This Nissan Rogue is one of a number of modern SUVs that won't break the bank when it's time to refuel. In a scorching hot new car retail market, SUV sales are positively on fire. Small crossover SUVs are particularly popular, with sales up nearly 10 percent as of mid-summer 2014 compared to the same time last year. Fuel economy improvements also have people shopping practical crossovers against mainstream family sedans, and then choosing the SUV. You might even be one of those people trying to make just such a decision. That鈥檚 why we鈥檝e done the research for you, and created this list of the 8 best SUVs for getting great gas mileage. Based on official EPA estimates for 2014 models, the following 8 models are expected to get at least 28 mpg in combined driving. With front-wheel drive, the Buick Encore is rated to get 28 mpg in combined driving thanks to its small size and turbocharged, 138-horsepower, 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. It鈥檚 the same one that General Motors uses in the Chevy Sonic, which isn鈥檛 surprising when you remember that the Encore is based on the Sonic鈥檚 platform.

This Nissan Rogue is one of a number of modern SUVs that won't break the bank when it's time to refuel. In a scorching hot new car retail market, SUV sales are positively on fire. Small crossover SUVs are particularly popular, with sales up nearly 10 percent as of mid-summer 2014 compared to the same time last year. Fuel economy improvements also have people shopping practical crossovers against mainstream family sedans, and then choosing the SUV. You might even be one of those people trying to make just such a decision. That鈥檚 why we鈥檝e done the research for you, and created this list of the 8 best SUVs for getting great gas mileage. Based on official EPA estimates for 2014 models, the following 8 models are expected to get at least 28 mpg in combined driving. With front-wheel drive, the Buick Encore is rated to get 28 mpg in combined driving thanks to its small size and turbocharged, 138-horsepower, 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. It鈥檚 the same one that General Motors uses in the Chevy Sonic, which isn鈥檛 surprising when you remember that the Encore is based on the Sonic鈥檚 platform.

25,000, the Encore is to soon be joined by the upcoming 2015 Chevrolet Trax, the same thing as the Buick but cheaper and wearing a bowtie badge on its grille. 50K prevents it from fitting into many budgets. A midsize luxury crossover SUV with spacious seating for five people, the Lexus RX 450h gets 30 mpg with front-wheel drive and 29 mpg with all-wheel drive. That鈥檚 pretty good, considering that this hybrid model generates 295 horsepower and can accelerate to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds. 50,000 is a challenge, and that the RX 450h model鈥檚 technology is dated, there鈥檚 no denying that it works to supply both performance and efficiency. The base Sport model has all the nimble driving manners we love in the CX-5, coupled with fuel economy that competes with the best. Higher trim levels do sacrifice some MPGs, however. We鈥檙e going to need to clarify something about the inclusion of the Mazda CX-5 on our list of the most fuel-efficient SUVs.

The only version that qualifies is the base Sport model, and that鈥檚 because it is the only model equipped with the 155-horsepower, 2.0-liter SkyActiv 4-cylinder engine. The Touring and Grand Touring have a more powerful, and less efficient, engine. 22,500 with front-wheel drive and a manual transmission. Add an automatic, and the 29-mpg fuel economy rating doesn鈥檛 budge. The optional all-wheel-drive system reduces the rating by 1 mpg. The Mercedes delivers up to 28 mpg, even when you opt for all-wheel-drive. Torque is a strong suit of the GLK's twin-turbo 2.1-liter 4.cylinder engine. If the Lexus RX 450h isn鈥檛 appealing to you, the only other traditional luxury SUV on our list is the Mercedes-Benz GLK250 BlueTec, which has all-wheel drive and still gets 28 mpg. The key here is this model鈥檚 twin-turbocharged, 2.1-liter 4-cylinder engine, which is good for 200 horsepower and a seriously impressive 369 lb.-ft. They styling isn't for everyone, but there's no denying the Nissan Juke is fun to drive and returns an impressive 29 mpg in front-wheel-drive format.

20,000 in standard format. Once you crawl inside and fire up the turbocharged, 188-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, you might not care much about what it looks like, because this is a genuinely fun little crossover SUV. Plus, you can crank up the performance with the perplexing NISMO models, though they鈥檙e not as thrifty with fuel as the standard versions. 24,000, optional third-row seating, and a combined economy average of 28 mpg, the new Rogue has been a big hit with SUV buyers. Nissan redesigned the Rogue for 2014, and it鈥檚 been a big hit with consumers seeking an SUV with lots of room and terrific fuel economy. One of the few compact crossovers to provide a third-row seating option, the Rogue is rated to get 28 mpg in combined driving regardless of whether or not you opt for the all-wheel-drive system. The standard Subaru XV Crosstrek delivers 28 mpg, while the hybrid variant returns an even more impressive 31 mpg. 24,000, including all-wheel drive.