2021 rankings · Small SUVs
Most Fuel-Efficient 2021 Small SUVs, Ranked
We ranked all 92 EPA-rated 2021 small SUVs by what they cost to fuel. The Tesla Model Y leads at about $702 a year (129 MPGe), while the Hyundai Nexo is the most expensive to run at $8,852 (61 MPGe). The median small SUV costs $1,860 a year to fuel. The class includes 5 electric and 21 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)All 92 models
| # | Model | Type | Combined | Range | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | Electric | 129 MPGe | 326 mi | $702 |
| 2 | Hyundai Kona EV | Electric | 120 MPGe | 258 mi | $729 |
| 3 | Volkswagen ID.4 | Electric | 99 MPGe | 260 mi | $918 |
| 4 | Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 105 MPGe + 40 MPG | 520 mi | $966 |
| 5 | Toyota RAV4 Prime | Plug-in hybrid | 94 MPGe + 38 MPG | 600 mi | $1,049 |
| 6 | Ford Escape Hybrid | Hybrid | 41 MPG | — | $1,134 |
| 7 | Volvo XC40 EV | Electric | 79 MPGe | 208 mi | $1,156 |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Hybrid | 40 MPG | — | $1,162 |
| 9 | Toyota Venza Hybrid | Hybrid | 39 MPG | — | $1,192 |
| 10 | Jaguar I-Pace | Electric | 76 MPGe | 234 mi | $1,196 |
| 11 | Subaru Crosstrek Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 90 MPGe + 35 MPG | 480 mi | $1,202 |
| 12 | Honda CR-V Hybrid | Hybrid | 38 MPG | — | $1,224 |
| 13 | Kia Sorento Hybrid | Hybrid | 37 MPG | — | $1,257 |
| 14 | Lincoln Corsair Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 78 MPGe + 33 MPG | 430 mi | $1,268 |
| 15 | Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid | Hybrid | 34 MPG | — | $1,368 |
| 16 | Nissan Rogue | Gas | 33 MPG | — | $1,409 |
| 17 | Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 74 MPGe + 26 MPG | 320 mi | $1,491 |
| 18 | Chevrolet TrailBlazer | Gas | 31 MPG | — | $1,500 |
| 19 | Buick Encore | Gas | 31 MPG | — | $1,500 |
| 20 | Lexus NX Hybrid | Hybrid | 31 MPG | — | $1,500 |
| 21 | Kia Seltos | Gas | 31 MPG | — | $1,500 |
| 22 | Toyota RAV4 | Gas | 30 MPG | — | $1,550 |
| 23 | Honda CR-V | Gas | 30 MPG | — | $1,550 |
| 24 | Ford Escape | Gas | 30 MPG | — | $1,550 |
| 25 | Subaru Crosstrek | Gas | 30 MPG | — | $1,550 |
| 26 | Hyundai Kona | Gas | 30 MPG | — | $1,550 |
| 27 | Subaru Forester | Gas | 29 MPG | — | $1,603 |
| 28 | Subaru Outback | Gas | 29 MPG | — | $1,603 |
| 29 | Audi Q5 Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 50 MPGe + 27 MPG | 400 mi | $1,620 |
| 30 | Chevrolet Equinox | Gas | 28 MPG | — | $1,661 |
| 31 | Mazda CX-5 | Gas | 28 MPG | — | $1,661 |
| 32 | Chevrolet Trax | Gas | 28 MPG | — | $1,661 |
| 33 | Ford EcoSport | Gas | 28 MPG | — | $1,661 |
| 34 | Mazda CX-30 | Gas | 28 MPG | — | $1,661 |
| 35 | Mitsubishi Outlander | Gas | 27 MPG | — | $1,722 |
| 36 | GMC Terrain | Gas | 27 MPG | — | $1,722 |
| 37 | Jeep Renegade | Gas | 27 MPG | — | $1,722 |
| 38 | Jeep Cherokee | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 39 | Kia Sportage | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 40 | Hyundai Santa Fe | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 41 | Kia Sorento | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 42 | Fiat 500 | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 43 | Buick Envision | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 44 | Volvo XC40 | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 45 | Ford Bronco Sport | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $1,788 |
| 46 | Chevrolet Blazer | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 47 | Hyundai Tucson | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 48 | Jeep Compass | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 49 | Volkswagen Tiguan | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 50 | Audi Q3 | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 51 | Lincoln Corsair | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $1,860 |
| 52 | Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 57 MPGe + 27 MPG | 520 mi | $1,909 |
| 53 | Toyota Highlander | Gas | 24 MPG | — | $1,938 |
| 54 | Ford Edge | Gas | 24 MPG | — | $1,938 |
| 55 | Mazda CX-9 | Gas | 24 MPG | — | $1,938 |
| 56 | Jeep Wrangler | Gas | 23 MPG | — | $2,022 |
| 57 | Lexus RX | Gas | 23 MPG | — | $2,022 |
| 58 | Honda Pilot | Gas | 23 MPG | — | $2,022 |
| 59 | Lincoln Nautilus | Gas | 23 MPG | — | $2,022 |
| 60 | Kia Telluride | Gas | 23 MPG | — | $2,022 |
| 61 | BMW X3 Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 60 MPGe + 24 MPG | 340 mi | $2,064 |
| 62 | Jeep Wrangler Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 49 MPGe + 20 MPG | 370 mi | $2,087 |
| 63 | Honda Passport | Gas | 22 MPG | — | $2,114 |
| 64 | Volkswagen Atlas | Gas | 22 MPG | — | $2,114 |
| 65 | Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class | Gas | 28 MPG | — | $2,116 |
| 66 | BMW X3 | Gas | 27 MPG | — | $2,194 |
| 67 | Jeep Wrangler Hybrid | Hybrid | 21 MPG | — | $2,214 |
| 68 | Ford Bronco | Gas | 21 MPG | — | $2,214 |
| 69 | Cadillac XT5 | Gas | 21 MPG | — | $2,214 |
| 70 | Cadillac XT6 | Gas | 21 MPG | — | $2,214 |
| 71 | Jeep Wrangler Diesel | Diesel | 25 MPG | — | $2,220 |
| 72 | Infiniti QX50 | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $2,279 |
| 73 | Cadillac XT4 | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $2,279 |
| 74 | Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class | Gas | 26 MPG | — | $2,279 |
| 75 | Volvo XC60 | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 76 | Audi Q5 Hybrid | Hybrid | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 77 | BMW X4 | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 78 | Lexus NX | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 79 | Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 80 | Alfa Romeo Stelvio | Gas | 25 MPG | — | $2,370 |
| 81 | Acura RDX | Gas | 24 MPG | — | $2,469 |
| 82 | Jaguar F-Pace | Gas | 24 MPG | — | $2,469 |
| 83 | Jaguar E-Pace | Gas | 23 MPG | — | $2,576 |
| 84 | Jaguar E-Pace Hybrid | Hybrid | 23 MPG | — | $2,576 |
| 85 | Land Rover Range Rover Hybrid | Hybrid | 22 MPG | — | $2,693 |
| 86 | Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class | Gas | 22 MPG | — | $2,693 |
| 87 | Jaguar F-Pace Hybrid | Hybrid | 22 MPG | — | $2,693 |
| 88 | Land Rover Evoque | Gas | 22 MPG | — | $2,693 |
| 89 | Porsche Macan | Gas | 21 MPG | — | $2,821 |
| 90 | Audi SQ5 | Gas | 20 MPG | — | $2,962 |
| 91 | Land Rover Discovery Sport | Gas | 20 MPG | — | $2,962 |
| 92 | Hyundai Nexo | Fuel cell | 61 MPGe | 380 mi | $8,852 |