The sports utility vehicle (SUV) is an progressively more fashionable type of car among buyers, and it’s simple to understand why.
The raised driving position gives a immense view of the road ahead, and their well-built size makes drivers feel a little safer at the wheel.
However, their full weight tends to mean that they aren’t normally the most economical of cars. With recent studies signifying that perhaps diesels aren’t somewhat what they are crazed up to be, we take a look at a few of the most fuel efficient off-roaders money can buy.
Mini Countryman One
47.1mpg 139g/km
The small and tasteful Mini range isn’t quite so mini any more, in more ways than one. There is a vast range of choice available, from the regular hatchback, to a convertible or the chunky Paceman, and the Countryman SUV here.
The 97hp 1.6-litre petrol found in the entry level ‘One’ won’t set the world alight in terms of performance – 0-60mph takes an okay-but-not-thrilling 11.9 seconds – but a claimed economy of 47.1mpg isn’t to be sniffed at. With emissions of 139g/km, personal buyers will be looking to pay £130 per year for road tax.
Mazda CX-5 2.0
Lease this car from Green Apple Leasing from just £230.48 + VAT per month!
47.1mpg, 139g/km
The Mazda CX-5 is popular with road testers. The stylish crossover makes use of the Japanese firm’s SkyActiv technology, which aims to create clean-burning engines and avoid unnecessary, efficiency-sapping weight.
The claimed fuel economy and emissions exactly matches that of the Mini, yet is able to produce 164hp to deliver lively performance. It handles nicely too, so this is definitely an SUV for the green, keen driver.
Audi Q3 1.4 TFSI
Lease this car from Green Apple Leasing from just £320.00 +VAT per month!
47.9mpg, 137g/km
The Q3 is the smallest of Audi’s three-strong SUV range, and with a small 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, combines lively performance with fuel efficiency.
Delivering a claimed 47.9mpg, the Q3 should allow you to keep away from the petrol pumps for a while, so you can instead spend your time admiring the attractive, beautifully built interior.
Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DiG-T
Lease this car from Green Apple Leasing from just £169.95 + VAT per month!
50.4mpg, 129g/km
The Qashqai’s chunky, 4×4-inspired looks have helped Nissan’s family choice become a huge sales success. The easy front-wheel-drive layout and small, efficient 1.2-litre turbocharged engine helps the Qashqai to 50.4mpg. It’s a great all rounder too: safe, practical and pleasant enough to drive. Its range of qualities was enough to earn it our 2014 car of the year title.
Porsche Cayenne Hybrid
83.1mpg, 79g/km
It may come as a shock to see a Porsche making it to second place on our ‘most economical’ list, but the Cayenne makes use of battery power to achieve a claimed 83.1mpg.
Supplementing the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine is a 96hp electric motor, which under enthusiastic driving merge to offer 410hp and 0-60 in just 5.9 seconds. However, the Cayenne can function on electric power alone for up to 22 miles, which means on the average commute the petrol engine might not kick in at all. A brilliant blend of performance, luxury, and free road tax!
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Lease this car from Green Apple Leasing from just £238.97 + VAT per month!
148mpg, 44g/km
Put simply, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the most economical SUV on sale in the UK. It operates in a similar way to the Porsche, where the electric motor can both be charged by a mains socket, or by the 2.0-litre petrol motor as you’re driving along.
If you frequently do journeys under 32.5 miles, then you’ll be able to manage on electric power only. Then you can come home and charge it up for pennies. On longer journeys, you can even save the electric power for when you enter a town, where the power can be put to best use contributing to a claimed 148mpg.
We can’t help but feel this is the way the majority of cars will operate in the future, and that’s somewhat to be excited about.
