The SUVs With The Best Gas Mileage For 2023, Ranked

Last 2022, monocoque crossovers and truck-based SUVs accounted for over 50% of US vehicle sales. Many Americans buy SUVs because these vehicles often offer the comfort of sedans and minivans while still providing some of the utility of pickup trucks. However, because they are often larger and heavier than the average sedan or hatchback, many SUVs return poor miles-per-gallon (MPG) ratings. From the 1980s to the early 2000s, finding an SUV with good gas mileage was next to impossible. Some big SUVs could even gulp down a gallon after just 10 miles.

Fortunately, many of today’s SUVs no longer belong to the gas-guzzling stereotype. Due to technological advancements in vehicle platforms, powertrains, and designs, some of today’s most fuel-economical and fuel-efficient SUVs can put smaller yet older cars to shame. It wasn’t too long ago when 30 MPG was already quite good for gas-powered cars. Today, many SUVs have already surpassed this 30-MPG barrier – and many succeeding barriers after that. With hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology, some of today’s SUVs can already reach a fuel economy equivalent of 100 MPG or more.

In this article, we’ll be ranking the SUVs with the best gas mileage or fuel economy ratings for 2023. Read on and enjoy!

We’ve cross-referenced vehicle specifications from manufacturer websites, vehicle reviews from JD Power, Kelley Blue Book (KBB), and Consumer Reports (CR), and fuel economy ratings from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to give you 10 non-electrified, 10 full hybrid SUVs, and 10 plug-in hybrid SUVs with the best gas mileage ratings for 2023.

10 2023 Ford Escape FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 30 MPG

The base 2023 Ford Escape is a compact 5-seater crossover SUV that uses a 1.3-liter turbo engine (181 hp, 190 lb-ft of torque) to power its front wheels. For this model year, the Ford Escape received a mid-cycle refresh, and it comes with updated exterior styling elements as well as new tech features. The 2023 Ford Escape currently starts at $28,000.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

9 2023 Hyundai Venue FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 31 MPG

The Hyundai Venue is the Korean automaker’s smallest crossover model, and it sits in the small SUV category – larger than a sub-compact, but not as big as a compact. For 2023, the Hyundai Venue offers a base FWD trim that draws power from a 1.6-liter I4 engine (121 hp, 113 lb-ft). New features for the entire 2023 Hyundai Venue lineup include a rear occupant alert, a map lamp, a 4.2-inch color instrument cluster display, and a center console armrest. The 2023 Hyundai Venue currently starts at $19,650.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

8 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 31 MPG

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a small SUV that uses a 1.3-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine (155 hp, 174 lb-ft) for its 5-passenger seating capacity and its ample cargo space (25.3 cubic feet with all seats up). For a starting price of $22,100, the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer offers sporty styling, an active noise cancellation feature, 17-inch alloy wheels, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

7 2023 Volkswagen Taos FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 31 MPG

The Volkswagen Taos is one of the German carmaker’s newest nameplates, and it competes in the small SUV class. The 2023 Volkswagen Taos comes with a 1.5-liter turbo-four engine (158 hp, 184 lb-ft), which is decent enough for its 5-passenger capacity and impressive 65.9-cu.ft. maximum cargo capacity. The base trim of the 2023 Volkswagen Taos starts at $24,155.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

6 2023 Kia Seltos FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 31 MPG

The Kia Seltos competes in the 5-seater, small SUV class. Powering the base LX trim of the 2023 Kia Seltos is a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine (146 hp, 132 lb-ft) that transmits power to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The 2023 Kia Seltos, which starts at $24,390, boasts 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

RELATED: 10 Best Family SUVs In 2023

5 2023 Kia Soul Eco Dynamics FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 31 MPG

The Kia Soul is a bit of an oddity, and even some veterans in the industry are confused about whether it’s a tall hatchback or a subcompact SUV. Nevertheless, Kia markets the Soul as a crossover SUV, so we’ll go with that. Powering the 2023 Kia Soul is a 2.0-liter I4 engine (147 hp, 132 lb-ft) – the same powerplant found in the 2023 Kia Seltos. The 2023 Kia Soul, however, is much more affordable, with a starting price of $19,890.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

4 2023 Hyundai Kona FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 32 MPG

Like its Kia Seltos corporate cousin, the 2023 Hyundai Kona also offers a base trim that uses a 2.0-liter I4 engine (147 hp, 132 lb-ft) in FWD configuration. For 2023, the Hyundai Kona small SUV starts at $22,140 and offers an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), blind spot monitoring, and a few more newly-standard features compared to the previous model year.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

3 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 32 MPG

The Toyota Corolla Cross is a 5-seater small SUV that sits just below the RAV4 in Toyota’s SUV lineup. For 2023, the base Toyota Corolla Cross trim comes with a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine (169 hp, 150 lb-ft) mated to a CVT in a front-wheel-drive configuration. Starting at $23,610, the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross comes with notable infotainment, safety, and technology updates.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

RELATED: 15 Cheap SUVs That Are Easy To Maintain

2 2023 Nissan Rogue FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 33 MPG

Although the Nissan Rogue (also called the X-Trail in other markets) is still a compact 5-seater SUV, it is one of the largest models on this list. Powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-3 engine, the base 2023 Nissan Rogue trim boasts 201 horses and 225 lb-ft of torque while still offering a combined fuel economy of 33 MPG. The 2023 Nissan Rogue, which provides a generous 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, currently starts at $27,910.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

1 2023 Nissan Kicks FWD

Combined Fuel Economy (EPA): 33 MPG

Topping our list of non-electrified, non-hybrid SUVs with the best fuel economy rating is the 2023 Nissan Kicks. Using a 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated I4 engine, the sub-compact Nissan Kicks has access to 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. The 2023 Nissan Kicks received a “great” 85/100 quality and reliability rating from JD Power – a great icing on top of a $20,590 starting price and a 33-MPG fuel economy rating.

Fuel Economy

Cargo Space

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Hybrid SUVs With The Best Gas Mileage For 2023, Ranked

Although the 2023 Nissan Kicks has the best MPG rating for gas-only SUVs, it still pales in comparison to hybrid electric vehicles.

Hybrid electric vehicle technology has been around for over a century now, but it was only in 1997 that hybrid cars started gaining popularity with the launch of the Toyota Prius. Today’s hybrid engine technology produces additional power, lower fuel consumption, and lower emissions for cars, trucks, and crossover/truck-based SUVs. In order of increasing gas mileage (or fuel economy ratings), these hybrid vehicles can be classified as micro-hybrids, mild hybrids (48V technology), full hybrids (like the Prius), and plug-in hybrids. Micro and mild hybrids offer real but modest fuel economy boosts. The significant fuel savings start with standard hybrids (also called full hybrids).

Compared to similarly-sized vehicles, full hybrid vehicles offer approximately 15% to 40% fuel savings. Below are the 10 full hybrid SUVs with the best fuel economy ratings for 2023.

With an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 53 MPG, the 2023 Kia Niro FE Hybrid has the best gas mileage among all full hybrid SUVs this year.

RELATED: 10 Intriguing Facts About Mild Hybrid Vehicles

Plug-In Hybrid SUVs With The Best Gas Mileage For 2023, Ranked

PHEVs sit at the top of the hybrid vehicle fuel economy hierarchy, mainly because these vehicles can draw power from both the electricity grid and their petroleum-powered engines.

Computing the actual fuel consumption of a PHEV may be a bit complicated. A PHEV driver can choose all-electric driving (EV mode) for everyday driving (between 10 and 50 miles), thus amounting to zero fuel consumption for days, weeks, or months. Moreover, PHEVs can also recharge their batteries during long drives through the engine’s operation as well as regenerative braking. Thus, when comparing PHEVs, it is important to look at the MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent), all-electric range, combined MPG, and total driving range figures.

MPGe is the unit of measure for the energy consumption of PHEVs and BEVs in comparison to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. According to the EPA, 1 gallon of gasoline has 33.7 kWh of energy content. So, to illustrate, a 100-MPGe PHEV will be able to travel 100 miles using 33.7 kWh of electricity while in pure EV mode. Once the battery charge runs out, the PHEV will have to rely on its ICE, and the standard MPG rating will then apply.

Here are the 10 PHEV SUVs with the best fuel economy ratings for 2023.

With a 108-MPGe all-electric rating and a 49-MPG combined fuel economy, the 2023 Kia Niro PHEV has the best gas mileage among all plug-in hybrid SUVs this year. ​

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Non-Electric, Non-Hybrid SUVs With The Best Gas Mileage For 2023, Ranked

The best MPG rating for a gas-only SUV goes to the 2023 Nissan Kicks, with an EPA-estimated 33 MPG combined fuel economy.

FAQ

Q: Do Any SUVs Get 40 MPG?

As of 2023, many full hybrid SUVs can achieve 40 MPG or better. Both the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid have an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 40 MPG, and the 2023 Kia Sportage can achieve 43 MPG.

Q: Is There An SUV That Gets 50 MPG?

Among full hybrid SUVs, only the 2023 Kia Niro FE Hybrid was able to get an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating above 50 MPG. However, there are several plug-in hybrid SUVs that go well above 50 MPG, although the official measurement is in MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent).

Q: What SUV Gets 100 MPG?

As of 2023, only two plug-in hybrid SUVs have been able to reach over 100 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent) with their fuel economy ratings – the 2023 Ford Escape PHEV (105 MPGe) and the 2023 Kia Niro PHEV (108 MPGe).

However, many fully-electric SUVs have surpassed 100 MPGe. The 2023 Tesla Model Y RWD has an EPA-estimated rating of 129 MGe, while the 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric gets 120 MPGe.

Q: What Is A Good MPG For An SUV?

The benchmarks for what a “good MPG” for an SUV may vary depending on the vehicle’s size class (e.g. sub-compact, compact, etc.). However, many MPG misers and fuel economy enthusiasts will argue that:

• 25 to 30 MPG – good for non-hybrid, non-electric SUVs
• 40 to 50 MPGe – good for full hybrid SUVs
• 75 to 90 MPGe – good for plug-in hybrid SUVs
• 100 MPGe or more – good for fully-electric SUVs