2012 rankings · SUVs

Most Fuel-Efficient 2012 SUVs, Ranked

We ranked all 94 EPA-rated 2012 SUVs by what they cost to fuel. The Toyota RAV4 EV leads at about $1,188 a year (76 MPGe), while the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is the most expensive to run at $4,558 (13 MPG). The median SUV costs $2,447 a year to fuel. The class includes 2 electric and 8 hybrid or plug-in models.

Fuel costs assume 15,000 miles a year at $3.10/gal regular, $3.95/gal premium and 18¢/kWh. Each model is shown in its most efficient configuration.

Top 15

Annual fuel cost (lower is better)
  1. 1Toyota RAV4 EV76 MPGe $1,188
  2. 2Ford Escape Hybrid32 MPG $1,453
  3. 3BYD e662 MPGe $1,458
  4. 4Toyota Highlander Hybrid28 MPG $1,661
  5. 5Mitsubishi Outlander27 MPG $1,722
  6. 6Honda CR-V26 MPG $1,788
  7. 7Chevrolet Equinox26 MPG $1,788
  8. 8GMC Terrain26 MPG $1,788
  9. 9Subaru Legacy/Outback25 MPG $1,860
  10. 10Kia Sportage25 MPG $1,860
  11. 11Ford Escape25 MPG $1,860
  12. 12Hyundai Tucson25 MPG $1,860
  13. 13Jeep Compass25 MPG $1,860
  14. 14Jeep Patriot25 MPG $1,860
  15. 15Nissan Rogue25 MPG $1,860

All 94 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Toyota RAV4 EV Electric 76 MPGe 103 mi $1,188
2Ford Escape Hybrid Hybrid 32 MPG — $1,453
3BYD e6 Electric 62 MPGe 122 mi $1,458
4Toyota Highlander Hybrid Hybrid 28 MPG — $1,661
5Mitsubishi Outlander Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
6Honda CR-V Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
7Chevrolet Equinox Flex-fuel 26 MPG — $1,788
8GMC Terrain Flex-fuel 26 MPG — $1,788
9Subaru Legacy/Outback Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
10Kia Sportage Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
11Ford Escape Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
12Hyundai Tucson Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
13Jeep Compass Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
14Jeep Patriot Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
15Nissan Rogue Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
16Toyota RAV4 Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
17Kia Sorento Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
18Ford Edge Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
19Honda Crosstour Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
20Ford Explorer Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
21Subaru Forester Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
22Hyundai Santa Fe Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
23Toyota Venza Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
24Chevrolet Captiva Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
25Lexus RX Hybrid Hybrid 29 MPG — $2,043
26Suzuki Grand Vitara Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
27Toyota Highlander Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
28Mazda CX-7 Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
29Dodge Journey Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
30GMC Yukon Hybrid Hybrid 21 MPG — $2,214
31Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Hybrid 21 MPG — $2,214
32Lexus RX Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
33Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Hybrid 21 MPG — $2,214
34Volvo XC70 Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
35Lincoln MKX Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
36Volvo XC60 Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
37Nissan Murano Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
38Honda Pilot Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
39Lincoln MKT Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
40Saab 9-4 Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
41Toyota 4Runner Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
42Jeep Grand Cherokee Flex-fuel 19 MPG — $2,447
43Dodge Durango Flex-fuel 19 MPG — $2,447
44Volvo XC90 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
45Cadillac SRX Flex-fuel 19 MPG — $2,447
46Toyota FJ Cruiser Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
47Mazda CX-9 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
48GMC Acadia Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
49Hyundai Veracruz Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
50Buick Enclave Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
51Ford Flex Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
52Chevrolet Traverse Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
53Volkswagen Tiguan Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
54Volkswagen Touareg Diesel Diesel 22 MPG — $2,523
55Jeep Wrangler Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
56Nissan Xterra Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
57Jeep Liberty Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
58Subaru Tribeca Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
59Land Rover LR2 Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
60BMW X5 Diesel Diesel 21 MPG — $2,643
61Land Rover Range Rover Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
62Audi Q5 Gas 22 MPG — $2,693
63Chevrolet Suburban Flex-fuel 17 MPG — $2,735
64GMC Yukon Flex-fuel 17 MPG — $2,735
65Chevrolet Tahoe Flex-fuel 17 MPG — $2,735
66Chevrolet Avalanche Flex-fuel 17 MPG — $2,735
67Audi Q7 Diesel Diesel 20 MPG — $2,775
68Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Hybrid 21 MPG — $2,821
69BMW X3 Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
70Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid Hybrid 21 MPG — $2,821
71Acura RDX Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
72Ford Expedition Flex-fuel 16 MPG — $2,906
73Lincoln Navigator Flex-fuel 16 MPG — $2,906
74Cadillac Escalade Flex-fuel 16 MPG — $2,906
75Toyota Sequoia Gas 16 MPG — $2,906
76Mercedes-Benz ML-Class Flex-fuel 20 MPG — $2,962
77Nissan Armada Gas 15 MPG — $3,100
78BMW X5 Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
79Infiniti FX35 Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
80Porsche Cayenne Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
81Volkswagen Touareg Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
82BMW X6 Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
83Acura ZDX Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
84Acura MDX Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
85Mercedes-Benz R-Class Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
86Audi Q7 Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
87Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
88Nissan Pathfinder Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
89Lexus GX Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
90Infiniti QX56 Gas 16 MPG — $3,703
91Infiniti FX50 Gas 16 MPG — $3,703
92Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Gas 15 MPG — $3,950
93Land Rover LR4 Gas 14 MPG — $4,232
94Mercedes-Benz G-Class Gas 13 MPG — $4,558

More 2012 rankings

2012 class rankings

This ranking in other years