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Are you looking for an SUV that saves you money on both fuel and price? Now is a good time to consider 5-year-old compact SUVs with respectable fuel efficiency as a viable alternative to other used vehicles, according to Consumer Reports' latest listing of fuel-efficient used SUVs, which they recommended today.
"To help steer you to the best choice, we've assembled a list of the most fuel-efficient 5-year-old compact SUVs. All performed well enough in our tests to be recommended when new, and all have average or better reliability according to Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Surveys, where we ask CR members to tell us about what went wrong with their cars."
Consumer Reports' Most Fuel-Efficient Used Compact SUVs
While fuel economy is a big plus in rating their compact SUV vehicle choices, CR analysts have also factored in braking, acceleration, and safety features such as forward collision warning (FCW), blind spot warning (BSW), and automatic emergency braking (AEB).
These SUVs are also recent enough that their performance in our tests—such as acceleration, braking, and fuel economy—is on a par with that of brand-new models. Each one also returned 26 mpg or better in our tests. In the older vehicles that they determined remained on par operationally with newer models having the same features." —Consumer Reports, June 2025
Related article: Compact SUVs from $25,000 to $35,000 With Standard Active Safety Systems You Will Want
That said, here is a summary of their nine top choices among used compact SUVs that you should consider as a smart, fuel-efficient purchase based on owner-reported actual mileage in their vehicles when new.
Related article: Fuel Efficiency You Can Expect from an Old Toyota Prius
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT USED SUBCOMPACT SUVS
1. Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid 2020
Price Range: $16,700 - $22,400
Owner Reported MPG: N/A
2. Honda HR-V 2020
Price Range: $16,575 - $19,525
Owner Reported MPG: 29 mpg
3. Subaru Crosstrek 2020
Price Range: $16,700 - $22,400
Owner Reported MPG: 28 mpg
4. Toyota C-HR 2020
Price Range: $17,050 - $17,600
Owner Reported MPG: 31 mpg
5. Mazda CX-3 2020
Price Range: $14,200 - $15,750
Owner Reported MPG: 29 mpg
6. Mazda CX-30 2020
Price Range: $14,650 - $17,875
Owner Reported MPG: 28 mpg
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT USED COMPACT SUVS
1. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2020
Price Range: $20,325 - $27,000
Owner Reported MPG: 38 mpg
2. Honda CR-V Hybrid 2020
Price Range: $18,875 - $25,250
Owner Reported MPG: 35 mpg
3. Ford Escape Hybrid 2020
Price Range: $12,275 - $17,350
Owner Reported MPG: 40 mpg
4. Honda CR-V 2020
Price Range: $18,875 - $25,250
Owner Reported MPG: 29 mpg
5. Subaru Forester 2020
Price Range: $17,375 - $21,775
Owner Reported MPG: 28 mpg
6. Toyota RAV4 2020
Price Range: $20,325 - $27,000
Owner Reported MPG: 28 mpg
MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT USED LUXURY SUVS
1. Lexus UX 2020
Price Range: $22,475 - $26,950
Owner Reported MPG: 38 mpg
2. Lexus NX Hybrid 2020
Price Range: Not provided
Owner Reported MPG: 31 mpg
3. BMW X1 2020
Price Range: $17,325 - $18,075
Owner Reported MPG: 27 mpg
4. Buick Encore GX 2020
Price Range: $14,000 - $17,425
Owner Reported MPG: 30 mpg
5. Mercedes-Benz GLA 2020
Price Range: $17,525 - $18,325
Owner Reported MPG: N/A
6. Mercedes-Benz GLB 2020
Price Range: $20,075 - $20,900
Owner Reported MPG: 26 mpg
Last Words
For a more detailed breakdown of each vehicle's features, please visit the Consumer Reports website. Note that while access to some information requires a CR membership, the potential savings are negligible compared to seeking the latest information to aid your car-buying research.
For more about smart shopping for used cars and SUVs, here is one recommended article titled "The Cheapest Cars in America Can Be Found by Looking at Transaction Prices—A New Update on the Least Expensive New Cars Recommended by Consumer Reports."
COMING UP NEXT: Dealership at Scheduled Maintenance Says Auxiliary Battery at 69 Percent and Recommends Charging Service for $107 for My 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
Image Source: Deposit Photos
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