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Hybrid SUV Roundup

Hybrid and diesel SUVs combine the interior space and ride quality of an SUV with fuel-saving capabilities of hybrid cars. Some environmentalists have criticized the hybrid SUV as a misapplication of gas-electric technology. It’s true that hybrid SUVs do not reach the level of fuel efficiency of smaller hybrids in terms of miles-per-gallon. Yet, miles-per-gallon is a non-linear and counter-intuitive form of measurement. An apparently small jump in fuel efficiency—for example, from 14 to 16 mpg—saves as much oil as increasing fuel economy from 35 to 50 mpg, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Which are the Best Hybrid or Diesel SUVs? That Depends on Your Needs.

With more than 10 hybrid SUVs currently on the market—and clean diesel models also worth considering— consumers can choose features and pricing best suited to their specific needs:

  • Affordability and Maximum Efficiency: Ford Escape Hybrid
  • V8 Performance and Towing: Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon Hybrid
  • Seven-Passenger Seating: Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid
  • Luxury: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, Lexus RX 450h
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid SUV

The V8 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, which achieves the same city fuel economy as a four-cylinder Toyota Camry, can tow up to 6,000 pounds.

The List of Hybrid SUVs

In addition to gas-electric hybrid SUVs, our sortable list also include diesels and conventional small SUV alternatives—as well as plug-in hybrid and hydrogen SUVs in the works.

Sort by:NameCombined
MPGsort icon
TechnologyMSRPAvailableDescription
Ford Escape Hybrid32 MPGHybrid$30,500Now

The most fuel efficient SUV available.

2012-Lexus-RX-450h-Thumb.jpgLexus RX 450h30 MPGHybrid$45,900Now

Updated version of the luxury SUV with green stripes.

2012-Toyota-Highlander-Hybrid-Thumb.jpgToyota Highlander Hybrid28 MPGHybrid$38,100Now

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the most fuel efficient seven-passenger SUV available.

equinox-small.jpgChevrolet Equinox26 MPG$23,200Now

Small gas-powered SUV with the highest highway fuel economy rating.

bmw-x5-small.jpgBMW X5 xDrive35d23 MPGDiesel$52,000Now

High-performance, luxury SUV. Now more efficient as a diesel.

vw-touareg-94.jpgVolkswagen Touareg Hybrid22 MPGHybrid$61,000Now

Combines a direct injection engine and hybrid gas-electric system for maximum benefit.

ml450-small.jpgMercedes ML 450 Hybrid22 MPGHybrid$55,000Now

The Mercedes-Benz version of the Two-Mode system combines a 275-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and two electric motors.

Tahoe-Thumb-1110.jpgChevrolet Tahoe Hybrid21 MPGHybrid$51,600Now

The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid makes significant strides in improving the fuel economy of the full-size SUV.

touareg-94.jpgVolkswagen Touareg TDI21 MPGDiesel$42,800Now

VW ditched V10. Now, the Touareg TDI comes reasonably priced and reasonably powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine.

mercedes-ml320-bluetec-smal.jpgMercedes ML 320 Bluetec21 MPGDiesel$48,600Now

The most popular Mercedes SUV, available in fuel-efficient clean diesel version.

yukon-small.jpgGMC Yukon Hybrid21 MPGHybrid$51,600Now

The sister vehicle of the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. Features same fuel economy in a better appointed package.

mercedes-r320-small.jpgMercedes R320 Bluetec21 MPGDiesel$49,100Now

A big and heavy luxury station wagon with a clean diesel engine.

audi-q7-tdi-94.jpgAudi Q7 TDI21 MPGDiesel$50,900Now

Luxury seven-passenger clean diesel SUV with ultra-low emissions.

Escalade-Thumb-1025.jpgCadillac Escalade Hybrid21 MPGHybrid$73,000Now

Launched in August 2008, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid sport-utility vehicle is unquestionably the world’s blingiest hybrid.

cayenne-94.jpgPorsche Cayenne S Hybrid21 MPGHybrid$69,000Now

The Cayenne S Hybrid is about as far away from the earnest nerdiness of the Prius as any Porsche can get.

mercedes-gl320-small.jpgMercedes GL320 Bluetec20 MPGDiesel$59,200Now

The biggest, bluntest, and heaviest clean diesel SUV from Mercedes-Benz.

x6-94.jpgBMW X6 Hybrid18 MPGHybrid$90,000Now

An SUV that has crossed over into sports car territory.

Audi-Q5-Hybrid-thumb33-0810.jpgAudi Q5 Hybridn/aHybridn/a2011

In addition to saving fuel—the Q5’s combined EPA fuel economy could approach 26-27 mpg versus the gasoline model’s 22 mpg—the Q5 Hybrid teems with engineering, technology and performance.

escape-phev-small.jpgFord Escape Plug-in Hybridn/aPlug-in Hybridn/a2012

The proven fuel-efficient SUV hybrid will come with a plug in 2012.

px-imiev-small.jpgMitsubishi PX-MiEV120 MPGPlug-in Hybridn/aConcept

This mid-sized SUV plug-in hybrid has triple-threat functionality as a pure electric, a series hybrid, and a parallel hybrid. Result: About 120 mpg.

chevrolet-equinox-small.jpgChevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell43 MPGHydrogenn/aConcept

A fleet of 100 Chevy Equinoxes running on hydrogen have been tested by more than 3,000 thousand real-world drivers.

q7-small2.jpgAudi Q7 Hybridn/aHybridn/aConcept

Refined and opulent, and now the hybrid version offers slightly better fuel efficiency.

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