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Compare the most economical 4x4s

High-quality economical 4x4 cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.5/5 from 62,769 reviews

Most economical 4x4 cars of 2024

Most of us want an SUV, but equally most of us want to be environmentally sensitive (and save money at the pumps). The best compromise, then, is the plug-in hybrid SUV. These can usually run for around 30 miles on electricity alone before their combustion engines kick in. But bear in mind you’ll have to plug-in and charge-up a lot if you really want to maximise your fuel efficiency…

Mercedes-Benz GLE

1. Mercedes GLE PHEV (353mpg)

7/10
Mercedes-Benz GLE review
Battery range up to 57 miles

What's good

  • Interior looks great
  • Loads of space in rows one and two
  • Really comfortable

What’s not so good

  • Tight in the third row
  • Expensive, especially the hybrid
  • Annoying touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons
Diesel power helps the big Mercedes to an impressive 353mpg claimed economy figure, and it’s genuinely frugal on low-battery long-runs, too. It’s very heavy, which means it’s not much fun to drive, and it’s certainly not cheap. It’ll go a claimed 66 miles on a fully-charged battery, though.

What's good

  • Interior looks great
  • Loads of space in rows one and two
  • Really comfortable

What’s not so good

  • Tight in the third row
  • Expensive, especially the hybrid
  • Annoying touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

2. Toyota RAV4 PHEV (282mpg)

8/10
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid review

What's good

  • Practical cabin with good passenger space
  • Comfortable to drive
  • Hybrid comes as standard

What’s not so good

  • Some scratchy cabin plastics
  • Awkward and noisy CVT gearbox
  • No through-loading from boot to rear seat
The RAV4 is one of the better plug-in hybrids around and manages impressive battery range (46 miles) and decent economy (you might get 50mpg) on longer runs using just the petrol engine. It’s pricey though, and you’ll have to keep its battery charged to get near to its claimed 282mpg economy figure.

What's good

  • Practical cabin with good passenger space
  • Comfortable to drive
  • Hybrid comes as standard

What’s not so good

  • Some scratchy cabin plastics
  • Awkward and noisy CVT gearbox
  • No through-loading from boot to rear seat

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Kia Sportage

3. Kia Sportage PHEV (252mpg)

8/10
Kia Sportage review

What's good

  • Spacious interior
  • Smooth hybrid engine
  • Clever climate controls

What’s not so good

  • Not the most comfortable family SUV
  • Pretty dull to drive
  • Divisive front-end styling
A good looking car with a great interior, the Sportage should get around 30 miles of battery range in real life (it claims 42 miles) but, like most plug-in hybrids, will do more like 40mpg on a long run with a flat battery. Frequent charging and lots of shorter journeys should get you close to its 252mpg claim.

What's good

  • Spacious interior
  • Smooth hybrid engine
  • Clever climate controls

What’s not so good

  • Not the most comfortable family SUV
  • Pretty dull to drive
  • Divisive front-end styling
Volvo XC90

4. Volvo XC90 PHEV (217mpg)

7/10
Volvo XC90 review
Battery range up to 23 miles

What's good

  • Spacious second row
  • Big boot even in seven-seat mode
  • Packed full of safety tech

What’s not so good

  • Infotainment feeling dated now
  • Bit of wind noise at motorway speeds
  • Suspension could be more comfortable
The XC90 still looks great but it’s feeling a bit old inside these days, and like all PHEVs its fuel consumption will skyrocket if you’re driving it around with a flat battery. A recent update means a bigger battery and a potential 42-mile electric range. Keep it charged to get close to its 217mpg claim.

What's good

  • Spacious second row
  • Big boot even in seven-seat mode
  • Packed full of safety tech

What’s not so good

  • Infotainment feeling dated now
  • Bit of wind noise at motorway speeds
  • Suspension could be more comfortable
Hyundai Tucson

5. Hyundai Tucson PHEV (201mpg)

7/10
Hyundai Tucson review

What's good

  • Excellent interior quality
  • Huge boot
  • Digital display and big infotainment as standard

What’s not so good

  • Looks are jarring
  • Awkward rear seat shape
  • Suspension feels on the firm side
The striking Hyundai has 38 miles of electric range, and is a genuinely good car to drive - even if it isn’t the most comfortable on bumpy roads. As with any PHEV, keep its battery topped up to have a chance of keeping close to its official 201mpg fuel consumption figure.

What's good

  • Excellent interior quality
  • Huge boot
  • Digital display and big infotainment as standard

What’s not so good

  • Looks are jarring
  • Awkward rear seat shape
  • Suspension feels on the firm side
Audi Q5

6. Audi Q5 PHEV (188mpg)

7/10
Audi Q5 review
Battery range up to 32 miles

What's good

  • Solid build quality
  • Spacious cabin
  • Brilliant motorway cruiser

What’s not so good

  • Missing desirable tech as standard
  • Options are very expensive
  • Clunky plug-in hybrid system
Audi’s slick Q5 plug-in hybrid offers up to 37 miles of electric range, but its 188mpg claimed fuel economy figure will dive on the motorway once you’re running the engine with no battery assistance. If you want a sleeker version, there’s the coupe-style Sportback model too.

What's good

  • Solid build quality
  • Spacious cabin
  • Brilliant motorway cruiser

What’s not so good

  • Missing desirable tech as standard
  • Options are very expensive
  • Clunky plug-in hybrid system
Land Rover Discovery Sport

7. Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV (188mpg)

7/10
Land Rover Discovery Sport review

What's good

  • Plenty of space for the family
  • Comfortable over lumps and bumps
  • Superb off-road, should you need it

What’s not so good

  • Noisy diesel engines
  • Infotainment can be awkward to use
  • Third row is crameped for adults
The Discovery Sport’s hybrid system is one of the better ones, offering decent long-range fuel economy and up to 37 miles of EV range. It’s not the sportiest car ever though and, as ever, you’ll have to charge it frequently to get close to its 188mpg official figure.

What's good

  • Plenty of space for the family
  • Comfortable over lumps and bumps
  • Superb off-road, should you need it

What’s not so good

  • Noisy diesel engines
  • Infotainment can be awkward to use
  • Third row is crameped for adults
Kia Sorento

8. Kia Sorento PHEV (176mpg)

9/10
Kia Sorento review

What's good

  • Roomy interior
  • Lots of standard equipment
  • Diesel still available

What’s not so good

  • Firm suspension at low speeds
  • Quite dark inside
  • Third row best for kids
We love the Sorento’s bluff, upright styling and it’s got a good hybrid system (claimed economy of 176mpg) - even if it’s a bit noisy at times. Kia says you’ll get 35 miles from a full battery, and on longer runs you should get similar economy to the diesel model (around 40mpg). Great interior, too.

What's good

  • Roomy interior
  • Lots of standard equipment
  • Diesel still available

What’s not so good

  • Firm suspension at low speeds
  • Quite dark inside
  • Third row best for kids
Volkswagen Tiguan (2020-2023)

9. Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV (149mpg)

8/10
Volkswagen Tiguan (2020-2023) review

What's good

  • Generous rear seat space
  • Large and practical boot
  • Comfy and quiet to drive

What’s not so good

  • One of the pricier family SUVs
  • Basic versions look dull inside and out
  • Fiddly touch-sensitive controls
In spite of updates, the Tiguan is starting to feel a little old, and the eHybrid model doesn’t offer the sort of performance you get from alternatives (its official economy is 149mpg). A claimed 30 miles on a full battery results in around 20 miles in the real world, and long-range economy is around 35mpg.

What's good

  • Generous rear seat space
  • Large and practical boot
  • Comfy and quiet to drive

What’s not so good

  • One of the pricier family SUVs
  • Basic versions look dull inside and out
  • Fiddly touch-sensitive controls
BMW X3 (2017-2024)

10. BMW X3 PHEV (135mpg)

8/10
BMW X3 (2017-2024) review
Battery range up to 27 miles

What's good

  • Cabin is luxurious and well-built
  • Easy to drive in town
  • Plenty of passenger space

What’s not so good

  • Not as comfy as you might expect
  • Thirsty top-spec petrol models
  • Plug-in hybrid has low electric range
BMW’s plug-in systems are good, so you should get close to the claimed 30-mile range on battery power, but longer-haul economy suffers a bit. A solid all-rounder but the plug-in hybrid game is moving on fast - and the X3’s claimed economy of 135mpg is evidence of this.

What's good

  • Cabin is luxurious and well-built
  • Easy to drive in town
  • Plenty of passenger space

What’s not so good

  • Not as comfy as you might expect
  • Thirsty top-spec petrol models
  • Plug-in hybrid has low electric range

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Advice about economical 4x4s

Economical 4X4 cars FAQs

In terms of on-paper figures, it’s the Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid that wins this, hands down, with a claimed 282.4mpg. You’ll only get that kind of economy if you’re religious about plugging it in and charging up the battery, though. For long-haul drivers, the standard RAV4 Hybrid claims between 47mpg and 50mpg, which is about as good as you’ll get with a petrol engined 4x4 - even if it is one that’s assisted by an electric motor and battery.

Again, the PHEV models reign supreme here — Mercedes’ GLE 350de being pretty much the only one. Again again, you’re going to struggle to get anything like it’s claimed 353mpg in the real world, unless you’re scrupulous about plugging in and charging up. For non-hybrids, you’re probably best-off with a diesel Mazda CX-5, which quotes up to 51mpg (and which pretty easily does that in real-world conditions).

The Mercedes GLE 350de reigns supreme here, but once again only if you’re looking at the official figures. Its claimed 353mpg looks spectacular on paper, but as ever with plug-in hybrids you’ll have to maximise its electric-only running to get the best from it. The Toyota RAV4 once again looks like a solid bet here for real-world economy, with the four-wheel drive version claiming 48mpg and you should get close to that if you’re careful. The Hyundai Tucson T-GDI hybrid is slightly more economical, at 49mpg, but is front-wheel drive only, so not an actual 4x4.

There are a few tips that will improve the economy of any car, not just a 4x4, such as making sure your tyre pressures are correct, taking excess weight out of the car, and making sure that your own driving style is as gentle as possible. 4x4s tend to be tall vehicles, of course, so slowing down on longer journeys will save you a bundle, as a car’s aerodynamic drag increases massively the faster you go. Avoiding unnecessary bodywork add-ons such as nudge-bars, side-steps, winches, spotlights, roof bars, and roof boxes will also help here. If your car has switchable four-wheel drive, then keeping it in two-wheel drive mode will help save fuel.

For more advice on how to improve your fuel efficiency, check out our guide on ways to get better MPG.

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