Question From Nick: what is the best deal for a small fuel efficient automatic suv ?New or used ? around $16.000

CarFinanceGuru: Hi Nick.  We found this great article on Hybridsuv.com and it lists all of the small and medium sized SUVs by miles per gallon (MPG).  One of our colleagues here, MuscleCarGuy did a great cost benefit analysis of Hybrid versus non-Hybrid (http://autobragblog.com/index.php/2008/01/31/question-for-autobrag-your-opinion-please-3/)

It is a great read and we agree with his assessment that if you want to help lower pollution then hybrids are the way to go.  If you are looking at this from a “return on investment” stand point then a hybrid might not be such a great idea right now.

Make and Model   Average MPG   Class

Ford Escape Hybrid   32 mpg   Small
Mazda Tribute Hybrid   32 mpg   Small
Mercury Mariner Hybrid   30 mpg   Small
Lexus RX Hybrid   26 mpg   Mid-Sized
Saturn Vue Hybrid   26 mpg   Small
Toyota Highlander Hybrid   26 mpg   Mid-Sized
Toyota Rav4 (4 cyl)   23 mpg   Small
Jeep Compass   22 mpg   Small
Nissan Rogue   22 mpg   Small
Suburu Forester 2.5X   22 mpg   Small
Toyota Rav4 (6 cyl)   22 mpg   Small
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid   21 mpg   Large
GMC Yukon Hybrid   21 mpg   Large
Honda CRV   21 mpg   Small
Honda Element   21 mpg   Small
Jeep Patriot   20 mpg   Small
Suburu Forester Sports   20 mpg   Small
BMW X3   19 mpg   Mid-Sized
Ford Escape (V6)   19 mpg   Small
Land Rover LR2   19 mpg   Small
Lexus RX   19 mpg   Mid-Sized
Mazda Tribute (V6)   19 mpg   Small
Mercury Mariner (V6)   19 mpg   Small
Mitsubishi Outlander   19 mpg   Small
Acura RDX   18 mpg   Mid-Sized
Chevrolet Equinox   18 mpg   Small
Hyundai Santa Fe   18 mpg   Mid-Sized
Hyundai Tucson   18 mpg   Small
Infiniti FX   18 mpg   Mid-Sized
Kia Sportage   18 mpg   Small
Mazda CX-7   18 mpg   Mid-Sized
Pontiac Torrent   18 mpg   Small
Suzuki Grand Vitara   18 mpg   Small
Toyota Highlander (V6)   18 mpg   Mid-Sized
Acura MDX   17 mpg   Mid-Sized
BMW X5   17 mpg   Mid-Sized
Honda Pilot   17 mpg   Mid-Sized
Hyundai Veracruz   17 mpg   Mid-Sized
Kia Sorento   17 mpg   Small
Nissan Xterra   17 mpg   Small
Saturn Vue (V6)   17 mpg   Small
Suzuki XL-7   17 mpg   Small
Toyota FJ Cruiser   17 mpg   Small
Cadillac SRX (V6)   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Chrysler Pacifica   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Dodge Nitro   16 mpg   Small
Ford Edge   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Ford Taurus X   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
GMC Acadia   16 mpg   Large
Jeep Liberty   16 mpg   Small
Lincoln MKX   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Mazda CX-9   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Mercedes Benz M Class   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Mitsubishi Endeavor   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Saturn Outlook   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Suburu Tribeca   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Toyota 4Runner   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Volvo XC90   16 mpg   Mid-Sized
Audi Q7   15 mpg   Mid-Sized
Buick Enclave   15 mpg   Large
Chevrolet Trailblazer   15 mpg   Mid-Sized
Ford Explorer (V6)   15 mpg   Mid-Sized
GMC Envoy   15 mpg   Mid-Sized
Jeep Grand Cherokee   15 mpg   Mid-Sized
Jeep Wrangler   15 mpg   Small
Lexus GX   15 mpg   Mid-Sized
Mercedes Benz GL Class   15 mpg   Large
Mercury Mountaineer (V6)   15 mpg   Mid-Sized
Nissan Pathfinder   15 mpg   Mid-Sized
Chevrolet Suburban   14 mpg   Large
Chevrolet Tahoe   14 mpg   Large
Ford Explorer (V8)   14 mpg   Mid-Sized
GMC Yukon XL   14 mpg   Large
Hummer H3   14 mpg   Mid-Sized
Mercury Mountaineer (V8)   14 mpg   Mid-Sized
Cadillac Escalade   13 mpg   Large
Chrysler Aspen   13 mpg   Large
Dodge Durango   13 mpg   Large
Ford Expedition   13 mpg   Large
Jeep Commander   13 mpg   Mid-Sized
Land Rover LR3   13 mpg   Mid-Sized
Nissan Armada   13 mpg   Large

If you were to go with a new model I’d have to say the the top three choices would be:

1) Nissan Rogue
2) Toyota Rav 4 (4 cylinder)
3) Honda CRV

If you were to go with a used model my top three would be:

1) Subaru Forester
2) Jeep Compass
3) Jeep Patriot

This may seem all odd that all the new models were not picked as a choice for used.  The reason is because the Subaru and the Jeeps drop in value like rocks once they are used.  You can get a much better deal going with those more unloved cars.  The Top 3 New hold up pretty well versus the Top 3 used.

Take a look at the info I have provided and let me know what SUVs you are really interested in.  I’ll get you pricing info right away.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 11:02 pm and is filed under How Much Should I Pay?. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.