Fuel Efficient SUVs
SUV Reviewer
Fuel efficient SUVs have many features in common that serve to make their fuel ratings better than other SUVs. Many times it is the use of a hybrid engine which tends to run on electric power in the city at speeds less than 30 mph thereby saving on gasoline. Vehicles which are not hybrids tend to have smaller four cylinder engines that are not as powerful as V6 and V8 but typically are more fuel efficient.
Most fuel efficient SUVs also tend to be either compact or midsize vehicles, although larger vehicles that are designed well can also be fuel efficient. Fuel economic SUVs also tend to be crossover SUVs with the unibody construction that makes for a lighter vehicle. Weight is important with a fuel efficient SUV and the more options that come with the vehicle, the heavier it becomes, which detracts from its fuel ratings. However, fuel efficient SUVs are available in every price range, from the most inexpensive to the most luxurious vehicles.
One of the best fuel economic SUVs is the Audi Q5, a vehicle that is a compact crossover SUV. Its excellent fuel ratings of 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 20 miles combined is due to a fuel-efficient 3.2 liter V6 that can produce 270 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. With its underpinnings of a sedan, it handles wells on the road, is quick to respond and entertaining to drive.
The Honda Element is a fuel efficient SUV that is also a compact crossover. It is powered by a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine that can produce 166 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive and a standard five speed automatic transmission help to make its fuel economy one the better ones in its class. Its ratings stand at 20 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined.
The Mazda Tribute is another of the best fuel efficient SUVs, compact in size but more like a traditional SUV than a crossover. It is powered by a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 171 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission and standard front-wheel drive help the fuel ratings to be 22 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 23 miles combined.
Another of the fuel efficient SUVs was the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, a large with a truck-based chassis. Vehicles of this size tend to be rated lower in fuel economy but the vehicle's two-mode hybrid system which consists of a Hemi V8 and two electric motors that have a combined output of 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. This makes for a vehicle with a fuel rating of 20 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
The Dodge Durango Hybrid was a fuel economic SUV that was based on a truck-like chassis. This vehicle also had a two-mode hybrid system with a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 that produced 345 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque and two electric motors, each capable of producing 87 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. A two-mode transmission that maximized the used of the gasoline engine and electric motors produce a vehicle with a fuel rating of 20 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
The Lexus RX 450H is another of the best fuel economic SUVs that is a very efficient luxury crossover SUV. Its hybrid engine is a combination of a 3.5 liter V6 engine and two motors for a front-wheel drive vehicle and three motors for an all-wheel drive vehicle. A specialized continuously variable transmission serves to produce a high fuel economy of 32 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined for the front-wheel drive version.
Another of the fuel efficient SUVs is the Ford Escape Hybrid, a small crossover SUV. The vehicle is equipped with a 2.5 liter four cylinder gasoline engine and a battery-powered electric motor that can produce 177 horsepower combined. Fuel economy is facilitated by a continuously variable transmission that provides seamless transitions between gas and electric modes. The resulting fuel rating is 34 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg combined.
The Toyota Highlander is a fuel economic SUV that is a midsize crossover. It is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 gasoline engine and three electric motors. They can produce 280 horsepower in combination with a continuously variable automatic transmission which serves to make it the fuel efficient vehicle that it is. Fuel economy is rated at 28 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg combined.
The Mercury Mariner is another of the small fuel efficient SUVs that is powered by a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine in combination with two electric motors that can produce 177 horsepower. The vehicle is also powered by a continuously variable transmission which uses driving conditions to determine the power distribution between the gasoline engine and electric motors. This system makes for a fuel rating of 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Another of the fuel economic SUVs is the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, a crossover SUV that is compact in size. It is powered by a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine that can produce 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The use of a continuously variable transmission and a front-wheel drive system serve to make the vehicle as fuel efficient as it is. Fuel economy is rated at 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg combined.
Most fuel efficient SUVs also tend to be either compact or midsize vehicles, although larger vehicles that are designed well can also be fuel efficient. Fuel economic SUVs also tend to be crossover SUVs with the unibody construction that makes for a lighter vehicle. Weight is important with a fuel efficient SUV and the more options that come with the vehicle, the heavier it becomes, which detracts from its fuel ratings. However, fuel efficient SUVs are available in every price range, from the most inexpensive to the most luxurious vehicles.
One of the best fuel economic SUVs is the Audi Q5, a vehicle that is a compact crossover SUV. Its excellent fuel ratings of 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 20 miles combined is due to a fuel-efficient 3.2 liter V6 that can produce 270 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. With its underpinnings of a sedan, it handles wells on the road, is quick to respond and entertaining to drive.
The Honda Element is a fuel efficient SUV that is also a compact crossover. It is powered by a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine that can produce 166 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive and a standard five speed automatic transmission help to make its fuel economy one the better ones in its class. Its ratings stand at 20 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined.
The Mazda Tribute is another of the best fuel efficient SUVs, compact in size but more like a traditional SUV than a crossover. It is powered by a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine that can produce 171 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission and standard front-wheel drive help the fuel ratings to be 22 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 23 miles combined.
Another of the fuel efficient SUVs was the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, a large with a truck-based chassis. Vehicles of this size tend to be rated lower in fuel economy but the vehicle's two-mode hybrid system which consists of a Hemi V8 and two electric motors that have a combined output of 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. This makes for a vehicle with a fuel rating of 20 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
The Dodge Durango Hybrid was a fuel economic SUV that was based on a truck-like chassis. This vehicle also had a two-mode hybrid system with a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 that produced 345 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque and two electric motors, each capable of producing 87 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. A two-mode transmission that maximized the used of the gasoline engine and electric motors produce a vehicle with a fuel rating of 20 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
The Lexus RX 450H is another of the best fuel economic SUVs that is a very efficient luxury crossover SUV. Its hybrid engine is a combination of a 3.5 liter V6 engine and two motors for a front-wheel drive vehicle and three motors for an all-wheel drive vehicle. A specialized continuously variable transmission serves to produce a high fuel economy of 32 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined for the front-wheel drive version.
Another of the fuel efficient SUVs is the Ford Escape Hybrid, a small crossover SUV. The vehicle is equipped with a 2.5 liter four cylinder gasoline engine and a battery-powered electric motor that can produce 177 horsepower combined. Fuel economy is facilitated by a continuously variable transmission that provides seamless transitions between gas and electric modes. The resulting fuel rating is 34 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg combined.
The Toyota Highlander is a fuel economic SUV that is a midsize crossover. It is powered by a 3.5 liter V6 gasoline engine and three electric motors. They can produce 280 horsepower in combination with a continuously variable automatic transmission which serves to make it the fuel efficient vehicle that it is. Fuel economy is rated at 28 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg combined.
The Mercury Mariner is another of the small fuel efficient SUVs that is powered by a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine in combination with two electric motors that can produce 177 horsepower. The vehicle is also powered by a continuously variable transmission which uses driving conditions to determine the power distribution between the gasoline engine and electric motors. This system makes for a fuel rating of 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Another of the fuel economic SUVs is the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, a crossover SUV that is compact in size. It is powered by a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine that can produce 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The use of a continuously variable transmission and a front-wheel drive system serve to make the vehicle as fuel efficient as it is. Fuel economy is rated at 25 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 27 mpg combined.
