Best Gas Mileage Small and Compact SUVs for 2024
Our analysis of the small and compact SUVs with the best gas mileage ranks them based on the highest mpg and most fuel-efficient drivetrain for each vehicle.
The Nissan Rogue is the most fuel-efficient small and compact SUV with an EPA rating of 33 MPG. The second-ranked Toyota Corolla Cross also earns 32 MPG, while the third-ranked Volkswagen Taos earns 31 MPG. When two or more vehicles have the same MPG rating they are then ranked by their overall quality score, as shown below. iSeeCars has ranked 19 small and compact SUVs based on fuel efficiency. This ranking is based on each model's highest-rated combined MPG figure to determine the best gas mileage small and compact SUVs.
The average fuel efficiency for a small and compact SUV is 28 MPG, and 7 models earn that figure or better for their highest-rated combined MPG model. A small and compact SUV with less than 28 combined MPG is below the segment average and may not be a good model for consumers seeking to reduce or manage their fuel consumption.
Small SUVs and crossovers have replaced midsize sedans as the best-selling cars in the U.S. because they offer a combination of roomy interior space, practical cargo space, car-like maneuverability, and some of the highest EPA-rated fuel economy numbers available in a traditional front-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive SUV. And while higher gas prices have forced buyers to reconsider fuel economy when shopping for a new car, buyers should also research advanced safety features, like adaptive cruise control, and convenience factors like the infotainment system and automatic parking, before committing to a purchase.
This page features small and compact SUVs produced by mainstream automakers from the 2022 and 2023 model years. All of these SUVs are powered by traditional engines, though many leverage turbo technology to increase performance while remaining highly fuel efficient. If you’re seeking fuel efficiency combined with a luxury nameplate you can check out our Best Gas Mileage SUVs article, which includes models from premium brands like Audi, Buick, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
If reducing your fuel bill is truly your top priority you’ll find the most fuel-efficient SUVs in our Best Gas Mileage Hybrid SUVs list. That list includes rankings for hybrid models, like the Honda CR-V Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, as well as plug-in hybrids like the Toyota RAV4 Prime and the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. Of course choosing those more advanced hybrid powertrains will require a higher starting price to pay for the electric motors and battery packs that are among the standard features on every hybrid model. If you browse that list you’ll also notice impressive “mpge” figures, reflecting the higher fuel efficiency that plug-in hybrids are capable of.
If the hybrid option is too rich for your budget, an alternative and cost-effective method for cutting fuel consumption is to consider one of the Best Gas Mileage Subcompact SUVs like the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, or Nissan Kicks. While these models don’t offer quite as much interior room and cargo space, they are surprisingly space efficient and still provide advanced features like all-wheel-drive (AWD) for light off-road adventures, and blind-spot monitoring to improve on-road safety. Many of the smaller models on that list, like the Chevy Trailblazer, feature highly-efficient 3-cylinder engines. Other models, like the Subaru Crosstrek, offer the choice of a standard four-cylinder engine or an optional plug-in hybrid.
But if you’re a traditional SUV buyer seeking a traditional (and quite popular) small or compact SUV, we’ve got them listed below and ranked by fuel efficiency.
Small SUVs and crossovers have replaced midsize sedans as the best-selling cars in the U.S. because they offer a combination of roomy interior space, practical cargo space, car-like maneuverability, and some of the highest EPA-rated fuel economy numbers available in a traditional front-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive SUV. And while higher gas prices have forced buyers to reconsider fuel economy when shopping for a new car, buyers should also research advanced safety features, like adaptive cruise control, and convenience factors like the infotainment system and automatic parking, before committing to a purchase.
This page features small and compact SUVs produced by mainstream automakers from the 2022 and 2023 model years. All of these SUVs are powered by traditional engines, though many leverage turbo technology to increase performance while remaining highly fuel efficient. If you’re seeking fuel efficiency combined with a luxury nameplate you can check out our Best Gas Mileage SUVs article, which includes models from premium brands like Audi, Buick, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
If reducing your fuel bill is truly your top priority you’ll find the most fuel-efficient SUVs in our Best Gas Mileage Hybrid SUVs list. That list includes rankings for hybrid models, like the Honda CR-V Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, as well as plug-in hybrids like the Toyota RAV4 Prime and the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. Of course choosing those more advanced hybrid powertrains will require a higher starting price to pay for the electric motors and battery packs that are among the standard features on every hybrid model. If you browse that list you’ll also notice impressive “mpge” figures, reflecting the higher fuel efficiency that plug-in hybrids are capable of.
If the hybrid option is too rich for your budget, an alternative and cost-effective method for cutting fuel consumption is to consider one of the Best Gas Mileage Subcompact SUVs like the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, or Nissan Kicks. While these models don’t offer quite as much interior room and cargo space, they are surprisingly space efficient and still provide advanced features like all-wheel-drive (AWD) for light off-road adventures, and blind-spot monitoring to improve on-road safety. Many of the smaller models on that list, like the Chevy Trailblazer, feature highly-efficient 3-cylinder engines. Other models, like the Subaru Crosstrek, offer the choice of a standard four-cylinder engine or an optional plug-in hybrid.
But if you’re a traditional SUV buyer seeking a traditional (and quite popular) small or compact SUV, we’ve got them listed below and ranked by fuel efficiency.
- Combined MPG Max 33 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 7.820404 / 10
- Value Retention 7.815139 / 10
- Safety 8.36 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 32 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability Coming soon
- Value Retention 8.611597 / 10
- Safety Not Available
- Combined MPG Max 31 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability Coming soon
- Value Retention 7.865254 / 10
- Safety 8.0 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 30 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 8.996227 / 10
- Value Retention 8.581698 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 30 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 8.403413 / 10
- Value Retention 8.712984 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 30 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 8.31539 / 10
- Value Retention 7.565547 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 29 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 8.589335 / 10
- Value Retention 8.33889 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 28 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 8.800776 / 10
- Value Retention 8.033946 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 28 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 7.8782 / 10
- Value Retention 7.840927 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 28 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 7.878144 / 10
- Value Retention 7.63958 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 28 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 8.033413 / 10
- Value Retention 8.041661 / 10
- Safety 9.22 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 27 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 7.945329 / 10
- Value Retention 7.66357 / 10
- Safety 8.84 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 27 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability Coming soon
- Value Retention 8.095479 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 26 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 7.2 / 10
- Value Retention 8.280183 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 26 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 7.5 / 10
- Value Retention 7.741554 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 26 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 7.0 / 10
- Value Retention 7.863521 / 10
- Safety 9.58 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 26 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability Coming soon
- Value Retention 7.812578 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 26 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability Coming soon
- Value Retention 7.648861 / 10
- Safety 10 / 10
- Combined MPG Max 24 mpg
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars- Reliability 8.210989 / 10
- Value Retention 7.944793 / 10
- Safety 8.0 / 10
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How We Rank These Cars
The iSeeCars "Best Gas Mileage" lists rank cars, trucks and SUVs based on the highest mpg and most fuel-efficient drivetrain for each vehicle.
Along with the Best Gas Mileage scores, the lists show additional iSeeCars scores because we believe other factors should be taken into account to find the best overall vehicle. If there is a tie in mpg between vehicles, we use the overall iSeeCars Score to break the tie.
The overall iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability | 33.3%
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention | 33.3%
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety | 33.3%
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).