Best Gas Mileage Small and Compact SUVs for 2024
Small SUVs and crossovers have replaced midsize sedans as the best-selling cars in the U.S. because they offer a combination of roomy interior space, practical cargo space, car-like maneuverability, and some of the highest EPA-rated fuel economy numbers available in a traditional front-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive SUV. And while higher gas prices have forced buyers to reconsider fuel economy when shopping for a new car, buyers should also research advanced safety features, like adaptive cruise control, and convenience factors like the infotainment system and automatic parking, before committing to a purchase. This page features small and compact SUVs produced by mainstream automakers from the 2022 and 2023 model years. All of these SUVs are powered by traditional engines, though many leverage turbo technology to increase performance while remaining highly fuel efficient. If you’re seeking fuel efficiency combined with a luxury nameplate you can check out our Best Gas Mileage SUVs article, which includes models from premium brands like Audi, Buick, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. If reducing your fuel bill is truly your top priority you’ll find the most fuel-efficient SUVs in our Best Gas Mileage Hybrid SUVs list. That list includes rankings for hybrid models, like the Honda CR-V Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, as well as plug-in hybrids like the Toyota RAV4 Prime and the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. Of course choosing those more advanced hybrid powertrains will require a higher starting price to pay for the electric motors and battery packs that are among the standard features on every hybrid model. If you browse that list you’ll also notice impressive “mpge” figures, reflecting the higher fuel efficiency that plug-in hybrids are capable of. If the hybrid option is too rich for your budget, an alternative and cost-effective method for cutting fuel consumption is to consider one of the Best Gas Mileage Subcompact SUVs like the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, or Nissan Kicks. While these models don’t offer quite as much interior room and cargo space, they are surprisingly space efficient and still provide advanced features like all-wheel-drive (AWD) for light off-road adventures, and blind-spot monitoring to improve on-road safety. Many of the smaller models on that list, like the Chevy Trailblazer, feature highly-efficient 3-cylinder engines. Other models, like the Subaru Crosstrek, offer the choice of a standard four-cylinder engine or an optional plug-in hybrid. But if you’re a traditional SUV buyer seeking a traditional (and quite popular) small or compact SUV, we’ve got them listed below and ranked by fuel efficiency.
1. Nissan Rogue
iSeeCars Score: 8.1/10
Reliability: 8.0/10
Value Retention: 7.9/10
Safety: 8.6/10
New Price (MSRP): $28,850 - $40,630
Used Price: $16,948 - $31,394
MPG: 31 - 33 mpg
Cargo Volume: 31.6 - 36.5 cu ft
2. Toyota Corolla Cross
iSeeCars Score: Coming soon
Reliability: Coming soon
Value Retention: 8.6/10
Safety: 8.0/10
New Price (MSRP): $23,860 - $29,385
Used Price: $22,501 - $32,156
MPG: 30 - 32 mpg
Cargo Volume: 21.5 - 24.0 cu ft
3. Volkswagen Taos
iSeeCars Score: Coming soon
Reliability: Coming soon
Value Retention: 7.9/10
Safety: 8.0/10
New Price (MSRP): $23,995 - $33,515
Used Price: $19,719 - $30,000
MPG: 27 - 31 mpg
Cargo Volume: 24.9 - 27.9 cu ft
4. Honda CR-V
iSeeCars Score: 8.9/10
Reliability: 9.0/10
Value Retention: 8.6/10
Safety: 9.0/10
New Price (MSRP): $30,100 - $36,500
Used Price: $21,400 - $32,997
MPG: 29 - 30 mpg
Cargo Volume: 39.3 cu ft
5. Toyota RAV4
iSeeCars Score: 8.8/10
Reliability: 8.5/10
Value Retention: 8.7/10
Safety: 9.0/10
New Price (MSRP): $28,475 - $38,380
Used Price: $21,909 - $34,599
MPG: 28 - 30 mpg
Cargo Volume: 37.5 - 37.6 cu ft
6. Ford Escape
iSeeCars Score: 8.6/10
Reliability: 8.2/10
Value Retention: 7.6/10
Safety: 10/10
New Price (MSRP): $28,000 - $38,460
Used Price: $15,498 - $32,009
MPG: 26 - 30 mpg
Cargo Volume: 37.5 cu ft
7. Subaru Forester
iSeeCars Score: 8.6/10
Reliability: 8.3/10
Value Retention: 8.4/10
Safety: 9.0/10
New Price (MSRP): $29,695 - $39,995
Used Price: $19,967 - $34,309
MPG: 26 - 29 mpg
Cargo Volume: 26.9 - 28.9 cu ft
8. Chevrolet Equinox
iSeeCars Score: 8.6/10
Reliability: 8.0/10
Value Retention: 7.7/10
Safety: 10/10
New Price (MSRP): $26,600 - $33,400
Used Price: $15,989 - $29,432
MPG: 26 - 28 mpg
Cargo Volume: 29.9 cu ft
9. Subaru Outback
iSeeCars Score: 8.5/10
Reliability: 8.6/10
Value Retention: 8.1/10
Safety: 9.0/10
New Price (MSRP): $28,895 - $42,795
Used Price: $20,189 - $37,333
MPG: 23 - 28 mpg
Cargo Volume: 32.6 cu ft
10. Kia Sportage
iSeeCars Score: 8.2/10
Reliability: 7.6/10
Value Retention: 7.9/10
Safety: 9.0/10
New Price (MSRP): $27,190 - $37,990
Used Price: $15,914 - $32,329
MPG: 25 - 28 mpg
Cargo Volume: 39.6 cu ft
11. Hyundai Tucson
iSeeCars Score: 8.1/10
Reliability: 7.5/10
Value Retention: 8.0/10
Safety: 8.7/10
New Price (MSRP): $27,500 - $38,260
Used Price: $16,450 - $31,760
MPG: 25 - 28 mpg
Cargo Volume: 38.7 cu ft
12. Mitsubishi Outlander
iSeeCars Score: 8.1/10
Reliability: 8.2/10
Value Retention: 7.7/10
Safety: 8.4/10
New Price (MSRP): $28,395 - $40,845
Used Price: $14,994 - $34,042
MPG: 26 - 27 mpg
Cargo Volume: 11.7 cu ft
Selecting a small or compact SUV that offers the best gas mileage is a smart decision for anyone looking to balance fuel efficiency with the versatility and practicality of an SUV. The Nissan Rogue, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Volkswagen Taos are among the top contenders, but each model in our list provides a unique blend of performance, reliability, and value. Remember to consider additional features such as safety ratings, cargo space, and overall cost of ownership when making your decision.
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This article, Best Gas Mileage Small SUVs, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.