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Blue 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross driving in the countryside, front quarter view.
Last updated June 21, 2024 by Darren Cassey

Most economical SUVs of 2024

There’s a lot to love about SUVs – the great driving position and practical body shape makes them excellent for family car duties. However, their size does mean they can be quite heavy, which can be detrimental to fuel economy. If this is a concern to you, Carwow's expert reviews team has put together a list of the most economical SUVs you can buy in 2024.

There are some caveats, of course. We’ve excluded plug-in hybrid SUVs, because official figures are incredibly impressive, but in the real world it’s very dependent on the type of journeys you do and how often you can charge. With that in mind, we have included so-called self-charging hybrids, because official stats are a bit more realistic, alongside non-electrified models – though how close you get to these figures is very much down to your driving style and the type of driving you do. Use Carwow’s fuel chooser tool to figure out which would work best for you.

It’s also worth noting that this list is ordered with the most economical SUV at the top, rather than being ranked by wowscore.

Toyota Yaris Cross
2025
Urban Living Award

1. Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid CVT - 64mpg

9/10
Toyota Yaris Cross review

What's good

  • Hybrid engine is economical
  • Generous standard equipment
  • Raised ride height gives excellent visibility

What’s not so good

  • Engine can be noisy
  • Fidgety over bumps
  • Slightly dour interior
The self-charging 116hp 1.5-litre hybrid engine in the Toyota Yaris Cross delivers diesel-like economy figures but with the smoothness of a petrol engine. The ride can get bumpy on poor surfaces, but the Yaris Cross handles well and looks pretty smart, too. The raised ride height gives a good view out and the boot is spacious, but back seat passengers may get a bit cramped on longer journeys. It’s worth noting that the top Excel trim gets larger wheels and is a bit heavier, so economy drops from 64mpg to 57mpg. That’s a surprisingly big difference, and worth keeping in mind if fuel economy is your priority.

What's good

  • Hybrid engine is economical
  • Generous standard equipment
  • Raised ride height gives excellent visibility

What’s not so good

  • Engine can be noisy
  • Fidgety over bumps
  • Slightly dour interior
Kia Niro

2. Kia Niro 1.6 GDi 127 Hybrid DCT - 64mpg

7/10
Kia Niro review
Battery range up to 40 miles

What's good

  • Good refinement
  • Low running costs
  • Great interior quality and space

What’s not so good

  • Not the most fun car to drive
  • Prices have risen compared to previous Niro
  • Hybrid and PHEV have smaller boot than the electric Niro
The Kia Niro has a choice of self-charging and plug-in hybrid engines, but it’s the self-charging ‘127 Hybrid’ we’re focusing on here. That’s because it gets an impressive 64mpg, being particularly good on fuel if you’re driving it around town. The Niro is also really refined and comfortable to drive over long distances, while the interior is put together well with lots of room for passengers and their things. That hybrid system isn’t the smoothest around, though.

What's good

  • Good refinement
  • Low running costs
  • Great interior quality and space

What’s not so good

  • Not the most fun car to drive
  • Prices have risen compared to previous Niro
  • Hybrid and PHEV have smaller boot than the electric Niro
Lexus LBX

3. Lexus LBX 1.5 E-CVT - 63mpg

8/10
Lexus LBX review

What's good

  • Luxurious interior
  • Quiet and refined to drive
  • Great warranty and aftercare

What’s not so good

  • Not very fast
  • Pricey compared to similar Yaris Cross
  • Cramped boot
Under the skin the Lexus LBX shares most of its mechanicals with the Toyota Yaris Cross, so it’s no surprise to see it’s also high on this list. It does feel a lot posher inside and it’s quieter and more comfortable to drive, but you still get those rock bottom running costs thanks to fuel economy of up to 63mpg. You also get a decent amount of space in the cabin for a car this size, but the boot really is tiny.

What's good

  • Luxurious interior
  • Quiet and refined to drive
  • Great warranty and aftercare

What’s not so good

  • Not very fast
  • Pricey compared to similar Yaris Cross
  • Cramped boot

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Hyundai Kona

4. Hyundai Kona 1.6 Hybrid 129 DCT - 63mpg

7/10
Hyundai Kona review

What's good

  • Striking styling
  • Really practical
  • Quiet motorway cruiser

What’s not so good

  • Infuriating assistance bings and bongs
  • So-so hybrid engine
  • Alternatives comfier over bumps
The Hyundai Kona is a spacious, comfortable SUV with an economical hybrid engine that’s made all the more impressive by the fact that this is not a particularly small SUV. That means you don’t have to sacrifice space to save on fuel, because the Kona has a roomy cabin and a spacious boot. The hybrid engine isn’t particularly smooth or pleasant to drive, though – the all-electric version is much better of the two. But if you’re not ready to go electric just yet, economy of 63mpg is mighty tempting. Whichever you go for, you have to put up with Hyundai’s constant driver assistance bings and bongs…

What's good

  • Striking styling
  • Really practical
  • Quiet motorway cruiser

What’s not so good

  • Infuriating assistance bings and bongs
  • So-so hybrid engine
  • Alternatives comfier over bumps
Citroen C4

5. Citroen C4 1.2 Hybrid 136 e-DCS6 - 62mpg

7/10
Citroen C4 review

What's good

  • Distinctive looks
  • Good value for money
  • Smooth ride in town

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have bigger boots
  • Sacrifices handling for comfort
  • Poor rear visibility
The Citroen C4 is a curious hatchback/SUV crossover kinda deal, but whether or not you really consider it an SUV, we wanted to include it in this list because it’s great value and has a fantastically economical ‘hybrid’ engine. Well, it’s technically a mild hybrid rather than a full hybrid, but the fact it can run short distances on electricity at low speeds helps boost economy at up to 62mpg. As you’d expect from a Citroen, the C4 is really comfortable over bumps and has distinctive looks, though the boot is tiny for the size of car.

What's good

  • Distinctive looks
  • Good value for money
  • Smooth ride in town

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have bigger boots
  • Sacrifices handling for comfort
  • Poor rear visibility
Peugeot 2008

6. Peugeot 2008 1.2 Hybrid 136 e-DSC6 - 62mpg

8/10
Peugeot 2008 review

What's good

  • Stylish exterior design
  • Fun and cheap to run
  • 3D dashboard display

What’s not so good

  • Adults cramped in the back
  • Sluggish automatic gearbox
  • Infotainment system can be a pain to navigate
It’s stylish outside and funky inside, with a good infotainment system and a very frugal engine. The Peugeot 2008 clearly ticks a lot of boxes, and gets the same 136hp 1.2-litre ‘hybrid’ engine as the Citroen C4 above, capable of 62mpg. The (pricier) all-electric e-2008 is available if you want to switch to EV motoring, while there's also a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes.

What's good

  • Stylish exterior design
  • Fun and cheap to run
  • 3D dashboard display

What’s not so good

  • Adults cramped in the back
  • Sluggish automatic gearbox
  • Infotainment system can be a pain to navigate
Toyota C-HR

7. Toyota C-HR 1.8 Hybrid CVT - 60mpg

8/10
Toyota C-HR review

What's good

  • Looks great
  • Comfortable suspension
  • Low running costs

What’s not so good

  • Noisy engines
  • Feels cheap in the back
  • A touch pricey
If you like the idea of an economical Toyota hybrid, but the Yaris Cross is a bit small for you, check out the C-HR. It’s bigger so you get more room in the cabin, though it’s worth noting the boot is still not particularly impressive. Still, if efficiency is key it’s a great shout, because the 1.8-litre hybrid engine sees up to 60mpg in official tests, and it’s not impossible to get close to that in the real world. It’s a bit noisy thanks to the CVT gearbox, but the trade off is fewer trips to the pumps…

What's good

  • Looks great
  • Comfortable suspension
  • Low running costs

What’s not so good

  • Noisy engines
  • Feels cheap in the back
  • A touch pricey
Renault Captur

8. Renault Captur 1.6 E-Tech 145 Auto - 60mpg

8/10
Renault Captur review
Battery range up to 28 miles

What's good

  • Great Google-based infotainment
  • Hybrid model is economical
  • Big boot for a small SUV

What’s not so good

  • Suspension is firm over bumps
  • Some safety kit reserved for top-spec models
  • Hybrid system hesitant at times
The Renault Captur’s stylish looks might make you think this is a cool and quirky SUV, but actually it’s very much a head over heart purchase. If that’s what you want from a car, then the Captur makes a strong case for itself with a big boot, spacious cabin and a range of efficient engines. The 1.6-litre 145hp hybrid is the pick of the bunch, and it’s also available in the Renault Arkana with identical 60mpg efficiency figures. The Captur is the more practical pick of the two, though.

What's good

  • Great Google-based infotainment
  • Hybrid model is economical
  • Big boot for a small SUV

What’s not so good

  • Suspension is firm over bumps
  • Some safety kit reserved for top-spec models
  • Hybrid system hesitant at times
Renault Austral

9. Renault Austral E-Tech Auto - 60mpg

8/10
Renault Austral review

What's good

  • Funky design inside and out
  • Three ISOFIX points
  • Rear-wheel steering system is very useful

What’s not so good

  • Not very comfortable over bumps
  • Hybrid system can feel clunky
  • Middling practicality in rear row and boot
Another style-focused hybrid Renault, the Austral is a bit bigger than the Captur and Arkana, but still benefits from a fuel-sipping hybrid engine that hits 60mpg in official tests. Like its smaller siblings, the Austral isn’t the most engaging thing to drive, and while economical, the hybrid engine isn’t the smoothest. Practicality isn’t bad though – the boot’s an okay size in its standard format, but you can slide the rear seats forward to unleash more space.

What's good

  • Funky design inside and out
  • Three ISOFIX points
  • Rear-wheel steering system is very useful

What’s not so good

  • Not very comfortable over bumps
  • Hybrid system can feel clunky
  • Middling practicality in rear row and boot
Volkswagen T-Roc

10. Volkswagen T-Roc 2.0 TDI EVO - 59mpg

7/10
Volkswagen T-Roc review

What's good

  • Big boot
  • Quite peppy to drive on a twisting road
  • Straightforward interior tech

What’s not so good

  • No hybrid or plug-in options available
  • Quite pricey compared with alternatives
  • Firm suspension
Once upon a time this list would have been dominated by diesels, but these days it’s all about the hybrids. However, the Volkswagen T-Roc bucks the trend and proves there’s still a place at the table for the fuel. The T-Roc’s 2.0-litre diesel engine promises up to 59mpg, and you won’t be far off that if you spend most of your time on the motorway, with hybrids typically at their best around town. The T-Roc itself? It’s smart, has a big boot and is pretty good fun to drive down a twisty road, though this does mean it’s not the most comfy over bumps.

What's good

  • Big boot
  • Quite peppy to drive on a twisting road
  • Straightforward interior tech

What’s not so good

  • No hybrid or plug-in options available
  • Quite pricey compared with alternatives
  • Firm suspension

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Advice about SUV cars

Economical SUV cars FAQs

The Toyota Yaris Cross is one of the most economical small SUVs, capable of 64mpg in mixed driving conditions thanks to a very efficient 1.5-litre self-charging hybrid petrol engine. Higher trims can lower that fuel economy figure due to larger wheels and a higher overall weight.

The Seat Tarraco seats seven and has tons of interior and boot space - it offers a massive 1,775-litres of luggage space with the two rear rows folded flat. It’s one of the largest SUVs out there, yet doesn’t cost a fortune to buy and run. The 150hp 2.0-litre turbodiesel is both strong and frugal, delivering 52mpg with a manual transmission and 51mpg with an automatic. 

The BMW X3 xDrive20d is equipped with a 190hp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine which can deliver up to 48.7mpg. This makes it one of the most economical luxury SUVs on sale. 

At the top end of the luxury SUV scale, the BMW X7 xDrive40d produces 352hp and manages 36.2mpg, slightly better than the Mercedes GLS 400 d 4Matic which does 32.2mpg.

The Mercedes GLE 350 de is the most economical plug-in hybrid with a claimed fuel economy figure of 353mpg. It can do 57.7-miles on purely electric power and you need to make the most of this to achieve that economy figure.

If you opt for a higher trim the economy figure drops to 313mpg due to the extra weight and larger alloy wheels. 

Diesel engines have fallen out of favour with a number of manufacturers, but there are still many good used diesel SUVs out there that offer excellent fuel economy. 

The Peugeot 2008 is no longer available with a diesel engine but used models can still be found with the 110hp 1.5-litre turbodiesel, which will do 66mpg.

The SEAT Arona is another model which is now petrol only. Used versions fitted with the 113hp 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine are still available, and they will do 58mpg in combined driving.