What Hybrid SUV Gets the Best Gas Mileage?

For those who are buying a car and want to be a little more conscious of the environment (and, let’s be honest, save tons of gas money), a hybrid is a great choice.

And SUVs are still an excellent option for many families. But which hybrid SUV really gets the best gas mileage?

The Ford Escape Hybrid gets the best gas mileage, achieving 41 combined MPG. Surprisingly, the highly-rated and very popular Escape is even priced the lowest, making it a tempting choice. The Toyota RAV4 comes in second with a combined 40 MPG and an $800 price increase.

In this article, we’ll discuss several options for the best large, mid-size, and small SUV hybrids. Each of these has great mpg ratings for its weight class.

Recommended Reading: Our Top Picks — 10 Used SUVs with Best Gas Mileage

Lexus RX Hybrid

First up, we have the Lexus RX Hybrid. It stays true to the Lexus luxury brand with a gorgeous interior and exterior design, and because it’s a hybrid, it has great gas mileage as well

.Lexus rates the RX Hybrid at 30 MPG combined, achieving 31 in the city and 28 on the highway. 

The Lexus RX Hybrid is also a great choice for a bigger family because it can seat 6 or 7, while most of our other contenders can only seat 5. 

The base model of the Lexus RX Hybrid starts at $48,020, which is a bit of a jump from the others on this list.

For a luxury brand, though, it’s worth it.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The Toyota Highlander was one of the first large SUVs to come out with a hybrid option, so, unsurprisingly, it makes the list. 

The Highlander comes standard with front-wheel drive and averages at 36 MPG combined, with 36 MPG in the city and 35 on the highway, making it possible for you to get great gas mileage wherever you go.

The Highlander Hybrid’s base model is priced to start at $38,735, but, unlike its sister car, the Lexus RX, this one seats 8 at the base trim level, going down to 7 in the upper trims. 

Riding in an older Highlander hybrid’s third row can be a bit cramped, specifically in regards to legroom, even for those who are of average height. 

However, the Highlander now offers a comfortable ride for everyone in the vehicle.

Kia Sorento Hybrid

The Kia Sorento Hybrid’s base price is $33,990, putting it below the Highlander in price even though it tops it in gas mileage.

Though the gas mileage for the all-wheel-drive Sorento remains unannounced, the front-wheel-drive model gets 37 MPG combined, with 39 in the city and 35 on the highway. 

This puts it neck and neck with the Honda CR-V. 

The 6-seater mid-size SUV is built on the same platform as its sister car, the Hyundai Santa Fe.

In older models, the Kia Sorento made it difficult to get into the backseat, but now, 2nd-row captain’s chairs offer easy access to the third row, as well as great legroom.

Honda CR-V Hybrid

The Honda CR-V is a fan and tester favorite, evidenced by the many times it has won MotorTrend‘s SUV of the Year award. 

The CR-V Hybrid comes next with 38 MPG combined, 40 MPG in the city, and 35 MPG on the highway.

This vehicle’s base model is priced at $30,960, making it just a bit more expensive than its competitors.

This 5-seater is perfect for small families or even for seniors.

This SUV also comes standard with all-wheel drive, bringing that extra level of safety to your everyday commute.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid gets 40 MPG combined, with 41 MPG in the city and 38 MPG on the highway.

This SUV has the second-best gas mileage on our list, along with the second-best price. 

The RAV4 is another model with a large following, especially coming from a brand as well known as Toyota. 

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is priced starting at $28,900.

Able to seat 5 people, the RAV4 is the perfect small SUV for any journey, whether it’s a weekend camping trip or the 20-minute commute to work.

The RAV4 is also available as a RAV4 Prime, a plug-in hybrid version of the regular hybrid. 

This bumps the starting price up to $38,350, for what seems to be lower gas mileage.

Ford Escape Hybrid

The Ford Escape Hybrid is reported to get an astounding 44 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway, giving it a combined average of 41 MPG. 

The Escape is also priced the lowest, at $28,030, and it seats 5, just like its competitors. 

This combination makes it perfect for small families.

It comes standard with front-wheel drive and Ford Co-Pilot360° technology.

Additionally, the Ford Escape is available as a plug-in hybrid option, which starts at a price of about $33,075. 

The only spot the Ford Escape loses points is the design, in both the exterior and interior. 

Escape owners usually criticize the cheap and plasticky inserts, along with what MotorTrend calls “forgettable” styling. 

But if you’re just looking for the best gas mileage, the Ford Escape Hybrid is the SUV for you.

Hybrid SUVs Coming Soon

There are also several hybrids coming soon from more of those big car names: specifically Kia and Hyundai. 

With the success of Hyundai’s Sonata hybrid and their older Azera, Hyundai fans are anxious to see the new hybrid versions of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai Tucson, which are being released soon for the 2022 model year.

The Tucson Hybrid is priced starting at $29,050, while the Santa Fe Hybrid starts at $33,750. 

Gas mileage hasn’t yet been confirmed, but the Santa Fe is said to go up to 36 MPG, while the Tucson can go to 38 MPG.

There is also speculation about a possible Kia Telluride hybrid because the initial concept of the Kia Telluride was a hybrid. 

However, Hyundai has said that its sister car, the Palisade, has no current plans to release a hybrid model of the vehicle, meaning that it’s improbable that a hybrid will be released of either the Telluride or the Palisade for at least a couple of years.