The most fuel-efficient SUVs
Diesels and hybrids as assessed by our fuel testers
Results indicate real-world fuel economy
The question 'What is the best economical 4x4 or SUV?' is one of the most common ones we face at What Car?, and our real-world fuel testers have been testing a whole array to find the answer.
What Car?’s technicians drive new cars every week to capture our True MPG fuel economy data. Unlike official Government figures generated by a laboratory test, the numbers we publish are gained from real-world conditions.
1. Honda CR-V 1.6 iDTEC 2WD – official 62.0mpg: True MPG 56.5mpg
The Honda CR-V doesn't have the best official fuel economy on this list, but it has proved the most economical in real-world conditions in our tests. This is the most efficient version of Honda's SUV, and is aimed at on-road driving with its 1.6-litre diesel and 2WD setup.
2. Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI Greenline – official 61.4mpg: True MPG 55.7mpg
In many ways the Skoda Yeti is more like a big hatchback than a large SUV, due to its sharp steering and handling. It's got a practical and spacious cabin, though, and the 4x4 versions are surprisingly capable off road. This version is the 2WD model, complete with the Greenline 1.6-litre diesel.
3. Suzuki SX4 S-Cross – official 67.2mpg: True MPG 55.7mpg
One big thing in the SX4 S-Cross's favour is that it is cheap to buy versus rivals, and our real-world tests show it should be cheap to run as well. Like many other cars up the top of this list, this is the 2WD version, and it comes with a 1.6-litre diesel. Be aware that the diesel is quite a noisy unit, and rear headroom can be tight if you go for the sunroof, but it is otherwise a practical and family friendly car.
4. Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi 2WD – official 74.3mpg: True MPG 54.7mpg
Two versions of the Nissan Qashqai warrant inclusion in this list, but it is the 1.5-litre diesel that is marginally more economical, with a real-world economy figure of 54.7mpg. The 1.6-litre diesel is not far behind, though, with a True MPG of 53.0mpg. Either way, it is a fantastic small SUV and a worthy winner of the 2014 Car of the Year award.
5. Audi Q3 2.0 TDI 140 – official 54.3mpg: True MPG 51.5mpg
This lower powered diesel is the pick of the Audi Q3 range, and its economy is just one of the reasons for that. It is powerful, pulls well, and should be good for 51.5mpg – not far off its official rating. Part of the reason for this economy is the fact that this version is only available in 2WD, but it is an upmarket road-going SUV.
6. Mercedes GLA 200 CDI – official 62.8mpg: True MPG 51.5mpg
The cheaper versions of the Mercedes GLA are the ones that make most sense, like this GLA 200, which our testers reckon is capable of an average economy of 51.5mpg on normal roads. Be aware that it is expensive to buy, and it is not that much more practical than a regular Mercedes A-Class hatchback.
7. Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi – official 52.3mpg: True MPG 49.7mpg
While not the most economical car in this list, the Sportage has the honour of getting closest to its official fuel economy in our tests, because our technicians found it was just 2.6mpg shy of the government rating. This is from the smallest diesel engine in the Sportage's range, the 1.7-litre. The 2.0-litre is the better car to drive, but its real-world fuel economy isn't as good as the 1.7's, at 36.4mpg.
8. Toyota RAV4 2.0 D-4D – official 57.6mpg: True MPG 46.9mpg
The Toyota RAV4 is large and practical, both in the cabin and in the boot. The diesel engine in this version is the most economical, but it isn't the most refined and is slightly weedy. Despite this, it should be economical to run, with a real-world economiy of 46.9mpg. Be aware that similarly specified rivals cost less to buy up front, though.
9. Mazda CX-5 2.2 Skyactiv – official 53.0mpg: True MPG 46.3mpg
In terms of star rating, the Mazda CX-5 is one of the highest rated cars you can buy in this category, and its official CO2 emissions are one of the best you can get in this class as well. This translates to a decent, but not class-leading, real-world economy of 46.3mpg from a diesel engine that we describe as 'a real peach.'
10. Nissan X-Trail 1.6 dCi 4WD – official 53.3mpg: True MPG 45.7mpg
The second Nissan on this list is the recently launched X-Trail. We've not fuel tested the 2WD version with the 1.6-litre diesel engine yet, but the 4WD X-Trail doesn't disappoint on the economy front, with a real-world figure of 45.7mpg. The 1.6 diesel is the only option, but it is a decent one, and carries the large X-Trail well.
11. Lexus NX300h – official 54.3mpg: True MPG 45.5mpg
Every car on this list is a diesel, bar one: the Lexus NX300h. The hybrid SUV has an official figure of 54.3mpg, which it gets within 10mpg of on our real-world tests. It scored 45.5mpg at the hands of our testers. With an official rating of 121g/km, it emits less than many other rivals as well
Diesels and hybrids as assessed by our fuel testers
Results indicate real-world fuel economy
The question 'What is the best economical 4x4 or SUV?' is one of the most common ones we face at What Car?, and our real-world fuel testers have been testing a whole array to find the answer.
What Car?’s technicians drive new cars every week to capture our True MPG fuel economy data. Unlike official Government figures generated by a laboratory test, the numbers we publish are gained from real-world conditions.
1. Honda CR-V 1.6 iDTEC 2WD – official 62.0mpg: True MPG 56.5mpg
The Honda CR-V doesn't have the best official fuel economy on this list, but it has proved the most economical in real-world conditions in our tests. This is the most efficient version of Honda's SUV, and is aimed at on-road driving with its 1.6-litre diesel and 2WD setup.
2. Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI Greenline – official 61.4mpg: True MPG 55.7mpg
In many ways the Skoda Yeti is more like a big hatchback than a large SUV, due to its sharp steering and handling. It's got a practical and spacious cabin, though, and the 4x4 versions are surprisingly capable off road. This version is the 2WD model, complete with the Greenline 1.6-litre diesel.
3. Suzuki SX4 S-Cross – official 67.2mpg: True MPG 55.7mpg
One big thing in the SX4 S-Cross's favour is that it is cheap to buy versus rivals, and our real-world tests show it should be cheap to run as well. Like many other cars up the top of this list, this is the 2WD version, and it comes with a 1.6-litre diesel. Be aware that the diesel is quite a noisy unit, and rear headroom can be tight if you go for the sunroof, but it is otherwise a practical and family friendly car.
4. Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi 2WD – official 74.3mpg: True MPG 54.7mpg
Two versions of the Nissan Qashqai warrant inclusion in this list, but it is the 1.5-litre diesel that is marginally more economical, with a real-world economy figure of 54.7mpg. The 1.6-litre diesel is not far behind, though, with a True MPG of 53.0mpg. Either way, it is a fantastic small SUV and a worthy winner of the 2014 Car of the Year award.
5. Audi Q3 2.0 TDI 140 – official 54.3mpg: True MPG 51.5mpg
This lower powered diesel is the pick of the Audi Q3 range, and its economy is just one of the reasons for that. It is powerful, pulls well, and should be good for 51.5mpg – not far off its official rating. Part of the reason for this economy is the fact that this version is only available in 2WD, but it is an upmarket road-going SUV.
6. Mercedes GLA 200 CDI – official 62.8mpg: True MPG 51.5mpg
The cheaper versions of the Mercedes GLA are the ones that make most sense, like this GLA 200, which our testers reckon is capable of an average economy of 51.5mpg on normal roads. Be aware that it is expensive to buy, and it is not that much more practical than a regular Mercedes A-Class hatchback.
7. Kia Sportage 1.7 CRDi – official 52.3mpg: True MPG 49.7mpg
While not the most economical car in this list, the Sportage has the honour of getting closest to its official fuel economy in our tests, because our technicians found it was just 2.6mpg shy of the government rating. This is from the smallest diesel engine in the Sportage's range, the 1.7-litre. The 2.0-litre is the better car to drive, but its real-world fuel economy isn't as good as the 1.7's, at 36.4mpg.
8. Toyota RAV4 2.0 D-4D – official 57.6mpg: True MPG 46.9mpg
The Toyota RAV4 is large and practical, both in the cabin and in the boot. The diesel engine in this version is the most economical, but it isn't the most refined and is slightly weedy. Despite this, it should be economical to run, with a real-world economiy of 46.9mpg. Be aware that similarly specified rivals cost less to buy up front, though.
9. Mazda CX-5 2.2 Skyactiv – official 53.0mpg: True MPG 46.3mpg
In terms of star rating, the Mazda CX-5 is one of the highest rated cars you can buy in this category, and its official CO2 emissions are one of the best you can get in this class as well. This translates to a decent, but not class-leading, real-world economy of 46.3mpg from a diesel engine that we describe as 'a real peach.'
10. Nissan X-Trail 1.6 dCi 4WD – official 53.3mpg: True MPG 45.7mpg
The second Nissan on this list is the recently launched X-Trail. We've not fuel tested the 2WD version with the 1.6-litre diesel engine yet, but the 4WD X-Trail doesn't disappoint on the economy front, with a real-world figure of 45.7mpg. The 1.6 diesel is the only option, but it is a decent one, and carries the large X-Trail well.
11. Lexus NX300h – official 54.3mpg: True MPG 45.5mpg
Every car on this list is a diesel, bar one: the Lexus NX300h. The hybrid SUV has an official figure of 54.3mpg, which it gets within 10mpg of on our real-world tests. It scored 45.5mpg at the hands of our testers. With an official rating of 121g/km, it emits less than many other rivals as well
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