Many people enjoy the advantages that having four wheel drives bring but with gas prices climbing almost by the week many people are starting to ask what is the 4x4 with the best MPG? It's a great question but the answer to which new cars for sale is best for you depends on what your requirements are. Are you interested in a car, a truck, or an SUV? And does it have to be a hybrid?
Best 4WD MPG Car - 2012 Subaru Impreza
$17,198 Invoice Price 25 City / 34 highway
Hands down the 4x4 with the best MPG is the new Subaru Impreza. Although it lacks the size of a SUV or pickup, this 4WD best mpg car also comes in a sedan or or hatchback configurations to make it perfect if you live on a dirt road or have concerns about unplowed roads. But besides being one of the few AWD cars over 30 MPG highway it's also the cheapest 4x4s you can buy.
Best MPG Pickup - 2012 GMC Canyon
$21,490 Invoice Price 18 city / 24 highway
The choice of best gas mileage truck is both easy but slightly misleading. There's no question that at 18 city and 24 highway mileage the 2012 GMC Canyon or sister vehicle the Chevy Colorado have superior mileage now that the Ford Ranger is out of production. But they are also much smaller and lighter then what you would find in a full size truck. If mileage is a concern and you can go smaller scale the Canyon is your man. But for those wondering about full size trucks, look to the Ford F-150 instead.
Best MPG SUV - 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
$22,311 Invoice Price 24 city / 29 highway
The current highest mpg SUV is actually a hybrid in the Ford Escape but for the highest MPG non hybrid look to the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Though we expect this to be an area with a lot more competition next year as several new cars for sale are expected to come out with even better gas mileage like the new Escape equipped with an Ecoboost engine. Still for the meantime the Outlander Sport remains an excellent choice for those concerned about fuel economy.
Best MPG 4x4 Hybrid - 2012 Ford Escape Hybrid
$30,002 Invoice Price 30 city / 27 highway
As we stated earlier the Ford Escape hybrid is not just the highest MPG 4x4 Hybrid but also the highest MPG SUV period. Four wheel drive or otherwise. But while the mileage is significantly better then anything but the Impreza and even then is much better in the city. But all that excellence has one trade off compared to other 30 MPG cars and that is price. The dealer invoice price for a 4x4 Ford Escape Hybrid is $30,002 which means you'll need to do a lot of driving to make it more economical then the Outlander Sport. Or gas prices to jump again but let's hope that doesn't happen.