Many Americans dream of owning a house, having a family, and buying an SUV to get the entire family around. If you're eyeing an SUV, but also want to save money, consider looking toward fuel-efficient used SUVs.
What is Fuel Efficiency?
Fuel efficiency is consistently at the top of people’s wishlist in a vehicle. Fuel economy is a measurement that looks at how much fuel a car uses compared to distance traveled. Vehicles with good fuel efficiency consume less fuel, and automakers are constantly striving to make more efficient cars. Every vehicle's fuel efficiency level is different, so it's one of many factors consumers need to consider when buying a vehicle.
Why You Should Care
Even if you’re not commuting for work or driving every day, keeping fuel efficiency in mind should be a priority when picking a vehicle. The better the fuel efficiency, the more money you’ll be saving. Gas prices are constantly changing, and having a fuel-efficient vehicle will decrease the amount of gas you’ll use. This is even more important for SUVs, which are notorious for needing more gas than the average car due to their size.
The hidden benefit to purchasing a fuel-efficient vehicle is that you’ll be helping out the environment as well. Vehicles that consume less fuel release fewer harmful emissions (like carbon dioxide) that lead to air pollution and smog. So, there’s more to fuel efficiency than just saving money, which is a win-win for everyone.
5 Fuel-Efficient Used SUVs to Consider
Because SUVs are in high demand, it can be difficult to find one with good fuel economy. Also, due to their higher prices, many buyers are opting for used SUVs to save some cash. With research from CarFax, these are the top five fuel-efficient used SUVs for you and your family to consider:
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2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (pictured) & GMC Yukon Hybrid EPA ratings: 20 mpg city / 23 mpg highway
Safety rating: Four out of five stars overall in crash tests (NHTSA)
Trim levels: Base (Tahoe); base and Denali (Yukon)
Best feature: Standard 6.0-liter V8 engines and considerable tow ratings
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2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid EPA fuel economy ratings: 28 mpg city / 28 mpg highway
Safety rating: Five-star overall safety score in crash tests (NHTSA)
Trim levels: Limited, and Limited with Platinum Package
Best feature: Driver-assistive features are standard (blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert)
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2015 Honda CR-V EPA ratings: 27 mpg city / 33 mpg highway
Safety rating: Top Safety Pick Plus designation (IIHS)
Trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, CR-V Touring
Best feature: Multiple driver-assistive technology available (adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning)
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2016 Subaru Crosstrek EPA ratings: 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway
Safety rating: Top Safety Pick Plus designation (IIHS)
Trim levels: 2.0i, 2.0i Premium, 2.0i Limited
Best feature: The available driver-assistive features (pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control)
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2016 Mazda CX-5 EPA ratings: 26 mpg city / 34 mpg highway
Safety rating: Top Safety Pick Plus designation (IIHS)
Trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring
Best feature: Up to 66.4 cubic feet of cargo space
The Bottom Line
Many American families want a nice, big SUV that can accommodate everyone. While new SUVs can be expensive, used versions of these vehicles are more affordable for many people's budgets. Plus, picking a fuel-efficient used SUV is just another way to save some money.
If you’ve been eyeing an SUV for your family, but bad credit is in the way, Auto Credit Express wants to help. We connect car buyers with local special finance dealers who have the lenders available to work with bad credit situations. Take the first step and fill out our free auto loan request form today.
