Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Crossovers

Crossovers have pretty much taken over the Sport Utility Vehicle market, thanks to lower prices, better fuel efficiency and the handling that comes part-in-parcel with being based on a car platform versus truck architecture. Additionally, many crossovers boast the same off-road capabilities as SUVs while offering improved safety and the high driving position that SUV buyers like. With fuel economy becoming an important priority to new car buyers, we decided to put together a top 10 list of the most efficient new or updated crossovers. It might be a bit odd to see a Jeep on a list about crossovers, but the Patriot here is based on the same platform as the old Dodge Caliber. The Patriot trades some of Jeep’s traditional off-road capability for better fuel efficiency. Using the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, the Patriot is able to get an EPA tested 29 MPG on the highway and 23 MPG in the city. The combined number is a frugal 25 mpg, which is enough to place the Patriot right at number 10 on our list. Other crossovers that make that benchmark include the Chevrolet Equinox, and Kia Sorento, which are slightly bigger than the Patriot we see here.

Recently the Tucson got a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which puts out a fairly low 165 hp. However, the name of the game here is fuel economy and in this area, the Tucson impresses by getting a 23/31 mpg city/highway, which comes to a solid 26 mpg combined. This is all achieved on the $19,145 automatic-equipped Hyundai Tucson GL, which is only available with front wheel drive. This engine and drive-train setup achieves a slightly lower combined fuel economy in the Kia Sorento and Sportage.

The updated CR-V makes this list by offering a solid combination of power and fuel economy. By using a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 185 hp, the CR-V is one of the most powerful vehicles on the list. Honda’s i-VTEC engine technology is one of the key factors at play here. Even with it’s superb power rating, the CR-V manages to stay easy at the pumps, with a 23/31 MPG city/highway that combines for 26 MPG altogether. Those are pretty nice ratings for the Honda crossover, even when equipped with all-wheel drive the CR-V doesn’t loose too much fuel economy, and manages 25 mpg combined.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is another crossover based on the same Mitsubishi GS platform shared with the Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass. However, here the Sport is lighter, and equipped with Mitsubishi’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which can get 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, which combines for 27 mpg. This is done thanks to Mitsubishi’s CVT paired with the two-wheel drive to be as efficient as the platform will allow.

The new Ford Escape comes in slightly smaller and less boxy than its last generation. New for 2013 is the EcoBoost engines, with the 1.6 liter providing 178 hp and when paired front wheel drive can prove to be quite economical. According to Ford’s documentation, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost will return 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, which combines for an above average 28 mpg. Ford has two other engine choices for the Escape, which are both fairly efficient and can get 25 mpg with the front-wheel drive model.

When creating the CX-5 crossover, Mazda went to the drawing board to create a vehicle that was fun to drive, yet fuel efficient. This is the SkyActiv philosophy that is helping the CX-5 get noticed. By using all the SkyActiv Technologies and lightweight materials the CX-5 can get one of the best EPA rated mpg numbers on this list. 26/35 mpg city/highway equals about 29 mpg combined, and that number should be achievable in both manual or automatic transmission. The CX-5 also tops sits atop our list with the best high-way fuel rating.

The Nissan Juke might be funny looking, but that doesn’t discredit it’s crossover origins. The Juke gets on this list thanks to its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine which pumps out 188 hp. Thanks to the Juke’s light weight, that 188 hp helps it get 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. That’s not bad for the little frog-eyed crossover, and is enough to make it the most fuel efficient gas-only powered crossover on our list.

It should come as no surprise that the Lexus RX450h claims the number one spot on our list. It’s also the only hybrid crossover here, and thanks to its electric motors and fuel-friendly 3.5-liter V6, the RX450h can get 30 mpg combined. Even more impressive is the crossover’s 32 mpg in city driving, a situation where the car’s two (or three in AWD models) electric motors are a huge help. Of course, even though the Lexus sits at the top of this list, it also has the highest MSRP, coming in at $45,910.