The Five Best Fuel Efficient and Family Friendly 2012 SUVs Priced Under $35,000

While there are some very impressive diesel powered SUVs available from BMW (X5d) and Audi (Q7 TDI), both of these very luxurious German family haulers boast sticker prices that keep their relative frugality out of the hands of many Americans. And by “relative,” we mean they average about 21 miles per gallon as opposed to the 16 or less you would find in a gas powered SUV with a similar size and girth.

The improvements you find in most hybrid SUVs are similarly affected the weight and physics limitations inherent to the design of an SUV. Add in a bunch of heavy batteries to the SUV mix and you just never wind up with Prius-like fuel economy results but rather an overpriced and overpowered monster like the admittedly impressive new Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg Hybrids.

So how will the family friendly SUV survive with a Government seemingly at war with automakers over newer efficiency and emissions regulations that change with the regularity of their position on raising taxes and with gas prices inching ever higher each day? Here’s an idea. Don’t buy an SUV because you probably don’t need one.

Nope, Americans so rarely like to hear advice like that so instead let’s have a look at the most efficient, affordable and useful family SUVs on the market today. They won’t change the world but they won’t drown any Polar Bears either. Unless you hit a Polar Bear on a frozen lake and the SUV breaks the ice but if that happens you are totally on your own.

Do note that the fuel economy readings listed here are for two-wheel drive models so if you feel the need for a compact SUV with all-wheel drive then expect to lose a mile or two per gallon. Also, all-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive systems all need to be serviced regularly or they can easily necessitate expensive repair so either way be sure that the expense is worth the extra traction.

2012 Kia Sportage/2012 Hyundai Tucson (non-turbo)-(22 city/32 highway)

Both of these compact SUVs are built on the same platform and use the same 2.4 liter 172 horsepower engine and smooth six-speed automatic. Their styling both inside and out, however, couldn’t be different. If that doesn’t help you pick, I found during road testing that the Sportage felt like it was quieter at freeway speeds and rode more smoothly.

2012 Ford Escape Hybrid-(34 city/31 highway)

If you absolutely MUST have a hybrid SUV then you can’t go wrong with Ford’s geriatric Escape Hybrid. Ford has continually updated the hybrid gas electric engine as well as the interior so all of the best goodies like Sync are available. A replacement is due shortly expected as a 2013 model based on the Focus platform.

2012 GMC Terrain/2012 Chevy Equinox (4-cylinder)-(22 city/32 highway)

First off, GM should be applauded for making these two mechanically identical compact SUVs look so different from the outside. And again, they should be applauded for building the most stylish, highest quality compact SUV interior available today. Fuel economy is just icing on a very tasty pair of SUVs.

2012 Toyota RAV4 (4-cylinder)-(22 city/28 highway)

Sure, its fuel economy may be lagging a bit currently but the RAV4 is currently overdue for a redesign so it makes this list merely for inventing the concept of the fuel efficient compact SUV. And it’s still a pretty darn good one too. The RAV4 is a no brainer if you want an SUV that’s affordable, reliable and solidly built.

2012 Kia Sorento (4-cylinder)-(22 city/32 highway)

Thanks to an all-new for 2012 2.4 liter direct injected 191 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, the much larger 7-passenger Sorento is now able to match the fuel economy numbers of the less powerful Sportage, at least according to the EPA. It will be interesting to see if this new 4-cylinder really can return such great fuel economy in the real world but the results look promising. This is good news for families with a few more kids than they had planned on having (hence the need for 7 seats). So with this new, fuel efficient medium sized SUV alternative you might just have money left over to spend on yourself at the end of the month! Well, one can always dream.

Source: Kiausa.com

GMC.com

Toyota.com

Fordusa.com


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