Choosing which caller car to bargain often involves a laundry database of wants and needs. You mightiness beryllium looking for capable rider abstraction to carrier your full family. Another privilege mightiness impact capacity (e.g., making judge you tin accelerate accelerated capable during a greeting commute). Yet, arsenic nan economy continues to fluctuate, substance costs are ever apical of mind.
One caller study recovered that, beyond price, fuel system is nan astir captious consideration, ranking higher than information and technology. It makes consciousness since nan 1 point you are stuck pinch aft making a buying determination is really acold you tin thrust nan conveyance connected a vessel of gas.
Know that substance system is wherever you person to make decisions astir size of nan vehicle, cargo space, sportiness, and moreover whether you spell pinch FWD aliases AWD. Each of these choices tin dramatically effect nan MPG rating. Another facet has to see is nan readiness of hybrid powertrains. These modern marvels still usage a state engine, but electrified assistance intends awesome substance economy. Of course, price for these high-MPG models is ever a consideration arsenic well.
Overall these apical SUV picks are worthy considering because they supply nan rider abstraction and plentifulness of cargo room, but prioritize MPG complete conscionable astir immoderate different factor. While they will meet your needs for a picnic aliases a commute, these SUVs connection unbeatable substance economy.
2025 Ford Escape
The 2025 Ford Escape — which also has a caller 2026 exemplary caller disconnected nan blocks – is smaller than immoderate of nan SUVs successful our round-up, but it's besides sportier and beautiful nosy to drive. The 34 MPG road standing for nan FWD type is compelling contempt nan Escape having a sprightly turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-3 aliases 2.0-liter inline-4 engine. Those 2 motor sizes still person a batch of pep astatine 180-horsepower aliases 250-horsepower, respectively.
What does that mean successful applicable use? For commuters, you tin expect to merge into postulation faster without arsenic overmuch lag. Since nan Escape is not moreover adjacent to a full-size SUV — successful fact, nary of nan apical SUVs for substance system are each that monolithic — you do person to sacrifice immoderate cargo space. The rear compartment connected nan Escape is only 37.5 cubic feet.
One different information present has to do pinch choosing FWD aliases AWD. The FWD type is nan 1 that has nan champion MPG standing of 34 road (and 30 MPG combined). If you request amended traction successful winter, nan AWD turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-3 has 28 MPG combined. Meanwhile, nan sportier 2.0-liter inline-4 motor pinch AWD has only a 26 MPG standing combined.
Another important constituent to make astir nan Escape is that, dissimilar astir of nan champion precocious MPG-rated SUVs around, this 1 is not a hybrid. You'll astir apt announcement that correct distant successful position of sportiness acknowledgment to nan turbo motor and a wide consciousness of punchiness.
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
Someday, acold into nan future, nan 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will beryllium utilized for existent off-roading and possibly moreover beryllium driven crossed a riverbed. Someone will bargain nan 2025 exemplary successful 2035 aliases truthful and caput retired into nan unfastened tundra. For now, this hybrid pinch a mixed substance system standing of 42 MPG for some metropolis and road will apt not spot excessively overmuch mud aliases dirt, particularly astatine nan caller car value starting astatine conscionable nether $30,000.
At slightest you'll cognize it could climb a upland walk pinch nan AWD drivetrain and bully crushed clearance of 8 inches. That's an important detail, because nan ruggedness makes nan Corolla Cross Hybrid guidelines retired among different fund cars pinch awesome substance economy. Available only successful AWD, nan standing for metropolis driving is an exceptional 45 MPG. For road driving, you tin expect to deed astir 38 MPG, which is still higher than galore SUVs successful this category.
One important information for commuters is to deliberation agelong and difficult astir nan motor size. The 2.0-liter inline-4 motor runs astatine 196 horsepower pinch a 0-60 standing of 9.2 seconds. That intends nan Corolla Cross Hybrid mightiness consciousness underpowered. Let that descend successful because location are times erstwhile this SUV will lag a spot erstwhile you request nan speedy acceleration. There's besides a newer 2026 Corolla Cross exemplary that's not a hybrid but is good worthy checking retired arsenic well. It starts astatine conscionable complete $24,000.
2025 Lexus NX 350h AWD
One of nan highest MPG ratings of immoderate luxury SUV exemplary around, nan 2025 Lexus NX 350h AWD is rated astatine 39 MPG combined. However, that doesn't mean you person to sacrifice a soft thrust aliases animal comforts inside. As a hybrid, you tin expect awesome substance system astir municipality astatine 41 MPG metropolis and still an acceptable standing for agelong roadworthy trips pinch 37 MPG highway.
What's astir impressive? The 2025 Lexus NX 350h is still a luxury car pinch a 14-inch display, a comfortable spot pinch lumbar support that's adjustable successful 4 ways, and headlights that accommodate to nan roadworthy arsenic you drive. That's conscionable not thing you will find successful a low-end fund car. If you are looking for a luxury hybrid that's not excessively massive, nan NX is simply a bully choice.
It's besides worthy mentioning that there's besides a non-hybrid type of nan NX that has a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine. That will push you backmost successful your spot a small connected nan greeting commute to nan office, moreover if nan substance system drops to conscionable 24 MPG combined.
2025 Kia Niro
Everything successful life is simply a trade-off, but pinch nan 2025 Kia Niro you are chiefly sacrificing immoderate cargo abstraction and rider seating for nan phenomenal prize of a awesome substance system rating. In fact, astatine 53 MPG combined, the Niro Hybrid EX is nan highest substance system standing we've found.
However, pinch nan rear seats folded down, you tin still bask 63.7 cubic feet of cargo abstraction and load up everything you request for a picnic and past some. In fact, astatine 14 feet long the Niro is almost nan aforesaid magnitude arsenic nan 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer, which is 14.5 feet long.
What you won't acquisition is accelerated acceleration. That unthinkable substance system is owed to nan mini 139 horsepower motor output, which goes from 0-60 successful 8.9-seconds for nan normal hybrid trim. There's besides a mobility present astir traction connected slippery roads.
One measurement to prevention connected substance is to limit nan powertrain to only FWD, since nan motor is only powering 2 wheels. If you unrecorded successful Texas pinch barren roads almost year-round that's not a large problem. If you unrecorded successful Minnesota pinch snowfall and ice, you mightiness see an AWD model. One different large prize is that the Niro is besides inexpensive to insure.
2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The curiously undersized 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer — which is astir nan aforesaid width and magnitude arsenic nan Kia Niro — still lets you battalion successful plentifulness of cargo pinch 54.4 cubic feet of abstraction if you fold nan seats down. Yet, this well-designed SUV has a rugged, modern look pinch a respectable substance system standing of 33 MPG highway. Also, it's not a hybrid truthful it retains a much accepted driving feel.
There are 3 powertrain configurations, each offering somewhat different substance economy. The 1.2-liter turbocharged inline-3 type comes successful FWD and has a 31 MPG mixed rating. There's a 2nd trim level pinch a 1.3-liter motor that has a 33 MPG rating. Finally, there's an AWD exemplary pinch nan same 1.3-liter motor that has a 29 MPG rating.
What's cool astir nan Trailblazer, arsenic nan sanction implies, is that it has a trail-worthy yet sleek look that's cleanable for hitting nan unfastened road. You consciousness for illustration you could jump successful and return it for a rotation connected a upland walk and not look ridiculous compared to nan existent off-roaders. Especially if you take nan type pinch AWD, you tin expect to enactment patient connected nan roadworthy successful astir conditions.
2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Blue
Another hybrid pinch plentifulness of abstraction for passengers and cargo, nan 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Blue gets a 38 MPG mixed rating. That's a flimsy dip from nan highest MPG vehicles successful our round-up, particularly nan phenomenal Kia Niro which has a 53 MPG mixed rating.
However, there's besides nan mobility of price. The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Blue is priced little than different vehicles successful nan segment. One glimpse astatine nan title specified arsenic nan 2026 Honda CR-V and you tin spot really that shakes out. The CR-V starts astatine $30,920 and has trim levels that costs northbound of $40,000 for what is simply a very akin conveyance to nan Tucson, which has a guidelines value of $28,705.
Another nosy truth astir nan Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Blue — it has a small spot much of a peppy motor than immoderate of nan compact SUVs successful nan segment. The 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 is sporty capable to propel you quickly into postulation aliases flight from nan metropolis and not person to wince arsenic you wait. Unlike nan Corolla Cross we mentioned earlier, nan Tucson has an motor that tin beryllium plentifulness of nosy to drive.
2026 Honda CR-V
The caller Honda CR-V exemplary for 2026 has an outstanding 43 MPG for metropolis driving. That's bully substance system for those who mostly commute to activity crossed town. If you do caput retired connected a large excursion for road driving, you tin expect a likewise stellar standing of 36 MPG highway.
If you're considering nan caller CR-V, cognize that location is simply a plethora of trim levels, 7 successful all. The astir celebrated trim level is nan Hybrid Sport-L pinch a 2.0-liter 4 cylinder engine, which comes pinch a FWD strategy that is 1 of nan main reasons nan SUV earns a 43 MPG metropolis rating. When you adhd AWD you tin expect little MPG ratings some for metropolis and road driving.
Honda doesn't shirk connected immoderate of nan amenities successful nan 2026 model. There's guardant collision warning, wireless charging for your phone, and a pedestrian discovery system. For immoderate of those perks, you sometimes person to look astatine a luxury SUV successful nan category.
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD
We didn't want to time off nan Toyota RAV4 retired of nan operation connected this round-up, and nan low-priced Hybrid type — disposable for nether $34,000 – is nary slouch erstwhile it comes to substance economy.
The 2025 exemplary clocks successful astatine 39 MPG combined, 38 MPG for road and 41 MPG for metropolis driving. The 2.5-liter inline-4 has 2 electrical motors that supply a respectable 219 horsepower. So you won't person to twiddle your thumbs arsenic you hold for nan RAV4 to drawback up to road traffic, but you besides won't beryllium perpetually going to nan pump for a refill.
You do person to make a determination astir styling, though. There's a batch going connected pinch nan RAV4 appearance, particularly compared to different SUV models. The RAV4 Hybrid looks a spot for illustration it is trying to lucifer nan Lexus marque successful styling. This intends that there's a small excessively overmuch going connected pinch each of nan ornamental fixtures compared to nan sleeker Trailblazer. Maybe we'll spot immoderate changes successful styling erstwhile we get our hands connected nan recently announced adjacent procreation model.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid
Positioned arsenic nan last installment present successful our round-up, nan 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid is besides arguably nan astir nosy to drive, acknowledgment to a 219 horsepower hybrid powertrain. Yet, nan substance system still clocks successful astatine a respectable 38 MPG combined. Usually, to execute that automakers person to make a fewer sacrifices — typically, moving to a FWD powertrain aliases reducing nan motor size considerably. The CX-50 is AWD and has a sporty 2.5-liter inline-4.
Thankfully, it's besides not overpriced. This exemplary has a guidelines value of $35,915, which puts it successful nonstop title pinch nan Hyundai Tucson and nan Corolla Cross successful our comparison. If you're curious, Mazda besides utilized Toyota exertion for nan hybrid engine.
Like almost each of nan champion MPG-rated SUVs we found, nan CX-50 is simply a hybrid that doesn't rather shriek pokey for illustration a fewer different models. You tin expect to merge into postulation quickly, and nan driving mechanics connected this exemplary made it a small much absorbing to drive. You tin return corners astatine bully speeds and consciousness for illustration you are not going to drift retired of nan lane.