Pros:

Mazda CX-9o PHEV has entered the chat.

California changed the regs in August 2022 to further favor PHEVs. Starting with model year 2026, “strong” PHEVs* can now earn credits as long as they have a 43 mile electric range. Starting in model year 2028, they earn credits as long as they have a 70 mile range. It’s unclear if that’s real world miles or based of…

San Francisco resident here. Some joke that anything goes* here as long as you don’t kill someone or park in the wrong spot. (*Update: unless it is during APEC). SFMTA is very efficient and quick to cite/tow if you are partially or completely blocking a driveway. The tow companies make out like bandits too, so as they…

This.

Hyundai-Kia aren’t perfect, but boy are they one of the traditional OEMs to watch.

Can’t wait for the plug-in hybrid version of this (see recent announcements of Ram’s Ramcharger).

Queue Waylon Jennings’ monolog...

This looks awesome. Bring back boxy. All that’s missing is a plug-in hybrid option.

Can’t wait to see the specs on the 2025 PHEV.

x2. Given the heavy Toyota influence at Subaru, I doubt it will be a plug-in. Happy to be wrong though.

Yes, Subaru should be praised for the thin pillars and big glass. Might this be one of the few modern vehicles with stellar outward visibility?

Agree.

But does it have the “PZEV” badging on the back?

Yup. In San Francisco city planning, the fire department has the ultimate say. While we all can agree on fire safety, there is no check and balance to what the fire department decrees.

And why:

Fold-down trampoline to get in the bed for the win!

True. Now if Toyota would actually build some plug-in hybrids, especially on its guzzlers. The incremental improvement of going from a 2023 Corolla to a 2023 Corolla Hybrid isn’t worth much. But if Toyota would actually make a Prime version of the Taco, the 4Runner, Tundra, and Sequoia, then we are onto something...

Except Nissan’s system strangely doesn’t plug in to the wall.

True but it the Pentastar is tuned to be a generator here.