(iSeeCars) — The EPA fuel economy ratings of an SUV have a big impact on its affordability. A rise in gas prices takes a bite out of your wallet, but when a vehicle has better fuel economy, that bite is easier to manage. While SUVs don’t provide the same fuel economy as sedans, there are plenty of models with relatively good mpg ratings that still offer the cargo space and roomy interiors SUVs are known for. These include gas, hybrid models, and plug-in hybrid SUVs ranging from affordable to high-priced and luxurious. Many of these SUVs come standard with front-wheel drive (FWD) or rear-wheel drive (RWD), but all of them offer all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) as standard or optional equipment. These systems improve an SUV’s traction and confidence in winter weather or during off-road driving.
Automakers have employed advanced engine technologies that increase fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance. Cylinder deactivation is one such technology, along with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) in place of traditional automatic transmissions. There are also turbocharged (or “turbo”) engines that let smaller-displacement drivetrains, including four-cylinder engines and V6 engines, match the horsepower of larger engines while using less gas. Direct injection is another modern technology that helps even full-size SUVs get the best fuel efficiency possible, despite their size and weight.
The EPA mpg ratings include three fuel economy numbers – city, highway, and combined. We used the 2022 combined EPA ratings for our mpg rankings since that number provides a better idea of the fuel economy you’ll get in everyday driving. If you drive more in the city, your fuel economy may skew lower. If you spend most of your time cruising the highway, your fuel economy may be a bit higher. Remember, EPA numbers are only estimates, so your actual fuel economy will vary.
While our combined fuel economy rating is for the 2022 model year, we included new car and three-year-old used pricing when available. In cases where there’s no used price it’s usually because that model didn’t exist 3 years ago. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains in particular, which use electric motors in conjunction with gas engines to offer better mpg ratings, are often too new to have used car data.
The best SUVs in each category include the affordable Nissan Kicks crossover and the new Toyota Corolla Cross. There are larger options including the Hyundai Santa Fe and Chevrolet Tahoe. SUVs with hybrid powertrains are on our lists, too, with the affordable Kia Niro crossover SUV taking spots as both a hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) while the luxurious Lexus UX 350h and Lincoln Corsair win those categories for luxury SUVs. The Lexus UX 200 and Lexus NX 250 also win spots as fuel-efficient luxury options along with the Volvo XC90 and Cadillac Escalade.
There are fuel-efficient SUVs to fit every need, but if you’re seeking a full electric vehicle you should see our Best Electric SUVs list
| Best Gas Mileage Subcompact SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Nissan Kicks | $23,215 | $20,724 | 33 |
| 2. | Hyundai Kona | $26,821 | $22,482 | 32 |
| 3. | Mazda CX-3 | $22,878 | $22,207 | 31 |
| 4. | Chevrolet Trailblazer | $26,997 | N/A | 31 |
| 5. | Kia Seltos | $27,291 | N/A | 31 |
| 6. | Hyundai Venue | $22,029 | N/A | 31 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Subcompact SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Compact SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Toyota Corolla Cross | $27,848 | N/A | 32 |
| 2. | Volkswagen Taos | $30,360 | N/A | 31 |
| 3. | Honda CR-V | $31,753 | $28,705 | 30 |
| 4. | Toyota RAV4 | $31,873 | $30,931 | 30 |
| 5. | Nissan Rogue | $32,238 | $24,562 | 30 |
| 6. | Ford Escape | $31,165 | $24,304 | 30 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Compact SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Midsize SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Hyundai Santa Fe | $35,791 | $26,976 | 26 |
| 2. | Kia Sorento | $39,075 | $27,032 | 26 |
| 3. | GMC Acadia | $45,940 | $33,773 | 25 |
| 4. | Chevrolet Blazer | $40,026 | $37,177 | 25 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Midsize SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Large SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Chevrolet Tahoe | $65,073 | $51,869 | 24 |
| 2. | GMC Yukon | $73,208 | $59,489 | 23 |
| 3. | Chevrolet Suburban | $68,334 | $53,552 | 23 |
| 4. | GMC Yukon XL | $76,537 | $58,773 | 23 |
| 5. | Ford Expedition | $67,213 | $56,442 | 19 |
| 6. | Ford Expedition MAX | $71,804 | $55,593 | 19 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Large SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Hybrid SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Kia Niro | $28,800 | $23,346 | 49 |
| 2. | Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4xe | $60,772 | N/A | 49 |
| 3. | Ford Escape Hybrid | $34,579 | N/A | 41 |
| 4. | Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | $35,952 | $35,427 | 40 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Hybrid SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Plug-In Hybrid SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPGe |
| 1 | Kia Niro | $34,371 | $27,899 | 105 |
| 2. | Ford Escape | $39,815 | N/A | 105 |
| 3. | Toyota RAV4 Prime | $44,600 | N/A | 94 |
| 4. | Hyundai Tucson | $76,537 | N/A | 80 |
| 5. | Kia Sorento | $49,609 | N/A | 79 |
| 6. | Hyundai Santa Fe | $44,369 | N/A | 76 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Hybrid SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Luxury Subcompact SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Lexus UX 200 | $36,755 | $32,139 | 32 |
| 2. | Buick Encore GX | $28,656 | N/A | 30 |
| 3. | Mercedes-Benz GLA | $45,702 | $33,094 | 28 |
| 4. | BMW X1 | $41,813 | $33,470 | 27 |
| 5. | Buick Encore | $25,782 | $22,176 | 27 |
| 6. | BMW X2 | $43,369 | $34,334 | 27 |
See all Luxury Subcompact SUVs
| Best Gas Mileage Luxury Small SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Lexus NX 250 | $41,353 | N/A | 28 |
| 2. | Mercedes-Benz GLB | $47,338 | N/A | 27 |
| 3. | Audi Q5 | $52,513 | $40,186 | 26 |
| 4. | Infiniti QX50 | $47,674 | $35,414 | 26 |
| 5. | Volvo XC60 | $54,094 | $40,378 | 26 |
| 6. | Buick Envision | $39,212 | $29,341 | 26 |
| Best Gas Mileage Luxury Midsize SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Volvo XC90 | $63,009 | $48,899 | 25 |
| 2. | Lexus RX 350 | $55,069 | $44,882 | 23 |
| 3. | BMW X5 | $72,229 | $59,824 | 23 |
| 4. | BMW X6 | $83,751 | $57,031 | 23 |
| 5. | Land Rover Range Rover Velar | $68,812 | $55,863 | 23 |
| 6. | Genesis GV80 | $66,317 | N/A | 23 |
| 7. | Lincoln Nautilus | $54,466 | $43,322 | 23 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Luxury Midsize SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Luxury Large SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Cadillac Escalade | $99,171 | $68,003 | 23 |
| 2. | Cadillac Escalade ESV | $101,560 | $69,736 | 23 |
| 3. | Cadillac XT6 | $59,942 | N/A | 23 |
| 4. | Buick Enclave | $49,348 | $36,180 | 21 |
| 5. | Lincoln Aviator | $70,658 | N/A | 21 |
| 6. | BMW X7 | $92,378 | $79,668 | 21 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Luxury Large SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Luxury Hybrid SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Lexus UX 250h | $39,928 | $34,709 | 39 |
| 2. | Lexus NX 300h | $46,715 | $37,769 | 31 |
| 3. | Lexus RX 450h | $59,366 | $48,714 | 30 |
| 4. | Lexus RX 450hL | $62,464 | $49,555 | 29 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Luxury Hybrid SUVs guide.
| Best Gas Mileage Luxury Plug-In Hybrid SUVs | ||||
| Rank | Vehicle | Ave New Price | Ave Used Price | Combined MPG |
| 1 | Lincoln Corsair | $58,672 | N/A | 78 |
| 2. | Audi Q5 | $61,297 | N/A | 61 |
| 3. | BMW X3 | $55,552 | N/A | 60 |
| 4. | Volvo XC60 | $74,620 | $61,829 | 57 |
| 5. | Lincoln Aviator | $82,003 | N/A | 56 |
| 6. | Volvo XC90 | $74,620 | $61,829 | 55 |
For a complete list, check out our Best Luxury Hybrid SUVs guide.
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This article, Best Gas Mileage SUVs, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.