.
Methodology and Scope
Mercury’s Research & Development team analyzed insurance costs for new 2025–2027 model year hybrids and EVs to produce the 2026 ranking. The company states that the results are based on its own internal insurance analysis and that individual premiums will vary according to driver profile, location, coverage selections and other underwriting factors.
The scope of that data set is bounded by where the carrier writes business. Mercury sells personal auto coverage through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, plus auto insurance in Florida.
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