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Best Gas Mileage Small and Compact SUVs for 2024

ISeeCars.com
·6 min read

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

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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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iSeeCars.com is a data-driven car search and research company that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, including the iSeeCars VIN Check report and Best Cars Rankings. iSeeCars has saved users over $418 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.

This article, Best Gas Mileage Small SUVs, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.