SUVs with the best fuel economy

In these days of $4/gallon gas prices, owning a gas-guzzling vehicle is putting a squeeze on the finances of many Americans, giving car buyers pause over owning a vehicle with poor fuel economy. Poor fuel economy may even affect a car’s resale value and put another dent in car buyers’ expenses down the line. SUVs have long been given a bad wrap due to their big stature, big tanks, big engines and small gas economy figures, with the now defunct Hummer, the poster child for gas-devouring SUVs. If you’re a devout SUV buyer because you love the body style, you love the off-road capability, the towing capability, the versatility, the space, or whatever reason you can’t do without one, you may want to look at more fuel-efficient options.

Most Fuel-Efficient Sport Utility Vehicles by Segment

The smallest SUVs are going to have the best fuel economy, but that may not fit the needs of all car buyers and their families, so we provided the top three to four most-fuel efficient SUVs in each of the following segments: small SUV, midsize SUV, large SUV, and Luxury SUV. After all, tacking on a few miles per gallon to your miles per gallon could translate into thousands of dollars saved over the lifespan of the vehicle.

Small SUVs

Unless you opt for a sport-tuned, high-performance variety, a small or compact SUV is generally your most fuel-efficient option with the 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman, tying the 2012 Kia Soul as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the small SUV segment. The Mini Cooper Countryman is the largest Mini model available, providing fun Mini Cooper driving dynamics with more room and comfort for passengers, particularly those in the back seats. The Countryman only seats four passengers, which may dissuade some car buyers, while its 27 mpg city / 35 hwy might persuade others. The Mini Cooper Countryman is available in three trims, including an all-wheel-drive option (be careful with that option though, it reduces fuel efficiency on any vehicle).

Midsize SUVs

If you need more interior and cargo space than a small SUV offers, you may opt for a midsize utility vehicle, which is a better option for a family vehicle and accounts for about 16% of sales in the SUV segment in 2011 – roughly under half of segment sales. For fuel-economy conscious buyers, the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a top option here achieving 28 mpg city/hwy even when equipped with all-wheel-drive. The Highlander offers a combination of performance and fuel economy, with solid handling and seating for up to seven passengers. All that said, there is a rather sizeable difference in price (about $7,000) between the gasoline-powered Highlander and the hybrid version.