Compare 4WD Gas Mileage

While four-wheel-drive vehicles aren't known for their fuel efficiency, there are significant differences in the miles per gallon (MPG) that various models deliver. When shopping for a truck, car, minivan or SUV with four-wheel drive, you can find models offering up to 30 MPG.

Instructions

1

Examine engine sizes. Vehicles with smaller engines don't require as much gasoline as those that produce more horsepower and torque. For example, a 2011 Kia Sportage has four cylinders and delivers 21 MPG in city driving and 28 MPG on the highway. A six-cylinder, 2011 Lincoln MKX gets 17 MPG in the city and 23 on the open road. Step up to eight cylinders in a 2011 Nissan Titan and you can expect 12 MPG city and 17 MPG highway.

2

Check fuel types. Hybrid vehicles combine gasoline with the power of an electric motor to deliver impressive fuel mileage results. A 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid sport utility vehicle with four-wheel drive garners 30 MPG in the city and 27 on the highway. Flexible-fuel vehicles can run on gasoline or E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline that is less expensive than traditional unleaded gasoline. A 2011 GMC Terrain with all-wheel drive gets 16 MPG in the city when running on unleaded, and 12 when using E85.

3

Consider vehicle types. When examining 2011 non-hybrid vehicles, SUVs and cars with four-wheel drive tend to produce better fuel economy than trucks or minivans. Among 2011 pickup trucks, the government's fuel economy website shows the best four-wheelers for fuel mileage are the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which produce 18 MPG city and 24 highway. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport claims the title of best-performing SUV, delivering 24 MPG in the city and 29 on the highway. Toyota offers a minivan with all-wheel drive; the 2011 Sienna gets 16 MPG city and 22 highway. Among cars, the 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman delivers the best fuel efficiency, with averages of 25 MPG city and 31 highway.

4

Compare driving conditions. When purchasing a vehicle, consider where you do most of your driving to get the best idea of the fuel economy you can expect. Vehicles can offer a considerable gap in fuel economy when you compare city to highway driving. For example, the 2011 Subaru Legacy produces 23 MPG city and 31 highway, and the 2011 GMC Terrain offers 20 and 29, respectively.