Most Fuel-Efficient Cars, SUVs, Trucks & Tires

The most fuel-efficient vehicle in Consumer Reports’ tests is the Toyota Prius at 51 mpg; the best SUV is the Toyota Corolla Cross at 41 mpg, and the best pickup the Ford Maverick Hybrid at 37 mpg. Vehicle type sets the baseline: new sedans average 31.7 mpg, while four-wheel-drive and heavier SUVs average 24.7 mpg, according to the EPA.

If you’re keeping your current vehicle, its tires still change how much fuel it burns: the lowest rolling resistance tires can save about 32 gallons a year over the highest, and correct tire pressure improves gas mileage by up to 3%.

Most Fuel-Efficient Cars, SUVs and Trucks

These are the most fuel-efficient picks by class in Consumer Reports’ own fuel economy tests (as reported in March 2026):

Which Car Gets the Best Gas Mileage?

The Toyota Prius gets the best gas mileage of any car in Consumer Reports’ tests: 51 mpg overall for the XLE AWD. Among sedans, the Toyota Camry SE and the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue tie at 48 mpg. In the same tests, the Mazda MX-5 Miata Club gets 34 mpg (sports car) and the Acura Integra A-Spec 31 mpg (upmarket car).

Which SUV Gets the Best Gas Mileage?

The Toyota Corolla Cross leads small SUVs at 41 mpg. In bigger classes, the Lexus NX 350h gets 38 mpg (compact luxury), the Toyota Crown Signia 37 mpg (midsize), and the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid 35 mpg (large).

Which Truck Gets the Best Gas Mileage?

The Ford Maverick Hybrid gets the best gas mileage of the pickups in Consumer Reports’ tests: 37 mpg overall for the Lariat trim. That’s far above a typical pickup: the average new gas or hybrid pickup gets 20.3 mpg, according to the EPA (model year 2025).

Do SUVs Use More Gas Than Sedans?

Yes. Among new gas and hybrid vehicles, sedans and wagons average 31.7 mpg, while SUVs average 24.7–30.2 mpg, according to the EPA’s model year 2025 data. The gap depends on the type of SUV:

• Car SUVs (30.2 mpg): most two-wheel-drive SUVs under 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. They come within about 1.5 mpg of sedans.
• Truck SUVs (24.7 mpg): four-wheel-drive and heavier SUVs. They average 7 mpg less than sedans.

Electric models change the picture for smaller SUVs: 30% of new car SUVs are battery-electric, and counting them, the car SUV average rises to 39.2 mpg-equivalent, above the 33.5 for sedans and wagons. Among gas and hybrid models, the most fuel-efficient SUV in Consumer Reports’ tests, the Toyota Corolla Cross at 41 mpg, still trails the most efficient car, the Toyota Prius at 51 mpg.

How Tires Affect Your Car’s Fuel Consumption

Tires affect fuel consumption through rolling resistance, the energy a tire uses as it rolls and flexes. A 10% change in rolling resistance can change fuel economy by 1%–2%, according to Consumer Reports.

Choose Low Rolling Resistance Tires

Low rolling resistance (LRR) tires use tread compounds and designs that roll more easily. U.S. tires carry no fuel-efficiency grade: the UTQG rating on the sidewall covers treadwear, traction and temperature, and the A–E fuel-efficiency grade belongs to the EU tire label. Look for “low rolling resistance” or “fuel-efficient” in the tire description instead. Examples at NeoTires:

• Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus: NanoPro-Tech compound built to reduce rolling resistance.
• Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max: fuel-saving compound with a symmetrical five-rib tread.
• Continental PureContact LS: EcoPlus Technology for fuel efficiency and tread life.

Learn more about tire rolling resistance.

Are Fuel-Efficient Tires Worth It?

Yes, as long as they also brake and grip well: the fuel savings are real but modest. In Consumer Reports’ estimate, going from the highest to the lowest rolling resistance tire saves about 32 gallons of fuel a year at 11,346 miles a year, raising fuel economy from 20.9 to 22.2 mpg. On its test car, Consumer Reports measured a 1–2 mpg difference between high and low rolling resistance all-season tires.

The trade-off: tires not built for low rolling resistance may give up some fuel efficiency for better wet grip and longer tread life. Consumer Reports’ advice is to compare braking, handling and hydroplaning resistance first, and use rolling resistance as the tie-breaker. Original equipment tires, the ones your vehicle came with, are typically designed with fuel efficiency as a high priority.

Best Fuel-Efficient Tires

Keep Tires at the Recommended Pressure

Under-inflated tires lower gas mileage by about 0.2% for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all four tires. Keeping them at the recommended pressure improves gas mileage by 0.6% on average, up to 3%. Don’t overinflate for mileage, since overinflated tires lose traction.

To check tire pressure the right way, according to NHTSA:

1. Find the recommended pressure on the tire placard on the driver’s door edge or door post, or in the owner’s manual. The number on the tire sidewall is the maximum pressure, not the recommended one.
2. Check when the tires are cold: not driven for at least three hours.
3. Check at least once a month, with a tire pressure gauge, and adjust all four tires to the placard value.

Fuel-Efficient Tires at NeoTires

Find low rolling resistance tires in your size at NeoTires: orders get same-day dispatch and arrive in 2–3 business days across the U.S., and tires labeled Free Shipping ship free. For the driving side of fuel economy, see what is good gas mileage and how to save gas.

Why Trust Us?

The vehicle figures in this guide come from Consumer Reports’ fuel economy tests; the SUV and sedan averages from the EPA; the tire figures from Consumer Reports and the U.S. Department of Energy; the tire pressure steps from NHTSA.

_Sources

• Jalopnik: Consumer Reports’ Most Fuel-Efficient Cars, SUVs and Trucks (March 29, 2026)
• Consumer Reports: Low Rolling Resistance Tires Can Save Fuel
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Automotive Trends Report (model year 2025 data)
• The Autopian: How the EPA Decides What Is a Car and What Is a Truck
• FuelEconomy.gov: Keeping Your Vehicle in Shape
• NHTSA: Tire Safety — Everything Rides on It