Information About Fuel Efficient SUVs

Sport/utility vehicles are not known for fuel efficiency, but, in recent years, Japanese and U.S. automakers have made strides in developing hybrids that allows some SUVs to top 30 miles per gallon. The 2009 Ford Escape hybrid leads the pack today as the most fuel-efficient SUV on the road. Rankings are determined by the U.S. Energy Department's Environmental Protection Agency.

Ford Escape

The 2009 Ford Escape hybrid ranks at the top of the list as the most fuel-efficient SUV primarily because its electric motor propels the vehicle at speeds under 30 mph on hills and up to 40 mph on flat areas. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder version with an automatic transmission earns approximately 34 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway, according to the EPA.

Mazda Tribute

The 2009 Tribute uses the Escape's 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine that automatically switches from gasoline to electrical power. With an automatic transmission, the Tribute earns almost identical numbers as the Escape. It achieves approximately 34 mpg in city driving and 31 on the highway, according to the EPA.

Mercury Mariner

Like its siblings the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute, the entry-level luxury Mariner hybrid is powered by the identical 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine/electric motor configuration and achieves the exact numbers as the other two, according to the EPA.

Saturn Vue

General Motors' compact crossover SUV, the 2009 Saturn Vue is a hybrid, but only powers the vehicle's accessories and doesn't propel the vehicle. It's powered by a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine and achieves approximately 27 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway, according to the EPA.

Chevrolet HHR

The crossover 2009 Chevrolet HHR achieves the best gas mileage of the non-hybrid SUVs. Powered by a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission, it earns approximately 16 mpg in city driving and 32 on the highway, according to the EPA. The flexible fuel version, using 85 percent ethanol, gets a far lower mpg rating of about 16/22.

Jeep Compass

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder compact crossover all-wheel-drive 2009 Jeep Compass with a manual transmission earns approximately 23 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway, making it one of the better mpg performers with all-wheel-drive, according to the EPA.

Jeep Patriot

Using the same engine as the Compass, the 2009 Patriot achieves identical numbers as its brother. Both the Patriot and Compass are Chrysler's crossover compact offerings sitting on the same size wheelbase of 103.7 inches. They serve to counter the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, which achieves the worst gas mileage of any SUV with an approximate 11/14 rating, according to the EPA.

References

• EPA's Fuel-Efficiency Rankings
• Most Fuel-Efficient Cars and SUVs
• More Fuel-Efficient SUVS