SUVs have grown into America’s default vehicle — and that popularity has pushed fuel economy to the front of many buyers’ minds. In 2026, the landscape of efficient sport-utility vehicles includes a range from mild hybrids to efficient crossover designs that squeeze surprising miles out of every gallon. This list doesn’t chase hyped range estimates or mythical numbers. These are real EPA figures for real SUVs you can buy in 2026 — ranked from the lowest combined mpg to the highest — with context about how they perform and why their mileage matters on everyday roads.
For many people, fuel economy is less about bragging rights and more about the cost of ownership. Better gas mileage translates into fewer stops, longer drives, and less guilt during the weekly commute. These SUVs are not hyperefficient like a Prius hatchback, but within the SUV universe, they represent the most thoughtful engineering in 2026. Each entry below slices into the blend of utility, practicality, and mpg that makes a crossover truly livable.
2026 Lexus NX Hybrid
36 mpg combined
The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid sits near the bottom of our list, but that doesn’t make it unworthy of consideration. Lexus engineered the NX to be a compact luxury SUV first and fuel-sipper second, which historically means a comfortable ride and a quiet cabin with decent efficiency. The NX Hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor in Lexus’s familiar self-charging hybrid setup, producing an aggregate power figure that balances performance with efficiency. In real-world driving, the NX is refined and predictable, even if it doesn’t top the charts.
The compromise here comes from packaging and heft: luxury materials and all-wheel drive systems add weight, which in turn trims the mpg. That’s not a failure of design so much as a reflection of priorities. If you want Lexus comfort with respectable mileage, the NX Hybrid walks a sensible line; if you want a nomad-like thirst for miles between fill-ups, other entries will beat it out. It’s also not tiny. The newest NX has 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are up, but when you fold them down, you get a maximum of 46.9 cubic feet.
What makes the NX Hybrid compelling isn’t that it’s the SUV with the best mpg. It’s that this still-very-efficient SUV lives in service of a broader luxury mission — soft edges, taut refinement, and a sense that you’re driving something built with care rather than merely to eke out every last tenth of fuel economy.
• City: 38 mpg
• Highway: 33 mpg
• Combined: 36 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: $1,400
2026 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid
38 mpg combined
The 2026 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid shakes the notion that efficiency and fun are strangers. With an estimated 38 mpg combined from its turbo-hybrid powertrain — usually a 2.5-liter gas engine assisted by mild electrification — it sits squarely in the efficient side of the compact SUV segment while still feeling Mazda-ish on a back road.
Feel is the CX-50 Hybrid’s strong suit: Mazda’s chassis tuning leans toward connected steering and body control that reward directional changes rather than camouflage them. Paired with respectable fuel economy, it becomes something of a rare double threat: an SUV that doesn’t ask you to choose between fun and frugality or some stuff. The CX-50 isn’t huge, but it still has 29.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 56.3 cubic feet when you fold down the back seats.
The interior mirrors this dual personality: material quality tends to feel more premium than average, driver ergonomics are thoughtful, and technology integrates without ham-fisted menus that distract. In practice, the CX-50 Hybrid is a compact SUV that doesn’t trade engagement for mpg — it simply manages both without apology, despite being lower on the list of the most fuel-efficient SUVs.
• City: 42 mpg
• Highway: 34 mpg
• Combined: 38 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: $1,360
2026 Toyota Crown Signia
38 mpg combined
The 2026 Toyota Crown Signia is a bit of a wildcard in this list: stylistically, it borrows cues from luxury crossovers and near-liftback silhouettes, and mechanically, it rides on a hybrid platform tuned for efficiency and smooth delivery rather than brute force. The result is a 38 mpg combined rating that slots the Signia firmly into the efficient SUV conversation without demanding sacrifices in ride comfort or interior utility. Proving that point, the Crown has 25.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 68.8 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.
Toyota’s hybrid system here is the result of decades of evolution: it mates a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with electric assist, seamlessly blending power sources to maintain a gentle but persistent forward motion. It works — whether you’re weaving through city traffic or cruising on the highway.
Interior space and comfort aim high, leaning more toward hushed comfort than sporting austerity. If you want solid SUV gas mileage numbers without feeling like you’re in base-model economy class, the Signia’s packaging accomplishes that. It isn’t the most efficient player on this list, but it probably strikes the closest balance between efficiency and upscale design.
• City: 39 mpg
• Highway: 37 mpg
• Combined: 38 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: $1,360
2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid
40 mpg combined
The 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a reminder that utility and efficiency can coexist without forced compromise. Its drivetrain combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with Honda’s hybrid system to produce a combined 40 mpg, a figure that’s both impressive and eminently sensible for a compact SUV with real cargo and occupant space. With the rear seats up, the 2026 Hybrid CR-V, while slightly smaller than the gas model, still has 36.3 cubic feet of cargo room, which expands up to just over 70 cubic feet with the seats down.
Drive it on varied terrain, and the CR-V Hybrid’s personality settles into a calm rhythm. The steering is composed, the ride is soft without being wallowy, and the transition between electric and gasoline power is almost imperceptible at moderate speeds. Honda doesn’t have to market this model anymore. All Honda has to do to sell these is make them.
• City: 43 mpg
• Highway: 36 mpg
• Combined: 40 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: $1,277
2026 Ford Escape Hybrid
40 mpg combined
The 2026 Ford Escape Hybrid is a humble and fuel-efficient SUV. Its hybrid system — blending a gasoline engine and electric motors with an efficient CVT — delivers a 40 mpg combined rating that makes it a compelling choice for families and commuters alike. While a touch smaller than some others on this list, behind the rear seats, drivers still get 34.4 cubic feet of cargo room, and when the rear seats are laid down, that number jumps to 60.8.
The Escape’s driving demeanor prioritizes comfort over grit. Suspension tuning absorbs irregular pavement with grace, though it doesn’t deliver the taut handling of sport-oriented hybrids. Steering feedback is communicative but not scintillating; this SUV is about making the miles comfortable and predictable.
Inside, the Escape has intuitive tech interfaces and thoughtful cargo solutions. If you want a fuel-efficient SUV that can handle road trips, soccer gear, and daily errands without gulping gas, the Escape holds its own. It’s not flashy; it’s functional — which in the modern SUV world is a performance metric in its own right.
• City: 42 mpg
• Highway: 36 mpg
• Combined: 40 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: $1,277
2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
42 mpg combined
The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid continues the brand’s mastery of hybrid efficiency in a compact SUV format. With an EPA combined rating of 42 mpg, it delivers fuel economy that punches above its size class without ditching the practicality you expect from a crossover.
Power comes from the same hybrid system that has served other Toyota models well: a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine coupled with electric assist that prioritizes seamless operation and efficiency. The Corolla Cross Hybrid never feels strained or underpowered; its net output balances acceleration and gas mileage, so you rarely fight for speed.
Inside, the space is sensible — enough room for passengers and a little bit of cargo without feeling cavernous. With the rear seats up, the Corolla Cross only offers 21.5 cubic feet, and with the seats down, 44 cubic feet. The ride quality errs on the side of smoothness, and the Corolla’s reputation for reliability carries through here. For buyers who want a compact SUV that returns excellent mileage without sacrificing everyday usability, this is a standout.
• City: 46 mpg
• Highway: 39 mpg
• Combined: 42 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: $1,104
2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid
43 mpg combined
The 2026 Sportage Hybrid brings Kia’s efficiency play into the more substantial compact SUV realm. With a 43 mpg combined rating on the high end of its EPA range, it proves that hybrid tech can coexist with a more robust crossover footprint. The drivetrain pairs a 1.6-liter turbo four with an electric motor, creating a responsive feel that keeps pace with daily traffic and highway runs alike.
What’s striking about the Sportage Hybrid is how Kia balances utility and economy without leaving either on the table. Cargo capacity and rear passenger space are respectable – 39.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 73.7 cubic feet with these seats down – and interior tech feels contemporary without overwhelming drivers with menus.
The Sportage Hybrid manages its weight and powertrain integration in a way that keeps the driving experience competent, if not spirited. It’s a car that makes sense if you want an SUV with great gas mileage without converting to a plug-in or electric powertrain just yet.
• City: 42 mpg
• Highway: 44 mpg
• Combined: 43 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: 1,050
2026 Lexus UX 300h
43 mpg combined
The Lexus UX 300h is the efficiency champion among luxury SUVs for 2026. Its hybrid powertrain — a 2.0-liter four paired with Lexus’s self-charging hybrid system — delivers an EPA rating in the low-to-mid-40s combined range. That’s rare for a premium compact crossover where refinement usually trumps economy. However, the Lexus UX has the least amount of cargo room of any of the fuel-efficient SUVs on this list; 17.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats or 43.5 cubic feet with the rear seats down.
The 2026 Lexus UX 300h’s focus is balance. Fuel economy is enviable, but it’s not achieved at the expense of ride quality or interior ambiance. Lexus engineers dialed in a suspension that prefers comfort, cabin refinement that favors quiet, and controls that are elegant without intimidation. Acceleration isn’t explosive, but the hybrid system’s torque fill makes it feel appropriately eager for daily driving.
For buyers who prioritize mileage but don’t want to abandon luxe touches, the UX 300h is a rare bird: efficient, premium, and genuinely livable.
• City: 45 mpg
• Highway: 41 mpg
• Combined: 43 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: $1,050
2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
44 mpg combined
Toyota’s perennial bestseller, the RAV4 Hybrid, keeps its nose in the efficiency conversation. It blends everyday usability with mainstream appeal and the brand’s long-term track record on hybrid reliability. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine couples with an electric drive system optimized for balance, not theater, giving most trims a combined EPA range in the 40s.
The 2026 RAV4 Hybrid doesn’t dazzle with performance theatrics. It’s engineered to be stable, predictable, and efficient over varied driving rhythms — the sort of SUV that doesn’t embarrass its driver but quietly impresses them over time. Its ride quality is composed, its cargo capability is generous, and its visibility is excellent for its class. For buyers who want all the miles without entering completely boring territory, it remains a safe, familiar choice.
Where it lags the leaders isn’t a flaw in execution but of intent: Toyota tunes the hybrid for more than SUV mpg supremacy. Still, in a world where most midsize SUVs languish in the mid-20s for combined mpg, seeing a number even close to 44 mpg is a win. Not to mention the RAV4 can still hold 37.8 cubic feet’ worth of cargo with the rear seats up and 70.4 with the seats down. Impressive.
• City: 48 mpg
• Highway: 42 mpg
• Combined: 44 mpg
• Avg. Est. Annual Fuel Cost: $1,000
2026 Kia Niro Hybrid
49 mpg combined
The 2026 Kia Niro Hybrid dominates. Its compact crossover design and efficient hybrid system — pairing a little 1.6-liter four with electric assistance and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic — make it the SUV with the best gas mileage in 2026. It might be a touch boring, but it’s a genuine standout for folks looking to save on gas.
The Niro’s drivetrain isn’t about thrilling acceleration; it’s about smart efficiency. Torque delivery is smooth, and the transition between electric and gas power is seamless in everyday driving. The result is a driving experience that feels calm, consistent, and pleasantly economical when traffic or terrain gets dull.
Inside, the Niro leans toward sensible rather than opulent. Tech interfaces are modern, space is adequate, and cargo room rivals many larger crossovers with 22.8 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 63.7 cubic feet when they’re down. But where the Niro truly shines is where most of us pay attention most often: at the pump. If everyday fuel economy is your top priority, this is the hybrid SUV that maximizes return without sacrificing practicality.
• City: 53 mpg
• Highway: 45 mpg
• Combined: 49 mpg
• Avg. Annual Fuel Cost: $900