Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs

In 2022’s uncertain financial climate, every driver wants to do what they can to reduce the costs of getting from A to B. One of the most effective ways to do this is by selecting a fuel efficient vehicle.

Fuel efficiency is measured in miles per gallon, abbreviated to MPG. Your vehicle’s MPG figure is the number of miles you can expect to travel per gallon of fuel – the higher the MPG of a vehicle, the more fuel efficient the vehicle is. MPG figures for different models are identified using the WLTP test, which measures the use of fuel during simulations of real-life driving conditions.

The fuel economy rating of SUVs is often much lower than the ratings given to smaller vehicles and city cars, simply because larger vehicles need to use more fuel to get around. With that said, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t consider an SUV, even if fuel economy is one of your top priorities when selecting a new car – with a smaller SUV or hybrid, you can get the fuel efficiency of a smaller vehicle with the all-important extra space and capability that SUVs are famous for. Also, some big SUVs, like those made of parts of lightweight materials like fibreglass and high-strength steel, can still be fuel efficient.

Read on for a look at GB Vehicle Leasing’s picks for the most fuel-efficient SUVs. Keep in mind that, due to the size of SUVs, many of the most fuel-efficient models are hybrids – of course, hybrids are ideal for both the current financial climate and for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, so you shouldn’t rule out a hybrid just yet!

Volkswagen T-Cross

• 45.7mpg

• Lease prices start from: £201.86 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £242.23 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

At 5ft tall, 13.8ft long and 5.9ft wide, the T-Cross is Volkswagens smallest SUV – but with a 455 litre capacity boot and no shortage of front and rear cabin space, it certainly doesn’t feel like it. The large boot space of the T-Cross offers slightly greater capacity than rivals such as the Skoda Kamiq. Some people would describe the VW T-Cross as a bigger looking VW Polo, while maintaining the Volkswagen quality.

Volkswagen are well-known for producing cars that are safe, functional and stylish, with the T-Cross living up to this reputation brilliantly. This SUV is as easy to drive as they come, built with practicality in mind and yet doesn’t sacrifice on style, aesthetics or great features – the top two trim levels of the T-Cross feature a classy 8-inch centre-dash touchscreen, complete with smartphone-mirroring functionality.

This model is currently available in both petrol and diesel engine options, with the petrol model carrying an average fuel economy of 45.7mpg. For more information, take a look at our Volkswagen T-Cross car leasing deals.

Hyundai Kona

• 47.1mpg

• Lease prices start from: £168.91 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £202.69 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

The Hyundai Kona is perhaps one of the most capable SUVs on the market. This small SUV is sized below its sibling, the Hyundai Tucson and offers Hyundai’s cutting-edge technology. The rear parking sensors and reversing cameras installed as standard across the range are just one demonstration of Hyundai’s focus on dependability and functionality when designing the Kona. The vehicle also comes with a range of fantastic safety features – lane keep assist, hill-start assist control and downhill brake control are just a few worth mentioning.

Even with all these functionality features, the Kona doesn’t sacrifice on aesthetics. The sleek, athletic look of the Kona is guaranteed to appeal to a range of drivers, from young drivers looking for a practical yet stylish ride to those that want a fashionable family vehicle. The Hyundai Kona’s fuel economy is the icing on the cake, coming in at an efficient 47.1mpg.

If these sound like the features at the top of your own new car wish list, take a further look at the Hyundai Kona on our Kona lease deals page.

Toyota Rav4

• 57.6mpg

• Lease prices start from: £343.99 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £412.79 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

The Toyota RAV4 is a practical SUV, sized between Toyota’s C-HR and Land Cruiser models. A particularly practical choice for any driver, the Toyota Rav4 offers space, safety and a fuel economy of 57.6mpg, thanks to its efficient hybrid powertrain. This may not be the most fun car to drive, but still it meets family requirements. When it comes to the overall driving experience, the Toyota RAV4 offers an excellent drive due to its quiet engine, smooth drive and comfortable seating.

This spacious five-seater vehicle offers plenty of headroom and legroom to its driver and any passengers, as well as a generous 580-litre capacity boot. The Toyota RAV4’s boot space is substantially bigger than rivals like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. Plus, the high driving position offered by the Toyota Rav4 offers excellent visibility while driving, just one of the many safety features included as standard that have contributed to its Euro NCAP Safety Rating of 5 stars. In addition to its more practical features, the Rav4 also includes an improved infotainment system, which has been streamlined to be much more responsive and easier to use than previous models.

If you think the Rav4 could be the vehicle for you, head to our Toyota Rav4 lease deals page for more information.

Suzuki Ignis

• 58.0mpg

• Lease prices start from: £149.17 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £179.00 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

Despite its smaller size, the Suzuki Ignis looks every inch the classic SUV – and offers just as many brilliant features. The Ignis features capable LED headlights fitted as standard, decent boot capacity, an extensive audio entertainment system, a lengthy list of passive safety features and, importantly, a fuel economy of 58.0mpg. All of this offers both style and enjoyable driving as well as the safety and practicality you’d expect from a high-quality SUV.

While the Suzuki Ignis is certainly a compact SUV and well-suited to city drivers, it’s also the ideal choice for those looking for a vehicle rugged enough to stand up to outdoor adventures but don’t wish to drive a standard SUV. We feel the Suzuki Ignis is not only a fuel efficient SUV, but it also represents excellent value for money. If you’re looking to know more about this brilliant vehicle, check out our Suzuki Ignis lease deals.

Kia Niro

• 58.9mpg

• Lease prices start from: £214.42 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £257.30 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

The Kia Niro is a great choice for those looking for a practical SUV, designed to stand alongside the fully-electric Kia e-Niro as a self-charging or plug-in hybrid alternative. This range offers reliability and affordability to drivers, with the e-Niro’s hybrid counterparts achieving a fuel economy of 58.9mpg – it’s clear that efficiency was certainly in mind when the Niro was created.

Other practical features of the Kia Niro include its generous seat space and boot capacity, active safety features, driver assistance and intuitive touch screen infotainment centre, making this SUV a popular choice for families. If these sound like features you might be searching for in your next SUV lease, be sure to get more information over on our Kia Niro lease deals.

Suzuki Vitara

• 49.7mpg

• Lease prices start from: £196.34 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £235.61 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

The Suzuki Vitara is a great fuel-efficient SUV for a wide range of different drivers - it has been designed to work in all conditions, after all. Families will appreciate the large cabin and extended passenger space, outdoor adventurers can make good use of the 375-litre boot capacity and those prioritising efficiency and affordability will be pleased to hear that the Vitara has a fuel economy rating of 49.7mpg.

This hybrid vehicle also comes equipped with plenty of safety and driver assistance features as standard, allowing drivers peace of mind when travelling in the Suzuki Vitara. For more information or to discuss a potential lease of this versatile model, head over to our Suzuki Vitara lease deals here.

Toyota Yaris Cross

• 64.1mpg

• Lease prices start from: £259.25 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £311.10 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

The Toyota Yaris Cross offers fantastic fuel efficiency thanks to Toyota’s self-charging hybrid technology, which allows this crossover SUV to combine its petrol and electric power. This allows drivers of the Yaris Cross to simply power up and go without the need to plug in the vehicle. With design cues from the regular Toyota Yaris, the Yaris Cross offers nippy driving around town, although it’s bigger in size and has a spacious interior.

The Yaris Cross offers drivers plenty of space within the boot and interior, though its larger size doesn’t prevent the vehicle from being a smooth and pleasant drive across a range of environments. This means that the Yaris Cross is well-suited to both city drivers and to those who regularly drive long distances, as well as those who need plenty of space within their vehicles.

For information on the Yaris Cross, take a look at our Yaris Cross lease deals.

Mercedes GLA

• 44.8mpg

• Lease prices start from: £360.55 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £432.66 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

The Mercedes-Benz GLA is a favourite amongst SUV drivers that don’t want to compromise on style. This premium vehicle is certainly easy on the eye, with all the class you’d expect from a Mercedes worked into the design of a very capable SUV.

That said, this certainly isn’t a case of style over substance. The Mercedes GLA is a satisfying driving experience, offering a balanced ride and a state-of-the-art infotainment system. Considering these features in addition to its fuel economy rating of 44.8mpg, it’s clear that the Mercedes GLA is a great fuel-efficient SUV for drivers who are concerned with both the aesthetics of their vehicle as they are with getting the most from every full tank.

For more information, take a look at our Mercedes-Benz GLA lease deals.

Ford Puma

• 52.3mpg

• Lease prices start from: £244.81 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £293.77 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

The Ford Puma is a small SUV crossover that competes with alternatives like the Volkswagen T-Cross and Skoda Kamiq. This fuel-efficient SUV is similar to these rivals because of its eye-catching design, miniature SUV shape, and driving position. However, unlike those models, the small Ford design has a simple outfit. Plus, we feel the storage space of the Puma has been well designed with its adjustable floor.

The Ford Puma is front-wheel drive and petrol engines only. Its engine line-up consists of 125hp and 155hp, 1.0-litre EcoBoost engines with mild-hybrid technology for improved fuel-efficiency. As expected, the 155hp version is slightly quicker with a 0-62mph time of around 9 seconds, although the 155hp version offers the better mpg figures (up to 52.3mpg). Alternatively, you could opt for the Ford Puma ST which has a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine and returns 42.8mpg (WLTP - combined). Reportedly, this Ford car offers a smooth drive and handles the roads well, making it an appealing option.

If you’re looking to know more about this brilliant vehicle, check out our Ford Puma lease deals.

Peugeot 2008

• 70.6mpg

• Lease prices start from: £320.98 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £385.18 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

The 2008 is Peugeot’s smallest SUV model, but stands out thanks to its distinctive design, great fuel economy and spacious interior. This model is well known for its fantastic build standard and class-leading cabin design, which offers a comfortable ride for both the driver and their passengers. Don’t be deceived by the 2008’s fairly compact size, either – this SUV offers decent boot space for those who need it, with a 434-litre capacity boot. This boot is slightly bigger than that of the Renault Captur and Skoda Kamiq.

The Peugeot 2008’s main drawback is that, whilst plenty is available to add to the vehicle, there isn’t a great deal of driver assistance tech included as standard. However, some might feel this a small price to pay once the vehicle’s fuel efficiency is taken into consideration - the Peugeot 2008 boasts a fuel economy of 70.6mpg, the highest on this list. This car will especially appeal to low mileage urban drivers looking for an SUV.

For more information on the Peugeot 2008, you can take a look at Peugeot 2008 lease deals.

Honda CR-V

• 42.8mpg

• Lease prices start from: £343.48 Exc.VAT Per Month (for business use) and £412.18 Inc.VAT Per Month (personal use)

This well-built SUV makes an ideal family car. This Honda model is bigger than its sibling, the Honda HR-V, making it a much roomier car. Not only does the Honda CR-V boast a spacious interior, abundance of legroom and generous boot capacity of 497 litres, it also includes a wide range of safety features. Notable safety features include forward collision warning, tire pressure monitoring, vehicle stability assist and traction control – it’s easy to see why the CR-V has received a full five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

The interior of the Honda CR-V is well-designed and comfortable, with the energetic acceleration of this SUV allowing for a particularly enjoyable driving experience – all while maintaining an average fuel economy of 42.8mpg.

For more information on the Honda CR-V, take a look at our Honda CR-V lease deals.

Contact CB Vehicle Leasing today

In 2022, it’s more important than ever to select a fuel efficient vehicle, both for the benefit of the environment and for getting value for money in a difficult financial climate. At a time when fuel prices are rising, selecting an economical SUV with a high fuel economy rating can be a great way to save money with every journey.

Of course, it’s not just about filling your tank – leasing a car rather than purchasing outright can work out much more affordable for every driver. At GB Vehicle Leasing, we offer thousands of different motors under competitive lease deals, with the perfect car for every driver right here on our site.

We hope you've found this article useful in discovering a range of the most fuel efficient SUVs. For more information or to get a quote for your perfect car lease, get in contact with GB Vehicle Leasing today.

Please Note: All prices correct at time of publication (29th July 2022) and are subject to change.