15. Ford EcoSport
27 city / 29 highway / 28 combined MPG
The 2020 Ford EcoSport is ideal for urban crossover shoppers, thanks to its parking-friendly overall length and efficient 27-mpg city rating, courtesy of the front-drive model with a 1.0-liter EcoBoost inline-three. A less impressive 29-mpg highway rating relegates the smallest Ford crossover to the back of this list, even falling behind the larger Ford Escape SUV. Still, with a starting price of less than $20,000, it’s a budget-friendly CUV option.
14. Subaru Outback
26 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG
The new-for-2020 Subaru Outback wago-SUV not only impresses us with its family-friendly interior, evolutionary styling, and all-wheel-drive traction, it also features commendable fuel efficiency. The Outback’s 29-mpg combined rating comes via a 2.5-liter, direct-injected flat-four mated to a continuously variable transmission (one of the best of its kind). As on all Subarus except the two-seat BRZ, all-wheel drive is standard.
13. Subaru Forester
26 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG
The slightly smaller, slightly cheaper 2020 Subaru Forester matches its Outback sibling in every fuel economy metric in spite of its taller profile. That’s thanks to a lighter overall curb weight and a taller axle ratio, taking orders from the same engine and transmission as the Outback. The Forester offers a more traditional SUV form factor relative to the wagonlike Outback, although both are within 2 inches of each other, height-wise.
12. Nissan Rogue
26 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG
The Nissan Rogue was the company’s bestselling vehicle for 2019, with buyers apparently convinced of the merits of the small SUV. In front-drive form, the Rogue achieves 29 mpg combined thanks to a 2.5-liter inline-four and CVT. In zesty driving, the Rogue’s gearless transmission has a tendency to drone, but used as a commuter vehicle, it does just okay. Surprisingly, the Rogue offers even better fuel economy than the smaller Rogue Sport, according to the EPA.
11. Toyota C-HR
27 city / 31 highway / 29 combined MPG
The 2020 Toyota C-HR is the company’s funky entry into the rising subcompact crossover segment. Like the Ford EcoSport and others in its class, its efficiency stands out more in urban environments than on the open highway, but a 29-mpg combined rating is still nothing to sneeze at. A 2.0-liter inline-four and CVT route power exclusively to the front wheels. Unlike the Honda HR-V, all-wheel drive is not available.
10. Subaru Crosstrek
27 city / 33 highway / 30 combined MPG
The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek is smaller than both the Forester and Outback crossovers, and as such, it’s a mite more efficient than either of its larger siblings at 30 mpg combined. It also features standard all-wheel drive, a feature that’s optional (or totally unavailable) on its competitive set. The Crosstrek’s most efficient configuration is its 2.0-liter flat-four engine and optional CVT – selecting the standard six-speed manual cuts fuel economy to 22 city/29 highway/25 combined mpg.
9. Ford Escape
27 city / 33 highway / 30 combined MPG
The 2020 Ford Escape, which was just fully redesigned, features improved fuel economy to go along with its softer, rounder form factor. The most efficient gas-only Escape features a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (unrelated to the turbo 1.5-liter four found in the 2019 Escape), teamed with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Thus equipped, the Escape achieves 30 mpg combined. The Ford Escape is available in a more expensive hybrid variant, like others on this list (Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota RAV4, and Lexus UX).
8. Hyundai Kona
28 city / 32 highway / 30 combined MPG
The characterful 2020 Hyundai Kona is one of the industry’s most efficient SUVs, even when equipped with the optional 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four. In fact, both the extra-cost engine and the base 2.0-liter four achieve 30 mpg combined, with the boosted mill getting 28 city/32 highway and the base engine nailing 27 city/33 highway. The 1.6 features a dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox, while the 2.0 has a conventional six-speed auto.
7. Honda HR-V
28 city / 34 highway / 30 combined MPG
The subcompact 2020 Honda HR-V features the sort of efficiency one would expect of an SUV that shares DNA with the Fit economy car. But those shopping for an HR-V and expecting greater parsimony relative to the larger CR-V will be disappointed – both achieve the same fuel economy numbers. Nevertheless, the HR-V’s lower base price and thoroughly impressive passenger and cargo flexibility (thanks again, Fit) conspire to make it a popular choice with crossover shoppers.
6. Honda CR-V
28 city / 34 highway / 30 combined MPG
The Honda CR-V, which was just updated for 2020, now features a standard 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four across all trim levels, and the base model’s fuel economy benefits from the engine downsizing. The 2019 CR-V LX and its 2.4-liter engine could muster 28 mpg combined, but the 2020 model’s standard 1.5-liter (which has already been available in higher-trim CR-Vs since 2017) achieves 30 mpg. Available all-wheel drive docks fuel economy to 29 combined – still an impressive number.
5. Toyota RAV4
28 city / 35 highway / 30 combined MPG
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 is the most efficient gas-only all-wheel-drive crossover available, achieving 27 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg in the EPA’s testing. Those numbers improve even more to 28/35/30 in its most efficient form. Whether all-wheel-drive or not, all conventionally powered RAVs get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid is available, and a plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime is coming later this year. That model will boast excellent fuel economy and strong performance, thanks to 302 combined horsepower and standard all-wheel drive.
4. Buick Encore GX
30 city / 32 highway / 31 combined MPG
Buick claims the all-new 2020 Encore GX isn’t a replacement for the underwhelming Encore, but with better fuel economy, more power, improved interior room, and a fresher design, we doubt the old SUV will remain on the market for long. The Encore GX is available with three different powertrains, and curiously, the optional 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-three is more efficient than the base 1.2-liter three-pot (26 city/30 highway/28 combined mpg). Both are equipped with a continuously variable transmission standard, although the 1.3 gets a nine-speed automatic when combined with available all-wheel drive. That configuration is predictably the least efficient, at 26 city/29 highway/28 combined mpg.
3. Hyundai Venue
30 city / 34 highway / 32 combined MPG
The sub-subcompact Hyundai Venue is not only the least expensive crossover on the market (base price: $17,350), it’s also one of the most efficient. Its combined rating of 32 mpg puts it in the same ballpark as the previous-generation Accent hatchback it replaces. A standard manual transmission is rare in the SUV class, but it does dock fuel efficiency to 30 combined. The available CVT is the efficiency champ here.
2. Lexus UX 200
29 city / 37 highway / 33 combined MPG
A 2.0-liter inline-four with 169 hp gives the 2020 Lexus UX 200 middling performance but exceptional fuel economy. Its 37-mpg highway rating is tops among gas-only SUVs, thanks in part to a CVT that can simulate 10 distinct gear ratios if desired. Front-wheel drive is the only configuration available on the UX 200 – the UX 250h hybrid offers all-wheel drive standard.
1. Nissan Kicks
31 city / 36 highway / 33 combined MPG
A superlative 31-mpg city rating and 33-mpg combined rating make the 2020 Nissan Kicks the most efficient gas-only crossover on the market. Surprisingly, driving the 122hp, CVT-only, front-drive–only Kicks is pretty entertaining, thanks to a low overall weight and good suspension tuning. Three trim levels are available, with prices between $18,870 on the low end and $24,015 fully equipped.
Newest slideshows
17 / 17
