A fuel efficient SUV may be rare back then, but newer and better technologies have made it more possible for these vehicles to use less fuel than ever.
Ranking from lowest to highest in city driving,* here are the most fuel efficient, "worth-your-money" SUVs that deserve to be on this coveted list:
This car looked awkward when it first appeared in 2009 , but BMW's "baby SUV" has grown up and gained quite a huge following on its own.
Based on the BMW 3 Series, the BMW X1 small crossover has dynamic acceleration, good handling, and responsive steering on the road. And when you add its elegant interiors (that boast of French-stitched leather and matte chrome), ample headroom, spacious backseats and rear compartments, then you get a really comfortable and pleasant ride--even in less ideal roads in the province.
Still, it's quite an expensive SUV, especially if you compare it with competitors that offer almost the same--or even more features--at a lesser price. And note that its firm suspension can make you feel even the smallest of potholes, so better think twice if you're extremely tactile-sensitive.
Whatever the case, it's a small price to pay if want a more nimble, luxurious, fun, and agile car on the road.
It's another luxury compact crossover. Still, don't get intimidated by the steep price tag. Consider it a bonus that you're getting it far cheaper than the BMW X1.
The Mercedes Benz GLA gets the name by combining GL (Geländewagen, which means off-road vehicle) followed by "L" that connects the letter "A" to "A-Class." It's the SUV equivalent to "A-Class."
This car is quite unusual in that it's a blend of a hatchback and crossover. Or to put it in another way, it's like a crossover trapped in a hatchback's body--or vice versa. But no matter what classification you place it in, this car sips fuel like you eat caviar on toast: in bite-sized pieces.
The GLA also offers good, dynamic handling and great infotainment system. It also has state-of-the-art features such as driver attention monitor and automatic braking.
Now, here's where things aren't as nice: the back seat is a bit cramped, and the base model isn't as efficient compared to those with higher variants. To put it bluntly, this car isn't the one for you if space is your top priority.
Sick and tired of mediocre cars? Then look no further. The Forester has been crowned Motor Trend's 2009 and 2014 SUV of the Year and The Car Connection's Best Car To Buy in 2014.
Yet for all its awards and accolades, the Forester is quite a mystery to us. This car hasn't changed that much--except for those light tucks, small added features, and updates over the years. Yet people continue to buy them.
We think it's because it offers pretty much of everything very well: the off-road capabilities and all-weather security of an SUV, the practicality of a crossover, and the performance, fuel-saving, and handling of a car.
Of course, you have to overlook little nuisances like a bland exterior and interior design. And the cabin can be a bit noisy sometimes. It also has less exciting technology features compared to is competitors (particularly its infotainment system).
Still, its safety features are quite impressive, making it one of the safest crossovers today. What's more, the Forester has one of the best cargo capacities and spacious rear seats today.
Want an SUV with a touch of European design to it? Then you should buy a Tucson. This car is produced by South Korean manufacturer Hyundai, but styled in Germany. In fact, you can see subtle Germanic influences peeping on the design every now and then--like the sharper, and more aggressive features of its exterior.
The Tucson doesn't aspire to live on the edge, despite getting redesigned last year. What it does offer are small rewards that make driving more pleasurable, like those stars you get when you did something good back in kindergarten. In this case, these "stars" include spirited acceleration, great safety features (even for the base model), a really quiet cabin, good overall spaciousness, and solid comfort on the road.
And speaking of base models, we'd like to warn you that its engine leans on the weaker side compared to rivals. The interiors are also made from lackluster materials--particularly hard plastics. Its build is also not as impressive as the higher variants.
Still, the Tucson is a good vehicle, especially if safety and spaciousness is your top priority in a car. Go for the higher variants if you want better and more advanced safety features.
The CR-V sits between the bigger Odyssey and the smaller HR-V, but we really think it shouldn't be in the middle, considering it's one of the biggest fuel savers in the SUV market today.
Initially, "CR-V” stood for "Comfortable Runabout Vehicle"; but it seems Honda has been having some identical crisis of late, since it also uses "Compact Recreational Vehicle" in some of its other publications.
Newly-styled and "re-imagined", the new CR-V is the "Go-to-SUV" if you're into good safety features, practicality, OVERALL spaciousness, and really great legroom (especially the backseat). The second row's backrests can also fold completely flat, enough to accommodate a bicycle standing upright (without tires).
We also love how it's filled with practical storage spaces, which can be a life saver if you have small kids inside.
This car never steers away from the extreme, and combines comfort and utilitarian precision like it invented them yesterday. It's comfortable, and less complicated than before, thanks to resurrecting its audio volume knob back from the dead.
Of course, we can't help but notice that the infotainment system is still a tad bit too complicated to operate. It's a bit distracting, to be honest, and can be frustrating from time to time. The cabin isn't quiet in some cases, and the base engine is also less fuel-efficient and under-powered when driven fast on highways. But then again, it's great to use when there are floods on those highways, so we can live with that.
Generally, the CRV wins against the CX-3 in many aspects, but since we're talking about fuel efficiency here, then the CX-3 wins against the CR-V (by a mere point).
The Mazda CX-3 is a subcompact SUV that shines well in terms of performance and good looks.
Mazda defines its design as "emotive and functional." To put it simply, it's really just attractive. Resembling more of a car than an SUV, it's good looking enough to win the coveted Red Dot Design Award in 2015 and become a finalist for the 2016 World Car Design of the Year.
But there's more to it than looking great. When you get past the exterior, you'll see that its performance is superb, and offers great handling, and responsive steering. What's more, the interiors are well-made, upscale, and thoughtfully designed. It has a quiet elegance to it that is quite charming, to say the least.
Closely similar to the Mazda 2, there aren't excessive body rolls to distract you while driving. This means you can do a fast ride on those curvy roads and still be in control of the vehicle. And it can hold its gears well even during a spirited drive. What's more, it can adjust to a more refined ride, and absorb those potholes and sharp bumps very well.
The Mazda CX-3 also has great safety features, and is one of the Top Safety Pick+ cars awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Now here's the letdown: it's not the car for you if you like space--or you are a family of giants. Aside from having cramped second row seats which lack ample legroom and headroom, the small cargo area makes you wish you didn't buy all those camping gear in the first place.
*We took the average fuel consumption rates of the actual driving experiences of drivers, and ranked them according to the most highly-rated to the least-rated. Those with tied efficiency rates are further segregated according to the car's popularity in the market.
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