Revealed: SUVs with the Best Fuel Economy in America

Recently, SUVs have taken over the American car market and have become one of the most popular vehicle models sold in the US. For the first time, SUVs outperformed sedans and, by 2019, exceeded them at a rate of more than two to one. The restructuring of the automotive landscape has demanded significant adjustments within the industry, including Ford’s decision to discontinue all sedans except the Mustang and introduce new trucks and SUVs like the Bronco and Maverick.

While SUVs are popular for being more versatile, capable, and spacious than sedans, they use more gas. However, the significance of the trade-off has diminished over time. The spread of hybrid engines and compact crossovers has transformed the market logic, debunking the fact that driving an SUV must mean using a lot of fuel. The recent elevation of U.S. gas prices beyond $ 5 per gallon means that they now join others considering fuel economy as an important purchase criterion.

Different parameters determine a car’s mileage. For example, it depends on the way the person drives. Also, a car can be heavy, have higher ground clearance, have a worse aerodynamic design, a different type of drive scheme, and have larger engine power. Importantly, all eleven vehicles at the top of the fuel efficiency list are hybrids comprising a combination of gasoline-powered internal combustion engines with electric motors that utilize battery power. By incorporating self-charging hybrid batteries on board, these ships reduce fuel consumption by a considerable amount. Many of the hybrid models on this list are very fuel efficient, reaching as much as forty miles per gallon.

There are nine SUVs in this range of vehicles, which are normally fitted with compact engines of three or four cylinders. Surprisingly, these SUVs are not hybrids but still manage to attain combined fuel economy ratings at more than 30 miles per gallon. Noteworthy automakers represented in this list include Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Kia, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen, with the highest-ranking fuel-efficient SUVs coming from Japanese and Korean manufacturers.

1. Kia Sportage

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 23-42 city; 28-44 highway; 25-43 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 1.6 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,050 – $1,750
    •    Base MSRP: $25,990

2. Honda CR-V

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 27-43 city; 32-36 highway; 29-40 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 1.5 & 2.0-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,100 – $1,550
    •     Base MSRP: $31,610

3. Toyota RAV4

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 25-41 city; 32-38 highway; 28-40 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,100 – $1,600
    •     Base MSRP: $27,975

4. Toyota Venza

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 40 city; 37 highway; 39 combined
    •     Engine: 4-cylinder hybrid; 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,150
    •     Base MSRP: $34,120

5. Ford Escape

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 23-42 city; 31-36 highway; 26-39 combined
    •     Engine: 3 & 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 1.5, 2.0 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,150 – $1,700
    •     Base MSRP: $27,500

6. Lexus NX 350

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 22-41 city; 28-37 highway; 25-39 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 2.4 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,400 – $2,200
    •     Base MSRP: $43,965

7. Hyundai Tucson

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 23-38 city; 28-38 highway; 25-38 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 1.6 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,150 – $1,750
    •     Base MSRP: $26,700

8. Kia Sorento

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 22-39 city; 25-35 highway; 24-37 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 1.6 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,200 – $1,850
    •     Base MSRP: $29,990

9. Toyota Highlander

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 21-36 city; 28-35 highway; 24-36 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 2.4 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,250 – $1,850
    •     Base MSRP: $36,420

10. Lexus RX 350

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 21-37 city; 28-34 highway; 24-36 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 2.4 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,500 – $2,300
    •     Base MSRP: $48,550

11. Hyundai Santa Fe

• • •     Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 21-36 city; 25-31 highway; 24-34 combined
    •     Engine: 4 cylinders & 4 cylinder hybrid; 1.6 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •     Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •     Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,300 – $1,850
    •     Base MSRP: $28,450

12. Nissan Rogue

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 28-30 city; 34-37 highway; 31-33 combined
    •    Engine: 3 cylinders; 1.5-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: 4×2; automatic transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,350 – $1,450
    •    Base MSRP: $27,360

13. Toyota Corolla Cross

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 29-31 city; 32-33 highway; 30-32 combined
    •    Engine: 4 cylinders; 2.0-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,400 – $1,500
    •    Base MSRP: $23,060

14. Hyundai Kona

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 20-30 city; 27-35 highway; 23-32 combined
    •    Engine: 4 cylinders; 1.6 & 2.0-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,400 – $2,400
    •    Base MSRP: $22,140

15. Chevrolet Trailblazer (tied)

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 26-29 city; 30-33 highway; 28-31 combined
    •    Engine: 3 cylinders; 1.2 & 1.3-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,450 – $1,600
    •    Base MSRP: $22,100

16. Volkswagen Taos (tied)

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 25-28 city; 32-36 highway; 28-31 combined
    •    Engine: 4 cylinders; 1.5-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,450 – $1,600
    •    Base MSRP: $24,155

17. Kia Seltos

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 25-29 city; 30-35 highway; 27-31 combined
    •    Engine: 4 cylinders; 1.6 & 2.0-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,450 – $1,650
    •    Base MSRP: $22,840

18. Buick Encore

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 26-29 city; 29-31 highway; 27-30 combined
    •    Engine: 3 cylinders; 1.2 & 1.3-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: 4×2 & AWD; automatic transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,500 – $1,650
    •    Base MSRP: $25,900

19. Subaru Crosstrek

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 22-28 city; 29-33 highway; 25-30 combined
    •    Engine: 4 cylinders; 2.0 & 2.5-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: AWD; automatic & manual transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,500 – $1,750
    •    Base MSRP: $23,645

20. Mazda CX-30

• • •    Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 22-26 city; 30-33 highway; 25-29 combined
    •    Engine: 4 cylinders; 2.5-liter displacement
    •    Drivetrain: 4×4; automatic transmission
    •    Estimated Annual Fuel Cost: $1,550 – $1,750
    •    Base MSRP: $22,950

The estimated annual fuel costs, sourced from the EPA, are based on assumptions of 15,000 miles of driving, with a breakdown of 55% city and 45% highway. Fuel cost calculations are set at $3.42 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, $3.88 per gallon for mid-grade unleaded gasoline, and $4.19 per gallon for premium fuel.

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