Canada's most fuel-efficient AWD SUVs

It's not just hybrids that can deliver impressive fuel-economy figures

Mark Atkinson
Published: February 25, 2015, 6:15 AM
Updated: April 8, 2015, 8:27 PM

2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek

Canada's most fuel-efficient AWD SUVs ▲

Canada's most fuel-efficient AWD SUVs

It used to be that getting an SUV meant potentially promising your first-born to pay for the fuel needed. Things have changed in recent years, and while those big V-8-powered machines still exist, the availability of not only smaller-displacement engines, but also turbochargers, hybrid systems, diesel fuel, and excellent transmissions have expanded dramatically. Here are the 15 SUVs with some form of all- or four-wheel-drive that consume the least fuel as rated on Natural Resources Canada’s five-cycle testing regimen. ▲

BMW X5

15. BMW X5 xDrive35d – BMW’s excellent X5 offers some of the most entertaining road manners around and, with the optional 3.0-litre turbo-diesel six-cylinder engine, it's one of the thriftiest around. Despite producing 255 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, the xDrive35d still manages ratings of 9.9 L/100 km city, 7.2 highway and 8.7 combined. Prices start at $67,000. ▲

Infiniti QX60 Hybrid

14. Infiniti QX60 Hybrid – Infiniti offers one of the largest vehicles on this list with its three-row QX60 Hybrid crossover, which comes jammed full of elegant finishings and safety technology. It gets a supercharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine assisted by a 15 kW electric motor that produce a combined 250 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. Starting at $54,900, the QX60 scores fuel efficiency ratings of 8.9 L/100 km in the city, 8.4 highway and 8.7 combined. ▲

Chevrolet Trax

13. Chevrolet Trax – One of the smallest SUVs around combined with the smallest engine on the list should count for something, right? The sub-compact Chevrolet Trax uses a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder with 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque, which helps it feel more nimble around urban playgrounds. Ratings of 9.7 L/100 km city, 7.6 highway and 8.7 combined are good, but it's a pricy little ute with AWD models starting at $26,210. ▲

Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4MATIC

12. Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4MATIC – Mercedes-Benz is laughing all the way to the bank with its latest small cars and SUVs, including the sub-compact GLA 250 4MATIC. The interior, shared with the B-Class and CLA-Class is cleanly designed and easy to use. Its familiar turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder offers 208 horsepower and a strong 258 lb-ft of torque, which are quite generous given its reasonable thirst. Ratings of 9.8 L/100 km city, 7.4 highway and 8.7 combined on offer from $37,200. ▲

Mazda CX-5 2.0L

11. Mazda CX-5 2.0L – Mazda’s SkyActiv philosophy of increasing efficiency and reducing weight with every generation has led to some very impressive vehicles that retain their fun-to-drive focus. The CX-5 was the first ground-up application, and in base trim uses a 2.0-litre engine with 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. While not the most fuel-efficient in the segment anymore, its ratings of 9.3 L/100 km city, 7.6 highway and 8.5 combined are still excellent. Pricing starts at $28,195. ▲

Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 Bluetec 4MATIC

10. Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 Bluetec 4MATIC – The second Mercedes-Benz on the list just cracks the top 10. The compact GLK 250 Bluetec uses a twin-turbocharged 2.1-litre diesel four-cylinder with 200 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Ratings of 9.6 L/100 km in the city, 7.0 highway and 8.5 combined give it bragging rights. Its cabin feels a generation behind its sibling, but still built like a tank. It carries a $48,600 price tag. ▲

Nissan Rogue

9. Nissan Rogue – Mazda started the sexy-but-thrifty vibe, and the latest Nissan Rogue continues the theme. The compact platform hasn’t changed much under the skin, but the body sure has, even extending the back enough to offer an optional third row of seats. The familiar 2.5-litre four-cylinder produces 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. Thrifty CVT allows for ratings of 9.5 L/100 km city, 7.4 highway and 8.5 combined. Pricing starts at $25,998. ▲

Subaru Outback

7. Subaru Outback – Subaru’s latest generation of vehicles is becoming seriously thrifty, mainly thanks to the adoption of an available CVT along with other tweaks and tuning. The Outback remains a reasonably sober vehicle, and the 2.5-litre flat-four engine produces 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. With said CVT, the NRC ratings of 9.3 L/100 km city, 7.1 highway and 8.3 combined are achievable. Prices start at $29,295. ▲

Honda CR-V

6. Honda CR-V – The latest CR-V has received a modest overhaul, at least from the outside, and the interior’s been spruced up a bit. But it's underhood that the changes are most obvious. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder with a strong 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque is joined by a new fuel-saving CVT. The results are ratings of 9.1 L/100 km in the city, 7.2 on the highway and 8.3 combined, which makes it the second-thriftiest non-hybrid around. It's available for $28,350. ▲

Lexus RX 450h

5. Lexus RX 450h – Lexus was the first to offer a fuel-saving hybrid option to its luxury SUVs, and the RX 450h has a long history of mixing dependability, luxury and frugality. You will pay for it, however, thanks to its $62,650 starting price. The same 3.5-litre V-6 with electric assist found in the Highlander Hybrid offers 295 horsepower and 215 lb-ft of torque in the smaller RX, which improves consumption figures to 8.0 L/100 km in the city, 8.5 highway and 8.2 combined. ▲

Subaru XV Crosstrek

4. Subaru XV Crosstrek – Like the Outback, the Subaru XC Crosstrek is based on a more normal car, in this case the Impreza, only with a higher ride height and different trim. So the XC Crosstrek also shares the Impreza’s 2.0-litre flat-four engine with 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. And – at $26,295 with the optional CVT – it scores ratings of 9.1 L/100 km city, 7.0 highway and 8.1 combined. ▲

BMW X3 xDrive28d

3. BMW X3 xDrive28d – Like its larger X5 sibling, the compact X3 also uses diesel power, although this time it's BMW’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. It sports 181 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, which sips fuel very economically. Its ratings of 8.6 L/100 km city, 6.9 highway and 7.9 combined give it third-placed performance here. Prices start at $45,300. ▲

Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid

2. Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid – Subaru decided to offer its first crack at a hybrid on the one vehicle that arguably didn’t need it at all. The XV Crosstrek is the least thirsty vehicle for a ‘reasonable price’ and the hybrid version adds more equipment, a little more power from the 13-horsepower electric motor and a modest savings in fuel consumption. It’s rated at 7.9 L/100 km in the city, 6.9 on the highway and 7.5 combined. Pricing starts at $30,495, or four grand more than the normal version. ▲

Lexus NX 300h

1. Lexus NX 300h – It's barely out of the gate and Lexus has already claimed a trophy for the thriftiest all-wheel-drive SUV, although the compact NX 300h is no bargain. Starting at $58,850, the NX uses a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with electric assist that offers a combined 194 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque. However, no other SUV can match its fuel economy ratings of 7.1 L/100 km in the city, 7.7 highway and 7.4 combined. ▲

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