Electric SUVs are becoming increasingly popular — and plentiful — but they are also expensive, and not everyone has access to a good home charger or public charging network. Thankfully, conventional internal combustion SUVs, hybrid SUVs, and plug-in hybrid SUVs are available with impressive fuel economy – and the PHEVs even offer limited all-electric driving. Because gas mileage is the name of the game here, you won’t find any EVs on this list. You also won’t find any full-size SUVs here, but you will find a wide range of small and medium-sized SUVs that should suit most needs for daily life.
Learn more: What is EV, BEV, HEV, PHEV? Here’s your guide to types of electric cars
Fuel mileage figures quoted below are from official U.S. government data and ranked in order of best combined fuel economy. Where there’s a tie, city gas mileage is the first tiebreaker, and highway gas mileage is the second. For PHEVs, the all-electric range offered is also considered to determine the rankings.
Here are the conventional, hybrid, and PHEV SUVs with the best gas mileage. Prices include destination charges.
PHEVs:
1. 2024 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid
Fuel economy: 108 MPGe / 48 mpg combined (Based on 2023 EPA data)
Range: 510 miles (34 electric + 476 gas)
Price: $35,765
The 2024 Kia
000270,
Niro Plug-in Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV you can buy in America today, rated at up to 108 MPGe and 48 mpg combined once the battery is depleted. It’s also smart-looking, full of modern tech, spacious for its class, and very affordable at $35,765, considering its overall efficiency and standard equipment.
2. 2024 Ford Escape PHEV
Fuel economy: 101 MPGe / 40 mpg combined (Based on 2023 EPA data)
Range: 520 miles (37 electric + 483 gas)
Price: $41,995
The 2024 Ford
F,
Escape PHEV is rated at 101 MPGe combined when using its 37 miles of electric range or 40 mpg combined once the charge is used up. Those are impressive figures all around — especially considering the Escape PHEV’s reasonable starting price of $41,995, including delivery.
Read: The 2024 Ford Escape and Escape PHEV review
3. 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime
Fuel economy: 94 MPGe / 38 mpg combined
Range: 600 miles (42 electric + 558 gas)
Price: $45,040
The RAV4 has long been a familiar and welcome sight in the driveways of folks across the country, whether young and active adults, growing families, or empty-nesters. The 2024 Toyota
TM,
RAV4 Prime brings all of that to the table while also offering 42 miles of EV range and 94 MPGe/38 mpg combined, plus the longest range of any PHEV SUV. As a bonus, the RAV4 Prime comes with all-wheel drive (AWD).
Learn more: The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime: The hybrid compact SUV checks all the boxes
4. 2024 Lexus NX 450h+
Fuel economy: 84 MPGe / 36 mpg combined
Range: 550 miles (37 electric + 513 gas)
Price: $59,905
For those who’d like a taste of luxury along with their fuel economy, the 2024 Lexus NX 450h+ combines Lexus’ attention to detail and feature-rich cabin design with 304 combined system horsepower and 84 MPGe on its 37-mile battery range, or 36 mpg combined in hybrid mode.
5. 2024 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid
Fuel economy: 84 MPGe / 35 mpg combined
Range: 430 miles (34 electric + 396 gas)
Price: $40,965
The 2024 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid‘s 34 miles of electric range at 84 MPGe ratings are impressive for the money, as is the 35 mpg combined figure in hybrid mode — and that’s before you get to the roomy interior, strong standard feature set, and excellent warranty.
Check out: The best new cars and SUVs for tall people
Honorable Mention: 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
Fuel economy: 90 MPGe / 35 mpg combined
Range: 480 miles (17 electric + 463 gas)
Price: $38,070
The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is an honorable mention for a few reasons. First, the Crosstrek is significantly revamped for 2024, and a 2024 plug-in hybrid (which Subaru
FUJHY,
calls the Hybrid) hasn’t gone on sale yet. Also, while the 2023 model scores high enough to be ranked in third place in the list above, its electric-only range is limited to 17 miles. And its overall fuel economy isn’t quite as impressive as its 90 MPGe figure might indicate — although with its 35 mpg in hybrid mode, it’s certainly deserving of an honorable mention.
Hybrids:
1. 2024 Kia Niro
Fuel economy: 53 mpg combined
Range: 544 miles
Price: $28,315
Stylish and practical, the 2024 Kia Niro is a hybrid by default, and it’s the most efficient hybrid SUV in America at the moment, earning the truly impressive score of 53 mpg combined — 10 mpg ahead of second place. Better yet, you can get this impressive fuel economy in the Niro LX, EX, and SX trims, meaning you don’t have to choose a stripped-down base model to get the best gas mileage.
Also see: These are the 10 cheapest new hybrids of 2024
2. 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid
Fuel economy: 43 mpg combined
Range: 589 miles
Price: $29,965
The 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid‘s second-place standing in the hybrid SUV ranks at 43 mpg, which is also impressive, especially considering how much larger it is than the Niro. The Sportage Hybrid is also a roomy, well-equipped vehicle with ample upgrade options and a great warranty.
3. 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Fuel economy: 42 mpg combined (Based on 2023 EPA data)
Range: 554 miles
Price: $29,570
Few carmakers know as much about hybrids as Toyota, so it’s no surprise the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is on our list at 42 mpg combined. In addition to its strong standard and optional feature set, the Corolla Cross Hybrid is backed by Toyota’s rep for reliability and resale value.
Read: The 2024 Honda HR-V or the Toyota Corolla Cross: Which is better?
4. 2024 Lexus UX 250h
Fuel economy: 42 mpg combined
Range: 445 miles
Price: $37,490
Another luxurious option among the efficiency-obsessed, the 2024 Lexus UX 250h hybrid is an easy choice for those with an eye for style and a penchant for poise. Despite its small size and 42 mpg combined rating, the UX is refined, comfortable, and Lexus-quiet.
5. 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid
Fuel economy: 40 mpg combined
Range: 560 miles
Price: $35,400
The CR-V is one of the most popular SUVs on the road today, and the 2024 Honda
HMC,
CR-V Hybrid is a great example of the line. It boasts sharp looks, lots of interior space, smart features, and, of course, excellent fuel economy at 40 mpg combined when equipped with front-wheel drive.
More: The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid: The king of the suburban road still excels—plus, fewer trips to the gas station
Conventional gas SUVs:
1. 2024 Nissan Kicks
Fuel economy: 33 mpg combined
Range: 356 miles
Price: $22,440
The 2024 Nissan Kicks is full of attitude, it’s fun to drive, and it’s the most fuel-efficient conventional (purely internal combustion-powered) SUV you can buy in the U.S. today, rated at 33 mpg combined (31 city and 36 highway). Despite its small exterior footprint, the Kicks is one of the roomiest models in its class, and it’s affordable, with even the top-spec model starting below $25,000.
See: The 2024 Nissan Kicks is nimble, fuel efficient and easy on the wallet
2. 2024 Nissan Rogue
Fuel economy: 33 mpg combined
Range: 478 miles (est)
Price: $29,810
Larger and more capable than the Kicks, the refreshed 2024 Nissan Rogue‘s standard 1.5-liter turbocharged, variable-compression 3-cylinder engine helps it return nearly the same gas mileage at 33 mpg combined (manufacturer’s estimate), losing out to the Kicks by 1 mpg in the city, but beating it by 1 mpg on the highway.
More: The 2024 Nissan Rogue review: updated styling and tech, great fuel economy, head-turning looks
3. 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross
Fuel economy: 32 mpg combined (Based on 2023 EPA data)
Range: 397 miles
Price: $25,210
The 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross is the non-hybrid version of the model in the category above, scoring 32 mpg without the help of any electrical motors, batteries, or other advanced powertrain tech. Practical, comfortable, and available with AWD (at the cost of 2 mpg or so), the Corolla Cross is another compelling efficiency value.
4. 2024 Hyundai Kona
Fuel economy: 31 mpg combined
Range: 384 miles
Price: $25,625
Small, nimble, and fun to drive, the 2024 Hyundai Kona’s 31 mpg combined gas mileage (29 city/34 highway) also makes it surprisingly efficient. To get the best gas mileage, you’ll want to pick the Kona SE or SEL with front-wheel drive (FWD).
5. 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Fuel economy: 31 mpg combined
Range: 409 miles
Price: $24,395
The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a stylish, efficient, and practical subcompact SUV. It is roomy for its size, with a surprising amount of cargo space, and has standard features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, and push-button start, and an excellent 31 mpg combined (29 city/33 highway) fuel efficiency rating.
How to improve gas mileage
- Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflation can reduce gas mileage more than you’d think.
- Remove unnecessary cargo. Excess weight requires extra gas to accelerate up to speed, and it wears your brakes more as you slow down.
- Accelerate and decelerate smoothly, rather than suddenly. Both speeding up and slowing down unnecessarily can waste fuel.
- Slow down! This one applies mostly to highway driving, as the energy required to maintain speed goes up considerably once you reach highway speeds.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
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