Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs and Trucks, According to Consumer Reports
Fuel-efficient SUVs and trucks have been hard to come by for a long time, but that is starting to change. With the phenomenal growth in electric and hybrid vehicles, cars of all sizes can be fuel-efficient. In some cases, they don’t use fuel at all. If a model you love doesn’t have an electric or hybrid variant by now, it probably will soon. It seems like automakers are announcing a new and more fuel-efficient vehicle every day. But which are the best? Here are the most fuel-efficient SUVs and trucks, according to Consumer Reports.
Most fuel-efficient small SUVs
Small SUVs are a very popular category. With fuel efficiency as well as a spacious interior, they’ve become the perfect choice for a small family vehicle. The most fuel-efficient small SUV is an electric one.
- Tesla Model Y Long Range – The Model Y Long Range gets 121 mpge. This is far above the rest of the small SUV list provided by Consumer Reports. 127 city and 114 highway mpge make this the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class. If the Tesla Model Y Long Range is in your budget, it’s the best vehicle on the market of this size for fuel efficiency.
- Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium – Ford’s first designed-from-the-ground-up electric vehicle, it’s a Mustang that’s a small SUV. While it does look like the Mustang you’d expect it to be, it seats five and makes more room for cargo with its spacious interior. The Mach-E Premium’s overall mpge is 90 with a single-charge range of 230 miles.
Most fuel-efficient mid/full-size SUVs
For anyone who needs extra space for cargo, passengers, or anything else, SUVs have been the answer for quite a while. Fuel efficiency has not been a selling point of these vehicles historically, but it will be going forward.
- Tesla Model X 100D – The Model Y’s larger sibling, the Model X can seat five, six, or seven people, whichever you choose. Its full-electric motor gives it an overall mpge of 87.
- Jaguar I-Pace HSE – This all-electric crossover SUV can seat five and drive 234 miles on a single charge. The interior features the comfort and technology you’d expect from a Jaguar. You can also raise the height of the vehicle if you need to traverse tough terrain. The I-Pace HSE averages 76 over mpge.
Most fuel-efficient minivans
Minivans don’t have the strongest resume as far as fuel efficiency either. The typical large family vehicle, minivans in 2021 are actually really luxurious and convenient. Add the fuel efficiency of these vehicles, and you’ve got everything you need.
- Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid – The 2021 model year adds the next-generation Uconnect infotainment system and a higher-end Pinnacle trim level. It can be purchased with either seven or eight available seats and averages 84 overall mpg.
- Toyota Sienna XLE – Exclusively hybrid, the newest Sienna has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with its electric drive giving it 245-hp. All-wheel drive is available as an option and it comes with plenty of safety features. The Sienna XLE averages 36 overall mpg.
Most fuel-efficient pickup trucks
Pickup trucks have never been fuel-efficient. Though they are one of the most popular vehicle types in America, they’d be even more popular if fuel wasn’t so expensive. Electric and hybrid trucks will storm into the market over the course of 2022, so it looks like 2021 is diesel’s final time to shine.
- Chevrolet Colorado LT Diesel – The brand new Chevy Colorado has responsive handling and multiple cabs and engine sizes. The diesel engine is a four-cylinder and gets better gas mileage. The V6 engine manages 18 mpg overall, which is quite a bit worse than the four-cylinder diesel. The Chevrolet Colorado LT Diesel averages 24 overall mpg.
- Chevrolet Silverado & Ram 1500 Big Horn Diesel – Two trucks with identical overall miles per gallon make it to second on the list of fuel-efficient pickups. The Silverado comes with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine, and the Ram 1500 has the same 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel. Both of which achieve the impressive 23 overall mpg.
- Ford F-150 Hybrid – The Ford F-150 Hybrid is everything you’d expect from a classic F-150, but more fuel-efficient. The new PowerBoost hybrid gets 20 overall mpg, and in the XLT 3.5-liter V6 Hybrid 4WD SuperCrew variant, still manages a towing capacity of 8,200.
The most fuel-efficient vehicles in each class are becoming more and more valuable. The higher gas prices get, the more people will want fuel efficiency. SUVs and trucks have been historically terrible as far as gar mileage goes, but that is changing. These are just some of the vehicles that top the list made by Consumer Reports for most fuel-efficient SUVs and trucks.
