Best MPG SUVs 2026 — Best Gas Mileage, Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs

Quick answer

The most fuel-efficient 2026 SUV is the Kia Niro at 53 mpg combined (≈$1,150/yr in fuel). Next best: Toyota RAV4 (43 mpg) and Kia Sportage (42). The average SUV here gets about 23 mpg — versus 24 mpg for all new cars.

Best SUV MPG

Class average

Ranked

$1,150

Top fuel/yr

What the numbers say

Since 2010 the average SUV has gone from 19.5 to 23.7 mpg — a gain of 22% in 17 years. The last five years added another 1 mpg. The single best SUV we have on record still dates to 2024 at 53 mpg. Within the current ranking the gap runs from 27 to 53 mpg — picking the wrong end of this list costs roughly $720 a year in fuel at 12,000 miles. The typical SUV here reads 31 mpg, 5 mpg better than an average vehicle — a difference of about $246 a year. Calculated from ForCar's copy of the EPA fuel-economy database.

Most fuel-efficient 2026 SUVs — gas mileage comparison chart

Every 2026 SUV ranked by EPA combined MPG — the gas mileage the car actually returns, not the brochure figure — with the real annual fuel cost and CO₂. Tap any SUV for its recalls, reliability score and used-market price.

Model year:

FIG.01·Best MPG SUVs 2026
#	Vehicle	Combined MPG	Annual fuel	CO₂ g/mi	City/Hwy
1	Kia Niro	53	$1,150	167	53/54
2	Toyota RAV4	43	$1,450	205	47/40
3	Kia Sportage	42	$1,500	209	41/44
4	Toyota Corolla Cross	42	$1,500	211	46/39
5	Lexus NX	40	$1,950	220	42/38
6	Ford Escape	39	$1,600	225	42/36
7	Mazda CX-50	38	$1,650	233	39/37
8	Hyundai Tucson	38	$1,650	234	38/38
9	Kia Sorento	37	$1,700	240	37/36
10	Jeep Cherokee	37	$1,700	241	39/35
11	Honda CR-V	37	$1,700	237	40/34
12	Lexus RX	36	$2,150	244	37/34
13	Hyundai Santa Fe	36	$1,750	244	37/36
14	Subaru Crosstrek	36	$1,750	246	36/36
15	Toyota Grand Highlander	36	$1,750	246	37/34
16	Toyota Highlander	35	$1,800	254	35/35
17	Subaru Forester	35	$1,800	255	35/34
18	Hyundai Palisade	34	$1,850	258	33/35
19	Nissan Rogue	32	$1,950	279	29/36
20	Volkswagen Taos	31	$2,000	287	28/36
21	Hyundai Kona	31	$2,000	288	28/35
22	Nissan Kicks	31	$2,000	287	28/35
23	Hyundai Venue	31	$2,000	291	29/33
24	Chevrolet Trailblazer	31	$2,000	287	29/33
25	Buick Encore	30	$2,100	297	29/31
26	Lincoln Nautilus	30	$2,100	297	29/31
27	BMW X3	29	$2,650	299	27/33
28	Kia Seltos	29	$2,150	309	27/31
29	Volkswagen Tiguan	29	$2,150	307	26/34
30	BMW X1	28	$2,750	311	25/34
31	Mitsubishi Outlander	28	$2,200	314	26/31
32	BMW X2	28	$2,750	314	24/34
33	Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class	28	$2,750	315	25/33
34	Subaru Outback	27	$2,300	330	25/31
35	Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class	27	$2,850	324	24/33
36	Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	27	$2,850	323	24/32
37	Mazda CX-30	27	$2,300	329	24/31
38	GMC Terrain	27	$2,300	329	26/28
39	MINI Countryman	27	$2,850	324	24/32
40	Ford Bronco Sport	27	$2,300	324	25/30

ROWS 40·SOURCE EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar) · 2026

FIG.01b·Best MPG SUVs 2025
#	Vehicle	Combined MPG	Annual fuel	CO₂ g/mi	City/Hwy
1	Kia Niro	53	$1,150	167	53/54
2	Kia Sportage	43	$1,450	206	42/44
3	Toyota Corolla Cross	42	$1,500	209	45/38
4	Honda CR-V	40	$1,550	223	43/36
5	Toyota RAV4	39	$1,600	224	41/38
6	Ford Escape	39	$1,600	225	42/36
7	Lexus NX	39	$2,000	225	41/37
8	Hyundai Tucson	38	$1,650	234	38/38
9	Mazda CX-50	38	$1,650	233	39/37
10	Toyota Grand Highlander	36	$1,750	246	37/34
11	Hyundai Santa Fe	36	$1,750	249	36/35
12	Kia Sorento	36	$1,750	246	36/36
13	Lexus RX	36	$2,150	244	37/34
14	Toyota Highlander	35	$1,800	253	35/34
15	Subaru Forester	35	$1,800	255	35/34
16	Nissan Rogue	33	$1,900	269	30/37
17	Hyundai Kona	31	$2,000	288	28/35
18	Volkswagen Taos	31	$2,000	287	28/36
19	Nissan Kicks	31	$2,000	287	28/35
20	Hyundai Venue	31	$2,000	291	29/32
21	Kia Seltos	31	$2,000	288	28/34
22	Chevrolet Trailblazer	31	$2,000	287	29/33
23	Buick Encore	30	$2,100	297	29/31
24	Lincoln Nautilus	30	$2,100	290	30/31
25	Volkswagen Tiguan	29	$2,150	307	26/34
26	Subaru Crosstrek	29	$2,150	300	27/34
27	BMW X3	29	$2,650	299	27/33
28	Mazda CX-30	29	$2,150	309	26/33
29	Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class	28	$2,750	315	25/33
30	Mazda CX-5	28	$2,200	321	26/30
31	Subaru Outback	28	$2,200	314	26/32
32	BMW X1	28	$2,750	318	24/33
33	BMW X2	28	$2,750	318	24/33
34	Lexus TX	27	$2,850	322	27/28
35	GMC Terrain	27	$2,300	332	26/28
36	Jeep Compass	27	$2,300	330	24/32
37	Mitsubishi Outlander	27	$2,300	333	24/31
38	Ford Bronco Sport	27	$2,300	324	25/30
39	MINI Countryman	27	$2,850	323	24/32
40	Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	27	$2,850	323	24/32

ROWS 40·SOURCE EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar) · 2025

FIG.01c·Best MPG SUVs 2024
#	Vehicle	Combined MPG	Annual fuel	CO₂ g/mi	City/Hwy
1	Kia Niro	53	$1,150	167	53/54
2	Kia Sportage	43	$1,450	206	42/44
3	Toyota Corolla Cross	42	$1,500	209	45/38
4	Honda CR-V	40	$1,550	223	43/36
5	Ford Escape	39	$1,600	225	42/36
6	Toyota Venza	39	$1,600	227	40/37
7	Toyota RAV4	39	$1,600	224	41/38
8	Lexus NX	39	$2,000	225	41/37
9	Hyundai Tucson	38	$1,650	238	38/38
10	Kia Sorento	37	$1,700	242	39/35
11	Hyundai Santa Fe	36	$1,750	249	36/35
12	Toyota Highlander	36	$1,750	245	36/35
13	Lexus RX	36	$2,150	243	37/34
14	Toyota Grand Highlander	36	$1,750	246	37/34
15	Nissan Rogue	33	$1,900	269	30/37
16	Kia Seltos	31	$2,000	288	28/34
17	Hyundai Venue	31	$2,000	291	29/33
18	Hyundai Kona	31	$2,000	288	28/35
19	Chevrolet Trailblazer	31	$2,000	290	29/33
20	Volkswagen Taos	31	$2,000	286	28/36
21	Buick Encore	30	$2,100	297	30/31
22	Lincoln Nautilus	30	$2,100	290	30/31
23	Subaru Forester	29	$2,150	310	26/33
24	Subaru Crosstrek	29	$2,150	300	27/34
25	Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	29	$2,650	311	26/33
26	Mazda CX-30	29	$2,150	309	26/33
27	BMW X2	28	$2,750	318	24/33
28	Mazda CX-5	28	$2,200	320	26/31
29	Subaru Outback	28	$2,200	314	26/32
30	Chevrolet Equinox	28	$2,200	310	26/31
31	BMW X1	28	$2,750	314	25/34
32	Lexus TX	27	$2,850	322	27/28
33	Mazda CX-50	27	$2,300	335	24/30
34	Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class	27	$2,850	325	24/32
35	Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class	27	$2,850	330	24/32
36	Mitsubishi Outlander	27	$2,300	331	24/31
37	Jeep Compass	27	$2,300	330	24/32
38	Volkswagen Tiguan	27	$2,300	331	24/31
39	Infiniti QX50	26	$2,950	343	23/29
40	Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross	26	$2,400	339	25/28

ROWS 40·SOURCE EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar) · 2024

FIG.01d·Best MPG SUVs 2023
#	Vehicle	Combined MPG	Annual fuel	CO₂ g/mi	City/Hwy
1	Kia Sportage	43	$1,450	206	42/44
2	Toyota Corolla Cross	42	$1,500	209	45/38
3	Toyota RAV4	40	$1,550	223	41/38
4	Honda CR-V	40	$1,550	223	43/36
5	Toyota Venza	39	$1,600	227	40/37
6	Ford Escape	39	$1,600	225	42/36
7	Lexus NX	39	$2,000	225	41/37
8	Hyundai Tucson	38	$1,650	238	38/38
9	Kia Sorento	37	$1,700	242	39/35
10	Toyota Highlander	36	$1,750	245	36/35
11	Lexus RX	36	$2,150	243	37/34
12	Hyundai Santa Fe	34	$1,850	264	36/31
13	Nissan Rogue	33	$1,900	269	30/37
14	Hyundai Kona	32	$1,950	281	30/35
15	Volkswagen Taos	31	$2,000	286	28/36
16	Kia Seltos	31	$2,000	283	29/35
17	Chevrolet Trailblazer	31	$2,000	290	29/33
18	Subaru Crosstrek	30	$2,100	297	28/33
19	Buick Encore	30	$2,100	296	29/31
20	Subaru Forester	29	$2,150	310	26/33
21	Mazda CX-30	29	$2,150	309	26/33
22	Subaru Outback	28	$2,200	314	26/32
23	BMW X1	28	$2,750	313	25/34
24	Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	28	$2,750	316	25/32
25	Chevrolet Equinox	28	$2,200	317	26/31
26	Volvo XC40	27	$2,850	330	24/32
27	Jeep Compass	27	$2,300	330	24/32
28	Volkswagen Tiguan	27	$2,300	331	24/31
29	Mitsubishi Outlander	27	$2,300	332	24/31
30	Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross	27	$2,300	327	26/29
31	Ford Explorer	27	$2,300	324	27/28
32	Mazda CX-50	27	$2,300	335	24/30
33	Infiniti QX50	26	$2,950	343	23/29
34	Jeep Renegade	26	$2,400	347	23/29
35	GMC Terrain	26	$2,400	347	24/28
36	Ford Bronco Sport	26	$2,400	342	25/28
37	Cadillac XT4	26	$2,950	341	23/30
38	Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class	26	$2,950	337	23/32
39	Buick Envision	26	$2,400	337	23/31
40	Fiat 500	26	$2,400	356	24/30

ROWS 40·SOURCE EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar) · 2023

FIG.01e·Best MPG SUVs 2022
#	Vehicle	Combined MPG	Annual fuel	CO₂ g/mi	City/Hwy
1	Ford Escape	41	$1,500	220	44/37
2	Toyota RAV4	40	$1,550	223	41/38
3	Toyota Venza	39	$1,600	228	40/37
4	Lexus NX	39	$2,000	225	41/37
5	Hyundai Tucson	38	$1,650	238	38/38
6	Honda CR-V	38	$1,650	234	40/35
7	Kia Sorento	37	$1,700	242	39/35
8	Toyota Highlander	36	$1,750	245	36/35
9	Hyundai Santa Fe	34	$1,850	264	36/31
10	Nissan Rogue	33	$1,900	271	30/37
11	Toyota Corolla Cross	32	$1,950	275	31/33
12	Hyundai Kona	32	$1,950	284	29/35
13	Kia Seltos	31	$2,000	283	29/35
14	Volkswagen Taos	31	$2,000	286	28/36
15	Chevrolet Trailblazer	31	$2,000	289	29/33
16	Subaru Crosstrek	30	$2,100	297	28/33
17	Buick Encore	30	$2,100	297	29/32
18	Lexus RX	30	$2,550	297	31/28
19	Subaru Outback	29	$2,150	308	26/33
20	Subaru Forester	29	$2,150	310	26/33
21	Chevrolet Equinox	28	$2,200	318	26/31
22	GMC Terrain	27	$2,300	330	25/30
23	Ford Explorer	27	$2,300	324	27/28
24	Mitsubishi Outlander	27	$2,300	328	24/31
25	Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross	27	$2,300	327	26/29
26	Jeep Renegade	27	$2,300	329	24/32
27	Chevrolet Trax	27	$2,300	329	24/32
28	Cadillac XT4	26	$2,950	341	24/30
29	Kia Sportage	26	$2,400	350	23/30
30	Ford Bronco Sport	26	$2,400	342	25/28
31	Fiat 500	26	$2,400	356	24/30
32	Buick Envision	26	$2,400	341	24/31
33	Infiniti QX50	26	$2,950	348	23/29
34	Volvo XC60	26	$2,950	345	23/30
35	Audi Q3	26	$2,400	346	23/30
36	Volvo XC40	26	$2,400	340	23/32
37	Volkswagen Tiguan	26	$2,400	346	23/30
38	Jeep Cherokee	26	$2,400	345	23/31
39	Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class	26	$2,950	337	23/32
40	Mazda CX-30	26	$2,400	334	24/31

ROWS 40·SOURCE EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar) · 2022

FIG.01f·Best MPG SUVs 2021
#	Vehicle	Combined MPG	Annual fuel	CO₂ g/mi	City/Hwy
1	Ford Escape	41	$1,500	220	44/37
2	Toyota RAV4	40	$1,550	223	41/38
3	Toyota Venza	39	$1,600	227	40/37
4	Honda CR-V	38	$1,650	234	40/35
5	Kia Sorento	37	$1,700	242	39/35
6	Toyota Highlander	36	$1,750	245	36/35
7	Hyundai Santa Fe	34	$1,850	264	36/31
8	Nissan Rogue	33	$1,900	275	30/36
9	Kia Seltos	31	$2,000	285	29/34
10	Chevrolet Trailblazer	31	$2,000	288	29/33
11	Lexus NX	31	$2,000	285	33/30
12	Buick Encore	31	$2,000	288	30/32
13	Lexus RX	30	$2,550	297	31/28
14	Hyundai Kona	30	$2,100	303	28/32
15	Subaru Crosstrek	30	$2,100	297	28/33
16	Subaru Forester	29	$2,150	309	26/33
17	Subaru Outback	29	$2,150	308	26/33
18	Mazda CX-5	28	$2,200	322	25/31
19	Mazda CX-30	28	$2,200	313	25/33
20	Chevrolet Equinox	28	$2,200	318	26/31
21	Ford EcoSport	28	$2,200	318	27/29
22	Chevrolet Trax	28	$2,200	316	26/31
23	Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class	27	$2,850	327	24/33
24	Mitsubishi Outlander	27	$2,300	331	24/30
25	GMC Terrain	27	$2,300	329	25/30
26	Ford Explorer	27	$2,300	324	27/28
27	BMW X3	27	$2,850	332	25/29
28	Jeep Renegade	27	$2,300	329	24/32
29	Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class	26	$2,950	347	23/30
30	Volvo XC40	26	$2,400	340	23/32
31	Infiniti QX50	26	$2,950	349	23/29
32	Jeep Cherokee	26	$2,400	345	23/31
33	Ford Bronco Sport	26	$2,400	342	25/28
34	Cadillac XT4	26	$2,950	336	24/30
35	Kia Sportage	26	$2,400	349	23/30
36	Fiat 500	26	$2,400	356	24/30
37	Buick Envision	26	$2,400	341	24/31
38	Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class	25	$3,100	360	22/29
39	Lincoln Corsair	25	$2,500	361	22/29
40	Volvo XC60	25	$3,100	359	22/29

ROWS 40·SOURCE EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar) · 2021

Source: EPA fuel-economy data, 2026, best variant per SUV. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate at ~15,000 mi/yr.

How SUVs changed over 17 years

Average EPA combined mpg of every SUV sold in the US, model year by model year. A ranking shows you today; this shows whether the class is actually getting better — and most published SUV lists never ask:

FIG.02·SUVs average mpg, 2010–2027

RANGE 20 → 24·SOURCE EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar) · 2010–2027

Each point is the mean of every SUV variant EPA rated that model year (at least 12 per year, 5,726 in total). Averages move slowly because they include the whole class, not just the leaders — 2027's best SUV reaches 41 mpg, well ahead of the 23.7 average.

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Which brand makes the most efficient SUVs?

Average combined MPG across each brand's 2026 SUV lineup:

FIG.03·Best MPG SUV brands

Kia4 SUVs32 mpg

Toyota7 SUVs29 mpg

Hyundai6 SUVs27 mpg

Mazda5 SUVs27 mpg

Subaru4 SUVs27 mpg

Lexus5 SUVs26 mpg

Mitsubishi2 SUVs26 mpg

Volvo3 SUVs25 mpg

Volkswagen3 SUVs25 mpg

Buick3 SUVs25 mpg

TOP 10·UNIT avg mpg·SOURCE EPA (ForCar) · 2026

What's a good MPG for a SUV?

For 2026, the average SUV gets about 23 mpg combined. Anything above that beats the class; the best on this list reaches 53 mpg. Compared with 24 mpg for all new vehicles, SUVs trade some economy for space, capability or performance.

The most efficient one — the Niro — costs about $1,150/yr to fuel, saving roughly $1,133/yr versus a typical 23-mpg SUV.

Same SUVs, other running costs: safety & insurance

MPG is only one piece of ownership cost. For the same class, compare the safest SUVs by NHTSA crash-test score and what they cost to insure by vehicle type.

Best MPG by other body types

Best MPG by body type
List	Tops the list	Best figure
Best MPG Trucks	Ford Maverick	38 mpg
Best MPG Sedans & Cars	Toyota Prius	57 mpg
Best MPG AWD Cars	Toyota Prius	54 mpg
Best MPG Hybrids	Toyota Prius	57 mpg
Best MPG Wagons	Honda CR-V	40 mpg
Best MPG Minivans	Toyota Sienna	36 mpg
Best MPG V8 Cars	Mercedes-Benz S-Class	21 mpg
Best MPG Two-Seaters	Mazda MX-5	29 mpg
Best MPG Diesel Trucks	Chevrolet Silverado	26 mpg
Best MPG Hybrid SUVs	Kia Niro	53 mpg
Best MPG Electric Cars	Lucid Air	146 MPGe
All best MPG cars	Every class in one ranking	—

ROWS 12·SOURCE EPA fuel economy

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Best MPG SUVs — FAQ

Which SUV has the best gas mileage?

The Kia Niro is the most fuel-efficient SUV at 53 mpg combined (2026 EPA data), about $1,150/yr in fuel.

What's a good MPG for a SUV?

The average 2026 SUV gets about 23 mpg combined — anything above that is good, and the leaders reach 53 mpg.

How is this ranked?

By EPA combined MPG for each SUV, using the most efficient variant per model. Every figure is official EPA data hosted by ForCar — the full 2026 field, not a hand-picked ten.

Fuel-economy figures from the EPA (fueleconomy.gov), hosted in ForCar's database. Ranking is ForCar's own aggregation. Last updated Aug 2026. — ForCar Editorial Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

Best MPG SUVs — Best Gas Mileage SUVs by EPA Rating

Most fuel-efficient 2026 SUVs — gas mileage comparison chart

How SUVs changed over 17 years

MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.

Which brand makes the most efficient SUVs?

What's a good MPG for a SUV?

Same SUVs, other running costs: safety & insurance

Best MPG by other body types

Best MPG SUVs — FAQ