With gas prices climbing as high as $4.00 per gallon in some parts of the U.S., consumers are looking for vehicles that offer the best fuel economy. When it comes to SUVs and vans, each vehicle has a different level of efficiency. Fuel economy is based on the amount of miles a vehicle can travel on one gallon of gas in the city and on the highway. The combined city and highway fuel economy is determined by how many gallons of gas a vehicle uses per 100 miles of driving. Another factor, the annual fuel cost, gives a more complete picture of the fuel economy a vehicle offers.
SUVs
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the top SUVs of 2010 are rated 34 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway (see Reference section). It is worth noting that these vehicles are hybrids, so on some occasions, they operate on an electric power source and do not use fuel. The top SUVs that are not hybrids are rated 23 MPG in the city and 29 on the highway.
Vans
As for minivan economy, the most efficient minivans of 2010 are rated between 20 and 22 MPG in the city and up to 28 MPG on the highway. Full-sized vans are even less efficient, at 15 MPG in the city and 20 on the highway. Full-sized vans are designed for carrying heavy loads, sometimes even having diesel engines. Their fuel costs can be high.
Things to Look For
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website (see Resource section) says that all new cars and light-duty trucks sold in the U.S. must display a label providing fuel economy information so consumers can make well-informed comparisons between vehicles. This label must include information on the city/highway mileage and the annual fuel cost.
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