Which 4X4 has the best mpg? Looking for a small suv or passenger car answer?

Question

This is for a friend of mine, the car the friend owns is a ZR2 Chevy tracker with about 16 mpg in 4X4 mode city driving.

For all of those interested in boycotting 4X4 in this answer. I am located in Fairbanks Alaska. 7-8 months of winter.

Guess I am getting not quite the right answers.
Hybrids have big problems starting here in the winter time unless garage kept and most people don't keep the cars in their garage. It is not unusual to have a week or more in the winter where the temperatures are -40 or colder all the time.

Answer 1

I had a 1989, 5-speed stick Isuzu Trooper with a four cylinder overhead cam engine and got 20 Mpg average, easy. Automatics got less, around 15 Mpg. Anyway, here we are 17 years into the future and I have to believe that the technology has to be better and you might get similar mileage with a V-6 with an automatic.

The only practical way to own a 4WD is with a stick shift (manual). This gives you so many different gear ratios and configurations when compared to an automatic where you are at the mercy of the tranny and can't shift into (for example) low-low (first gear/4wd low) that makes a 4WD unstoppable like a tank and will get you out of any mud hole if you are not resting on the axles. Without a manual tranny you might as well never put it in 4wd or take it off-road as your control is more limited.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

The highlander hybrid posts 31/27 mpg. (All Wheel Drive.)

I have an AWD Subaru that gets about 24MPG.

You can't turn AWD off.

Any AWD will beat a 4x4 in MPG. 4x4 is only needed if you drive off road. I've driven though lots of 2+ foot snowstorms in my subaru's and have never gotten stuck or had trouble.
I live in New England and HAVE to get through the snow.

After reading you additional detail, alaska is a horse of a different color. I'm really not sure what it's like up there but I think you are one of the few who acctually would qualify for needing 4x4. As far as I know the chevy might be the best.

Answer 3

I would look into the Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4 and for a little less quality, the Ford Escape. They all have AWD and at least 2 offer a 4 cylinder engine that gets great gas mileage.
I would also recommend a Subaru Outback, Forester, or WRX wagon because of the quality of the AWD system for your Alaskan driving. But they do not get quite as good of gas mileage. In my opinion it is still worth it to get the Subie. Another option that I would not necessarily recommend is an old 4 cylinder Jeep Wrangler. Great 4 wheel drive system, good gas mileage, bad reliability and handling though.
GOod Luck

Answer 4

Best Mpg 4x4

Answer 5

New or used? The previous Honda CRV model was rated at 23 city/30 highway mpg; pretty good for a boxy hauler. Not sure how good they are in rougher environments, though.

As for the poster suggesting riding a BICYCLE in Fairbanks, AK in the middle of winter...all I can say is we'll be digging your freeze-dried corpse out of the permafrost when spring thaw time comes next time around. Unless of course you're thinking it's too late, global warming is already here and winters in Alaska will be very SoCal-like.

Answer 6

Best 4x4 Mpg

Answer 7

The Dodge Caliber RT, which is All Wheel Drive gets between 20 and 26. Pretty tough to beat that.

Answer 8

Jeep Patriot.

Answer 9

Toyota Rav4

Answer 10

real question should be do you really, REALLY need a 4x4 or suv. these things have the aerodynamics of a fridge with the doors open, and waste more gas and other resources than they deserve.

aviod the suv, boycott the 4x4 (unless you really, REALLY need it) and get a more efficient and cheaper to use car or bike