Crossovers are undeniably in demand these days, making up the hottest vehicle sales segment in the U.S. They offer car-like comfort with the cargo-carrying capacity and cabin area of an SUV, with off-road capability that can keep up with many of those SUVs.
The crossover was born when automakers decided to blend the capability, size, and 4×4 benefits of its body-on-frame SUVs with the ride comfort, handling, and fuel economy of a car. Buyers were the winners, because they got some of the best parts from both different types of vehicles. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that they have become incredibly popular.
Fuel economy is important in every segment, but is particularly important here. Almost half of new car buyers take home crossovers, and those buyers are looking for fuel efficiency and frugality over maximum horsepower and off-road ruggedness.
We used the EPA’s official fuel economy ratings to find the 10 crossovers that offer the best fuel economy and the all-weather, all-road confidence of all-wheel drive (AWD).
10 Most Fuel-Efficient 2024 AWD Crossovers
Here they are, ranked worst to best and sorted by EPA combined-cycle fuel economy estimates.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which blend some of the best attributes of EVs and the ICE powertrains, have taken over the most fuel-efficient AWD crossover list this year. PHEVs remove range anxiety from the EV equation while still offering usable all-electric range for many commuters.
We’ve also listed the top non-electrified/gas-only AWD crossover at the bottom of our list. Can you guess what it is and where it ranks on the AWD crossover fuel efficiency list?
Thanks to the popularity of the AWD crossover segment, it has the largest offering of all-electric vehicle options as well. These battery electric vehicles (BEVs) blow the gas and hybrid models out of the water for efficiency, so we’ve listed nine of them at the bottom of their own list.
(If SUVs or pickups are more your thing, check out The 12 Most Fuel-Efficient 2024 4×4 SUVs or The 10 Most Fuel-Efficient 4×4/AWD Pickups of 2024.)
10. Volvo XC90 T8 Extended Range (58 MPGe)
Did you expect a three-row luxury crossover on this list? Neither did we, but Volvo’s plug-in hybrid XC90 manages impressive efficiency.
Tick the box for the Recharge, Volvo’s name for the PHEV XC90, and you get an 18.8kWh battery pack and a 137-horsepower rear motor. It gives the XC90 455 horsepower (making it the most powerful XC90) and allows for an electric driving range of an estimated 33 miles.
When the battery is run down, the official estimate is 26 mpg combined. Volvo’s MSRP is $71,900 for the XC90 Recharge.
9. Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge (63 MPGe)
Volvo upgraded the XC60 T6 to the XC60 T8 and gave it a larger 18.8kWh lithium-ion battery as well as a new 143-horsepower electric motor to drive the rear wheels. The gas engine is a 2.0L four-cylinder, which has both a turbocharger and a supercharger to improve high-end power and low-end responsiveness. The total output is 455 horsepower.
XC60 T8 has the ability to drive 36 miles using only electric power. Once the battery runs low, fuel economy is an estimated 28 mpg. The XC60 T8 starts from $58,100.
8. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (64 MPGe)
When the first Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV went on sale in the U.S. in 2017, it was the first plug-in hybrid crossover in the country. Mitsubishi completely redesigned the model in 2023 and has made it more powerful and more efficient. It also gained a third row of seats.
Two electric motors, one in the front and one in the rear, drive the wheels with a total of 248 horsepower. A 20kWh battery delivers 38 miles of electric range, the second-highest on this list. When the electric battery runs out, the Outlander PHEV returns 26 mpg.
The model starts from $40,345.
7. Alfa Romeo Tonale/Dodge Hornet PHEV (77 MPGe)
The Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo Tonale share much in common under the skin. They’re so close to being the same vehicle that we’ve included them together on this list. Both offer a 1.3L turbocharged engine and electric motor combination that produces 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque.
While they’re marketed as being quick, with a 5.6-second 0-60 time, they’re also efficient. The two come with an estimated 32-mile electric range, 77 mpge, and deliver 29 miles per gallon once the battery pack runs out.
The Dodge Hornet R/T starts from $41,400, the Alfa Romeo Tonale (which is PHEV in all grades) delivers a slightly more Italian flair for $43,845.
6. Kia Sorento PHEV (79 MPGe)
Kia’s stylish Sorento three-row crossover is all-new, and the redesign comes with a plug-in hybrid driveline for the first time. Using the same powertrain as the smaller Kia Sportage with 261 horsepower, its extra weight and size means a slightly shorter 32-mile range. If you need room for three rows of passengers, then this is your most efficient choice. The less-efficient (56 mpge) Mazda CX-90 is larger, but doesn’t make the cut.
When you use up the electric power, the $47,990 Sorento gives you an estimated 34 mpg.
5. Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring (80 MPGe)
Grand Touring is Lincoln for “plug-in hybrid.” It’s an interesting choice, as PHEVs generally perform best on shorter trips. That’s because, like the Lincoln Corsair’s 32-mile electric range, they offer less battery-powered range than a full EV could.
The Corsair uses an electric motor to drive the rear wheels instead of powering them directly from the engine, a method that helps improve efficiency while still offering AWD traction. Corsair Grand Touring offers 266 horsepower from its gas engine and motors.
The Corsair was thoroughly redesigned for 2023, and that has given it an extra 4 miles of range. Lincoln has also added BlueCruise, the brand’s hands-off driver assistance system, to the list of available features.
Corsair delivers an estimated 33 mpg from the gas engine and has an MSRP of $54,025.
4. Hyundai Tucson PHEV (80 MPGe)
Taking the same 261-horsepower Hyundai group driveline as the Kia Sorento in sixth place on the list and then putting it in a two-row compact crossover helps boost efficiency. How much? A 33-mile electric range and 35 mpg after that, enough for two spots higher on the list.
The Hyundai Tucson PHEV is the lowest-priced plug-in hybrid on the list, at $38,725. It offers efficiency just shy of the three that beat it on our list.
3. Kia Sportage PHEV (84 MPGe)
The Sportage uses the same power system as the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sorento above, but it manages more efficiency. We’re not exactly sure what magic Kia has worked to pull it off, but it is not only more efficient on fuel but also offers a bit more electric range, for a total of 34.
Kia’s latest Sportage is nothing like the models that came before it. This is one of the largest vehicles in its class and has an interior that its competitors would be jealous of.
Because Kia offers the PHEV only in its X-Line off-road trims, you also get an active AWD system with a locking center differential and what Kia calls “high utility” roof rails.
The 261-horsepower Kia Sportage PHEV starts from $39,590.
2. Lexus NX 450h Plus (84 MPGe)
The NX 450h Plus (or NX 450h+) is the first PHEV from Lexus, and it came with the all-new NX model. Using a 2.5L four-cylinder engine and three electric motors, the NX delivers 302 horsepower. Like the Corsair, Lexus uses an electric motor to drive the rear wheels instead of a traditional driveshaft for its AWD system.
The Lexus manages an impressive 37 miles on a full battery charge and 36 mpg after that. The NX 450h Plus starts from $61,140.
1. Toyota RAV4 Prime (94 MPGe)
Toyota’s compact RAV4 crossover has long been a popular choice for buyers who want something efficient. Now, it’s the most efficient AWD crossover of all, thanks to the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime.
The PHEV driveline gives you 42 miles of range on electric power, and then 38 mpg after that. The RAV4 Prime starts from $43,690, making it one of the more affordable options on our list.
The 302 horsepower RAV4 Prime (with the same powertrain as the Lexus above it on our list) is even more efficient on electric power than many EVs. That’s according to the EPA and is despite having the weight and complexity of electric motors and batteries as well as a gas engine.
Special Mention: Gas-Only AWD Crossover Fuel Efficiency Winner
Nissan Rogue 1.5T AWD (31 MPG)
There were no gas-only vehicles on our top 10 AWD crossover fuel-efficiency list, but we were curious which model would come out on top among the non-electrified/gas-only models.
The Nissan Rogue is the most fuel-efficient, gas-only AWD crossover. Up against hybrids and PHEVs, the Rogue is all the way down in 28th place on the overall AWD crossover MPG list.
It has a variable compression 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder, starts at $28,850, and is the best gas-only crossover for fuel efficiency available, with 28 mpg city and 35 highway.
Most Efficient Electric AWD Crossovers
With so many electric crossovers now on the market, they would have taken over nearly the entire list. There are more than a dozen AWD electric crossovers that offer better efficiency than the best PHEV AWD crossovers.
Here are the top 10, ranked from lowest to highest efficiency.
Volvo C40 Recharge Twin (99 MPGe): 257-mile range
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range (99 MPGe): 260-mile range
Audi Q4 E-Tron quattro (100 MPGe): 258-mile range
Genesis GV60 Advanced (100 MPGe): 264-mile range
Tesla Model X (102 MPGe): 348-mile range
Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro (102 MPGe): 263-mile range
Subaru Solterra/Toyota bZ4X (104 MPGe): 228-mile range
Lexus RZ 450e AWD (107 MPGe): 220-mile range
Kia EV6 Long Range (109 MPGe): 282-mile range
Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD (117 MPGe): 310-mile range
