These 5 SUVs Will Save You Money at the Gas Pump

Hybrids SUVs get great mileage and offer tons of utility. According to the EPA, these five are some of the best hybrid SUVs for saving gas.

by Dan Mayfield

Updated on May 19, 2023 updated on 05/19/2023 for freshness

Published on July 27, 2022 2:19 pm

3 min read

We all want to save some gas. We can do that by driving less, by driving smarter, or by swooping up a fuel-efficient hybrid SUV. Hybrids are great at saving fuel because their electric engines provide an electric boost when you need it. One look at the EPAs scores, and it’s clear these hybrid SUVs excell at saving gas, and at today’s gas prices, you can start saving on your first trip.

Hybrids get better gas mileage in town than on the highway

2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD badge — 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid | Honda

Hybrids are great at saving gas, especially in the city. Because of their electric boost, many hybrids get better gas mileage in stop-and-go traffic than they do on the highway, which is the opposite of gas-powered SUVs and cars. Plug-ins get even better mileage because they can travel several miles on electric-only power. The 2022 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid, for example, can go up to 31 miles on electric-only power, using virtually no gas. Keep in mind, though, that while all-wheel drive is great for traction, you usually pay a premium in fuel economy for it.

2023 Lexus NX350h

2022 Lexus NX Hybrid in blue — Lexus NX350 hybrid | Lexus

According to FuelEconomy.gov, the $41,550 2022 Lexus NX SUV gets a combined 39 mpg rating and 41 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway. The NX is an all new Lexus hybrid SUV and the new entry-level SUV from the brand. It is based on the RAV4, but there’s not a lot of RAV4 showing in this luxury SUV. It’s a bolder new Lexus, with an even larger grille, and the new Lexus Interface multimedia system.

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Shimmering Silver 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid PHEV driving on a mountain road — 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid | Hyundai

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe gets a combined 34 mpg, with ratings of 36 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. Hyundai may be Korean, but Hyundai makes the $34,300 in Alabama. It combines one of Hyundai’s most modern interiors with some SUV features like 2,000 pounds of towing ability, a standard large eight-inch touchscreen, and several driver’s aids. While it is listed as a solid SUV with great gas mileage, it is the only one on the list that doesn’t have a Consumer Reports “recommended” mark and depreciates quickly.

2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

This Black 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers excellent fuel economy numbers — 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | Toyota

According to FuelEconomy.gov, the $39,555 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid gets 36 mpg combined, with ratings of 26 in the city and 35 on the highway. There is a 1 mpg ding for the Hybrid AWD model, but it has Toyota’s clever all-wheel drive that ditches the complicated drivetrain and instead simply sticks an electric motor in the back. Highlanders are popular new and used because they are larger than the others on this list. Highlanders have a third row, and can be outfitted as comfy near-luxury vehicles.

2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid parked on a bridge in Alabama | MotorBiscuit: Peter Corn

The $28,045 Honda CR-V Hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive and it gets a combined rating of 38, and 40 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway. The CR-V is known for having a large interior with best-in-class luggage space, good handling, as well as punchy acceleration. The CR-V is getting a refresh for 2023, so 2022 versions may be available for less at your local dealer.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

a tan Toyota RAV 4 in a studio image — 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The RAV4 also comes standard with all-wheel drive. It gets a combined 40 mpg, with ratings of 41 in the city and 38 on the highway, according to the EPA. The RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid are Toyota’s best-selling SUVs for a reason: they offer a great mix of utility, performance, and comfort. Standard features include easy-to-use infotainment and several driver aids. The Prime is the plug-in version.

For even more fun, though, check out a RAV4 Prime, which is the plug-in version. It achieves 38 MPG combined, and it has 302 horsepower.

Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.