Here Are The Most Fuel-Efficient (Non-Electrified) SUVs For 2021

While gas prices have remained relatively steady of late, if the past year has taught us anything it’s that nothing is certain moving forward. It wouldn’t take much for crude oil, and subsequently gasoline prices to take a steep jump, especially with (hopefully) U.S. motorists eventually taking to the streets and highways again in earnest for commuting and road tripping.

Still, most everybody likes to save money. Even with regular-grade gas currently at an affordable average of $2.40 per gallon, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that difference in fuel costs between a vehicle that gets 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving and one that’s rated at 20 mpg will cost an extra $600 a year and $3,000 over a five-year ownership period to run for 15,000 annual miles. If gas prices were to rise by $1.00, the difference would increase to $850 a year, and $4,250 after a half decade.

Not only that, but the 30 mpg vehicle will spew 149 fewer grams of carbon emissions into the atmosphere for every mile driven mile than the 20 mpg model, which makes it easier on the environment as well as the wallet.

Sport utility vehicles, particularly car-based crossovers, are the most popular vehicle types in the U.S., and the good news is that today’s models are far more fuel-efficient than the larger and heavier truck-based models that preceded them. They also benefit from a wealth of technological advancements, including turbocharged and direct fuel-injected engines with automatic stop/start to wring every single mile per gallon out of a tank of gas.

The most efficient SUVs on the road are, of course, full electric models that burn no fossil fuel at all, with the class leader here being the Tesla Model Y, which is rated at the equivalent of 125 miles per gallon. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are the next most frugal models, but electrified vehicles are still costlier to purchase than conventionally powered models, and depending on the model and motorist, may not be completely cost effective in terms of fuel savings.

To that end we took a deep dive into the EPA’s database to determine which conventionally powered SUVs from the 2021 model year get the best fuel economy while running on regular-grade gasoline. As you might imagine, most are compact or subcompact models, with a single midsize model represented, the Subaru Forester. We’re noting the most fuel-efficient version in each of the top 15 model lines. The EPA estimates the leader among this pack of fuel sippers—the subcompact Lexus UX 200—will save the average driver $1,250 in fuel costs over five years at current gas prices, compared to the average new vehicle.

Here are the 15 most fuel-efficient conventionally powered SUVs for 2021:

1. Lexus UX 200

29/37/32 mpg (city/highway/combined) with front-wheel drive with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission; $1,600 annual fuel cost.

2. Buick Encore GX

30/32/31 mpg with front-wheel drive with the 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a CVT automatic transmission; $1,650 annual fuel cost.

3. Kia Seltos

29/34/31 with front-wheel drive, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission; $1,650 annual fuel cost.

4. Mazda CX-3

29/34/31 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission; $1,650 annual fuel cost.

5. Chevrolet Trailblazer

29/33/31 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a CVT automatic transmission; $1,650 annual fuel cost.

6. Toyota RAV-4

28/35/30 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission; $1,700 annual fuel cost.

7. Ford Escape

28/34/30 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission; $1,700 annual fuel cost.

8. Honda CR-V

28/34/30 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a CVT automatic transmission; $1,700 annual fuel cost.

9. Honda HR-V

28/34/30 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, and a CVT automatic transmission; $1,700 annual fuel cost.

10. Subaru Crosstrek

28/33/30 mpg with all-wheel drive, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission; $1,700 annual fuel cost.

11. Hyundai Kona

28/32/30 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a seven-speed automatic transmission; $1,700 annual fuel cost.

12. Nissan Rogue

27/35/30 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission; $1,700 annual fuel cost.

13. Toyota C-HR

27/31/29 mpg with front-wheel drive, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and a seven-speed automatic transmission; $1,750 annual fuel cost.

14. Subaru Forester

26/33/29 mpg with all-wheel drive, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and a seven-speed automatic transmission; $1,750 annual fuel cost.

15. Subaru Outback

26/33/29 mpg with all-wheel drive, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission; $1,750 annual fuel cost.

Click here for fuel economy data on all current and past model-year vehicles.