Top ten most fuel efficient SUVs

Autobytel put together a list of the top ten most fuel efficient SUVs and then ranked them based on their personal opinions.

The top 10 most fuel efficient SUVs of 2006, as rated by Autobytel, are:

Toyota RAV4-22 mpg city, 29 mpg hwy

Honda CR-V’s-23 mpg city, 29 mpg hwy

Honda Element’s-22 mpg city, 26 mpg hwy

Subaru Outback-23 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy

Ford Escape Hybrid-36 mpg city, 31 mpg hwy

Subaru Forester-22 mpg city, 29 mpg hwy

Lexus RX 400h-33 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy

Mercury Mariner Hybrid-33 mpg city, 29 mpg hwy

Toyota Highlander Hybrid-33 mpg city, 28 mpg hwy

Chevrolet HHR-23 mpg city, 30 mpg hwy

Note that when the Saturn Vue hybrid comes out, it will be in this top ten list. But for now, the most fuel efficient SUV is the Ford Escape hybrid followed by the Mercury Mariner hybrid. The Lexus RX 400h and Toyota Highlander Hybrid tie for third place, but note they have bigger engines to play with. I did a comparison of these four hybrid SUVs a short time ago.

Each model on the list achieves at least 24 mpg in mixed driving when mated to an automatic transmission. The top 9 get 25+ mpg, and then the editors voted in their favorite 24 mpg SUV, the Honda Element.