Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are the best options if you want to buy a four-wheeler with a good amount of power, space, and seating capacity. But when it comes to gas mileage, these vehicles might not be favored by many. Nevertheless, due to hybrid car technology being implemented in vehicles produced today, you can count on some good hybrid SUVs with the best fuel efficiency. There are even some SUVs without hybrid technology which have proven to have a decent mileage.
SUVs with Best Gas Mileage
Ford Escape Hybrid
Ford Motor Company claims this model to be not one of the, but 'The Most Fuel-Efficient SUV on the Planet'. The starting price for this vehicle is reported to be $29,860 as per the manufacturer. The base model with a front wheel drive is considered to have a mileage of 34 mpg in city and 31 mpg on highway. It comes with a 2.5 liter Atkinson-cycle I-4 engine which produces round about 153 hp.
Mercury Mariner Hybrid
This one from Mercury has the best mileage in its class. It starts at just around $30,000 and gives a respectable gas mileage of 34 mpg on city roads and 31 mpg on highways. Just like the Escape, it has a 2.5 liter 4-Valve Atkinson-Cycle I-4 engine with a power of 153 hp. Due to what it offers and mainly the low fuel consumption, it is believed to be one of the best rated SUVs.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Toyota is also a well-known producer of good SUVs with impressive fuel consumption rates. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes fitted with a 3.5 liter Double Overhead Cam (DOHC) 24-Valve V6 engine which has a power of 270 hp. The fuel efficiency records are shown to be at 28 mpg both on the highway as well as on busy city roads. For this four-wheel drive vehicle, you will need to pay about $37,300.
Lexus RX 450h
This one from Lexus has a 3.5 liter Atkinson cycle V6 engine with a power of 295 hp, which is estimated to give a gas mileage of 30 mpg in city and 28 mpg on the highway. It also comes with the four-wheel drive option for better traction and control. Being considered a luxury SUV with loads of features, you may have to pay approximately $45,000 as the price for a base model.
Mercedes-Benz ML450
This is one of the latest SUV products from the luxury car manufacturer 'Mercedes-Benz'. The hybrid variant of the ML450 sports a 3.5 liter DOHC 24-valve V6 which generates a good 335 hp of power. When it comes to the fuel economy of this four-wheel drive model, it is claimed to give 20 mpg in city and 24 mpg on the highway. Being a Mercedes, a low price cannot be expected, and this SUV comes at a whopping price tag of about $55,800.
Besides these, there are a few more SUV models that give good fuel economy. Some of these are listed in the table below.
| Model | Highway Mileage | City Mileage |
| Saturn Vue FWD | 32 | 26 |
| Chevrolet HHR | 32 | 22 |
| Nissan Juke | 32 | 27 |
| Saturn Vue Hybrid | 32 | 25 |
| GMC Terrain | 32 | 22 |
| Chevrolet Equinox FWD | 32 | 22 |
| Kia Sportage 2WD | 31 | 22 |
| Hyundai Tucson 2WD | 31 | 23 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2WD | 31 | 25 |
| Mazda Tribute AWD | 30 | 34 |
| Model | Highway Mileage | City Mileage |
| Subaru Outback Wagon 4WD | 29 | 22 |
| Jeep Patriot 2WD | 29 | 23 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | 28 | 22 |
| Mazda CX-7 2WD | 28 | 20 |
| Subaru Forester AWD | 27 | 20 |
| Honda CR-V 2WD | 27 | 20 |
| Volkswagen Touareg Est | 24 | 26 |
| Cadillac Escalade AWD | 23 | 20 |
| GMC Yukon 4WD | 23 | 20 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD | 23 | 20 |
These were a few sports utility vehicles with some of the best gas mileage in the industry. One of the most popular small SUVs with an acceptable gas mileage is the GMC Terrain which has a gas mileage record of 22 mpg in city and 32 on the highway. The Chevrolet Equinox is also considered one of the best mid-size SUVs, as it has got the same gas mileage as the GMC Terrain. If you are looking out for some used SUVs with the best gas economy rates, options like Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are the most suitable.
