Stellantis Bonus-Cash Offer Effectively Extends Federal EV, PHEV Tax Credits

Key Points:

The federal tax credit for electrified vehicles expired on Sept. 30, 2025.
Stellantis is offering a bonus-cash equivalent to the tax credits.
Offer only applies to vehicles currently in dealership inventory.

The federal tax credit for electric vehicles and some plug-in hybrid vehicles has expired, but automakers are taking measures to keep buyers interested — at least for a little while. Stellantis, parent automaker of Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, is adding its own deal into the mix.

jeep wagoneer s limited 2025 exterior oem 01 jpg

2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited | Manufacturer image

Shop the 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe near you

Used

2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Sport S

988 mi.

$44,495 $3,000 price dropGood DealAmerican-Made Index

New

2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys

$55,015 MSRP $61,815American-Made Index

View all 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe models for sale near 60606

Previously, Hyundai responded to the end of the tax credit by slashing prices on the Ioniq 5 by even more than the tax-credit amount. Ford and GM also exploited an effective workaround, with their in-house financial arms initiating payments on vehicles in dealer inventory. The tax credit was structured such that buyers could claim it even if all they did was trade in a vehicle or make a small down payment prior to the deadline; the buyer in this case is the automaker themselves, and they can pass the savings on to the shopper when they sign on for a lease.

Stellantis is taking a more direct approach. It is simply offering buyers and lessees a cash equivalent to the tax credit the vehicles were eligible for, effectively an upfront price reduction. That’s $7,500 off the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV and Jeep Wagoneer S EV. Other Stellantis EVs and PHEVs, including the Dodge Charger Daytona and Hornet, Jeep 4xe models and Alfa Romeo Tonale, are eligible for a credit when leased.

However, the offer only applies to vehicles already in dealer inventories. So, while this move gives buyers a little more time to get their finances in order for a new-vehicle purchase or lease, the clock is ticking — and the pool of available vehicles will dwindle until they’re all gone. Still, the offer looks better than Tesla’s response, which was to immediately jack up lease payments once the tax credit expired.

Read More About Stellantis Electrified Vehicles on Cars.com:

Related Video:https://players.brightcove.net/1578086878/HyOJ1bP6_default/index.html?videoId=6367828475112

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Quick Spin: The Best of the Breed

By Conner Golden

September 30, 2025

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, front | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden

Key Points in This Review:

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the most powerful and best-driving variant of the Crosstrek family.
It’s not the most fuel-efficient hybrid in its class, but it makes up for it in capability and excellent driving dynamics.
A fuel-economy estimate of 36 mpg combined makes it easily the most efficient Crosstrek available.

I’ll keep it short and simple:

For 2026, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the one to get in the Crosstrek lineup as long as it’s within budget and you don’t need the capability of the Wilderness trim. The hybrid drives the sweetest, is the most powerful configuration and is notably more efficient than the gas-only model.

It’s a bit of a no-duh moment — again, provided you can swallow the extra $3,370 for the Crosstrek Sport Hybrid and $2,000 for the Crosstrek Limited Hybrid when compared with the gas-only trim counterparts. Though much like the current Subaru Forester Hybrid — from which the Crosstrek Hybrid’s new green guts are directly copied and pasted — the efficiency gains are not quite on par with other subcompact hybrid SUVs.

What Is the Fuel Economy of the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid?

Takeaway: The 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid is rated at 36/36/36 mpg city/highway/combined.

Compare Subaru’s fuel-economy estimates of 36/36/36 mpg for the Crosstrek Hybrid with the non-hybrid 2025 Crosstrek’s 27/33/29 mpg (official EPA estimates are not yet available for the 2026 model). So, a clear step up from the all-gas version, but now compare it to the all-wheel-drive 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid’s manufacturer-estimated 42 mpg combined rating and the front-wheel-drive 2025 Kia Niro Hybrid’s 53/54/53 mpg rating.2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, rear angle | Cars.com photo by Conner Golden

Not as strong as the competition, but the Niro’s lack of AWD makes it an apples-to-oranges comparison, and the Crosstrek Hybrid’s retention of Subaru’s signature mechanical AWD is generally more effective than the electric-motor-based e-AWD setup in the Corolla Cross. It’s also what’s likely sapping some efficiency from the Subaru’s hybrid drivetrain.

A very rudimentary cost analysis of the Crosstrek Sport versus the Crosstrek Sport Hybrid reveals an annual fuel savings of around $400, requiring 8.5 years of ownership to break even based on the Sport Hybrid’s upfront price premium. It’s a calculation based on broad averages — $4.40 per gallon fuel, 13,500 miles a year — but it’s worth considering if max efficiency and savings is your goal.

How Does the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Drive?

Takeaway: As the most powerful drivetrain in the lineup, the new Crosstrek Hybrid is the nicest for both daily driving and road trips thanks to both power and efficiency.

Personally, I think the fuel savings are simply an added bonus to the Crosstrek Hybrid’s sweet, sweet driving character. Its 194 combined horsepower is up 14 hp over the 180 hp in the gas-only ‘Trek, and even though it’s not significantly quicker than its non-hybrid counterpart, it turns the Crosstrek’s “Totally Fine” acceleration into “Totally Fine+” on an on-ramp or when passing.

The key here is smoothness. At lower speeds and extended moments of coasting, the eco-‘Trek is significantly quieter and more refined than the non-hybrid. It’s a satisfying powertrain, with excellent handoff between gas and electric propulsion and with enough power for any realistic scenario that’s made better by the Crosstrek’s impressive driving character. As this is very much an Impreza hatch on stilts, the Crosstrek — in all configurations — remains one of the sharpest-driving subcompact SUVs you can buy. Slicing through the squiggled back roads of rural Washington state wasn’t so much fun as it was satisfying, with little body roll and excellent composure.

Good stuff, all around. It’s not the most efficient in the segment, but the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is a welcome addition to one of the most compelling and capable subcompact SUV model lines on the market.

About the make

Subaru

Standard all-wheel drive made Subaru popular with drivers in cold climates and outdoorsy types alike. The company is also known for its boxer engines.