Undoubtedly, all-wheel drive provides many benefits, making it the most popular car driving system today. It performs well in various road situations, including snow, sand, and off-road.
Furthermore, AWD delivers superior acceleration. No wonder sports vehicles are frequently equipped with it.
I’m a fan of all-wheel-drive, especially in SUVs. You are undoubtedly a lover if you’re reading this, so there’s no doubt about it.
However, AWD is inefficient in terms of fuel efficiency causes us to think twice before purchasing a vehicle with AWD. When gas prices skyrocket like now, going with a fuel-efficient automobile makes plenty of sense.
That is why I’ve compiled a list of the most popular AWD SUVs with the best fuel efficiency for your convenience. Hybrid SUVs and plug-in hybrid SUVs are also included in the list.
Top Pick’s
Honda CR-V Hybrid
- MPG: 40 City, 35 Hwy
- Class: Compact SUV
- Starting Price: $31,610 MSRP
- Seat: 5
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- MPG: 41 City, 38 Hwy
- Class: Compact SUV
- Starting Price: $29,000 MSRP
- Seat: 5
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
- MPG: 38 City, 38 Hwy
- Class: Compact SUV
- Starting Price: $29,350 MSRP
- Seat: 5
Table of Contents
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has an EPA-estimated 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. It’s powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motors that generate a combined 219 horsepower.
The RAV4 hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive, making it an excellent choice for buyers who need an SUV with good traction in all conditions.
Other features that make this SUV stand out include a standard 8-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist.
Honda CR-V Hybrid
The Honda CR-V Hybrid is one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market. It has a combined fuel economy rating of 40 mpg, which is excellent for an SUV.
The CR-V Hybrid also has a very powerful engine, making it an excellent choice for those who need a little more power than the standard CR-V.
The Honda CR-V also has a spacious interior, making it an excellent choice for families. You will love how the CR-V drives and be amazed at how much fuel it saves.
Lexus NX 350h
The Lexus NX Hybrid is a great option if you’re looking for a Luxury AWD SUV with excellent fuel economy.
This vehicle has an MPG rating of 41 in the city and 37 on the highway. It also has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors combined to produce 240 horsepower.
Luxury AWD SUV With Best Gas Mileage
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Other features of the Lexus NX Hybrid include a 10.3-inch infotainment system, leather upholstery, and adaptive cruise control.
The NX Hybrid is an excellent choice for a luxurious and fuel-efficient SUV. Some other notable features of this vehicle include a hands-free power liftgate and a sunroof.
Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is a great option if you’re looking for an SUV with excellent gas mileage. It has a combined fuel economy rating of 38 MPG and is available with all-wheel drive.
It also has many features that make it an excellent choice for families, including plenty of cargo space and standard safety features.
The car features a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor to power the car. The combined output of the two is 226 horsepower.
Kia Sorento Hybrid
The Kia Sorento Hybrid is one of the most fuel-efficient AWD SUVs on the market, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 36 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. It’s powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor producing 227 horsepower.
The Sorento Hybrid has an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available.
Standard features in the Sorento Hybrid include a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is ideal if you need a 3-row SUV with 7 passengers. This family SUV gets an impressive 35 mpg in the city and on the highway. It also has a V6 engine with 295 horsepower.
The car features all of the standard amenities you would expect in an SUV, such as cargo space and comfortable seating for up to eight passengers.
It also has a long list of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automated emergency braking.
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
The next SUV on our list is the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. This SUV has a gas mileage of 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
The Santa Fe Hybrid has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor that produces up to 226 horsepower. This SUV also has all-wheel drive, which is essential if you want to be able to drive in all types of weather conditions.
You can tell that Hyundai put a lot of thought into the design of this SUV because it has a sleek and modern look. Another great feature of the Santa Fe Hybrid is that it comes with a sunroof.
Ford Escape PHEV
The Ford Escape Hybrid and Plug-in hybrid are Compact SUV crossovers that deserve attention. Equipped with a responsive new engine, fuel economy, easy handling like a car, comfy seating space, and fine cabin materials can make the Ford Escape a serious challenger in its class.
Under the hood are a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combined produce 200 horsepower for the hybrid and 221 horsepower for the Plug-in hybrid version.
Plug-in Hybrid AWD SUV with Best Gas Mileage
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Fuel consumption is excellent for a hybrid SUV with all-wheel drive, reaching 43 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway. The Escape Phev delivers fuel efficiency of up to 105 MPG-equivalent both in the city and on the highway, which is fantastic.
Toyota RAV4 Prime
The Toyota RAV4 Prime is one of the market’s most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive SUVs. It gets a fuel efficiency of up to 94 MPG equivalent in combined city/highway driving, which is good in its class. When the battery runs out, and the engine runs on gasoline power, it gets 38 mpg on the city and highway.
The RAV4 Prime is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combine to produce 302 horsepower.
Some of the features worth considering include its standard safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and automated emergency braking. It also has a spacious interior and a comfortable ride.
Toyota Corolla Cross
Finally, we have the Toyota Corolla Cross. It is a brand-new model from Toyota and comes with excellent fuel economy. The Corolla Cross has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a CVT.
The engine produces 169 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. The Toyota Corolla Cross with all-wheel drive has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 29 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
Pure Gas-powered AWD SUV With Best Gas Mileage
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You will love the Toyota Corolla Cross if you are looking for a fuel-efficient SUV that is also very affordable.
Why is the MPG rating so important?
MPG or miles per gallon measures how fuel efficient a vehicle is. The higher the MPG, the less fuel the car consumes per mile driven. That is important for two reasons.
First, it saves you money on fuel costs. Second, it reduces your vehicle’s environmental impact.
Many factors affect a vehicle’s MPG rating, such as weight, aerodynamics, and engine efficiency. However, one of the most important factors is the type of drivetrain.
All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles have power sent to all four wheels. That provides better traction and stability, especially in slippery or off-road conditions.
However, AWD drivetrains are typically less fuel efficient than their two-wheel drive (2WD) counterparts. This is because they have more weight and friction to overcome.
Can you have a fuel-efficient SUV with an all-wheel drive?
Yes, several all-wheel drive SUVs get excellent gas mileage. These SUVs have fuel-efficient engines and aerodynamic designs that help them to consume less fuel.
However, they typically cost more than their 2WD counterparts. You will also find that their cargo and passenger space is often reduced to save weight and improve fuel economy.
Ensure that you consider these factors when choosing the right SUV for your needs.
Conclusion
All-wheel drive SUVs are very reliable for various driving needs. AWD’s advantages are enough to make people compromise on its limitations, such as its relatively higher fuel consumption than FWD or RWD vehicles.
However, when choosing carefully, you will still be able to find an AWD SUV with good fuel consumption. Hybrid and Plug-in hybrids can be the solution to this problem.
What about EV SUVs? Electric SUVs are a much better solution, but today the price of Electric SUVs is still very high compared to Hybrid and PHEV SUVs. So, I didn’t include them in the list above because people who can afford to buy an electric SUV with AWD are unlikely to think about gasoline costs.
