The Suzuki SX4 was introduced in 2007 with Sport (four-door) and Crossover (small station wagon) versions. Gas mileage ratings for the SX4 Crossover are among the best of the four wheel drive pack, with a rating of 28 miles per gallon (MPG) on the highway.
The SX4 has an Italian heritage … its handsome lines were penned by Turin-based Italdesign (perhaps best known for their work with Maserati and Lamborghini) while the vehicle itself was developed in conjunction with Fiat. By the looks of the SX4, un’unione bella! While we don’t usually get hung up on Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP), we’ll make an exception for the SX4 Crossover. At a base price of $14,270, the five-door hatchback SX4 is the least expensive four wheel drive vehicle sold in America today. Chart-topping all wheel drive gas mileage at entry-level prices make the Suzuki SX4 worth a look for budget-minded folks in colder climates.
Need a four wheel drive with the best gas mileage? Get ready to downsize. None of the best gas mileage four wheel drives (4WDs) are jumbo-sized sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Simply put, the aerodynamics and vehicle weight of the bulkiest SUVs cause gas mileage to suffer, leading to many a painful transaction at the pump. The trick is to get small(er), lighter, and more slippery. Credit Subaru for getting the ball rolling with popularizing economical 4WD drive passenger cars in the early days. Since 1997, every vehicle Subaru’s offered in America has been all wheel drive.
These days, it’s not just Subaru. There are plenty of four wheel drive choices that are neither truck nor SUV. And forget the notion of pint-sized economy cars. You’ll find a generous helping of 4WD luxury from manufacturers including Audi, Volvo, Cadillac, and Lexus … in fact, you’ll find many of their offerings in the 2008 list of best gas mileage four wheel drives.
Purists will gladly share that there’s a difference between four wheel drive and all wheel drive (AWD). And surely there is … but for a great many folks, it comes down to two simple questions: will it go in the snow and will I go broke feeding it?
At the other end of the spectrum, the little Suzuki SX4 delivers plenty of bang for the buck, by combining the best four wheel drive gas mileage with a low sticker price (for those who don’t just think miles per gallon … but miles per dollar.)
Along with its corporate cousins, the Ford Escape Hybrid proves the exception to the rule as the highest all around mile per gallon (MPG) four wheel drive vehicle. If you can’t get a great deal on an Escape Hybrid at your local Ford dealer, take a look at the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. And if you happen to live in Southern California, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid HEV might be an option … as long as you’re able to snag one of the 350 Tribute HEVs built for this test market.)
The Kia Sedona went into production in 1999 and was redesigned for the 2006 model year. While the Sedona’s gas mileage ratings are in step with the competition, at 16 city and 23 highway miles per gallon (MPG), fuel-efficiency is not the seven-seat Sedona’s biggest draw. Rather, it is the Sedona’s safety record and affordability that inspire a great many buyers. Kia proudly states that “the Sedona is the first and only minivan ever to earn both a 5-star crash safety rating” from the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and “be named “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.” (The Hyundai Entourage is based on the Sedona.)/p>
The 2008 Kia Sedona is equipped with a 3.8 liter V-6 that produces 250 horsepower (HP) and 253 foot pounds of torque. While a turbo-diesel is not currently available in US versions of the Sedona, an economical DOHC 2.9 liter CRDi turbo-diesel, producing a generous 343 foot pounds of torque is available abroad. To provide reassurance of the Sedona’s reliability and longevity, Kia provides a 10 year, 100,000 mile limited power train warranty and other significant warranties.
The Hyundai Entourage is based on Kia’s Sedona minivan and was introduced to America in the 2007 model year. The Entourage seats seven and achives gas mileage ratings of 16 city and 23 highway miles per gallon (MPG). Like the Sedona, the Entourage earned a class-topping 5-star crash safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The 2008 Hyundai Entourage is fitted with a DOHC 3.8 liter V-6 that produces 242 horsepower (HP). Hyundai provides a 10-year / 100,000 mile limited power train warranty, along with a 5-year / 60,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty, and a 7-year / unlimited miles anti-perforation warranty.
The Uplander – Chevrolet’s “Family Sport Van” – was introduced in the 2005 model year. While the Uplander’s styling falls somewhere between minivan and crossover SUV, all wheel drive is not an option on the current model. The 2008 Uplander’s gas mileage ratings of 16 city and 23 highway miles per gallon (MPG) are squarely in line with its competition, both inside and outside of GM. (The Uplander shares its platform with the Buick Terraza, Pontiac Montana, and Saturn Relay.)
The 2008 Uplander is fitted with a 3.9 liter V-6 engine that produces 240 horsepower (HP) and 240 foot pounds of torque. E85 FlexFuel capability is optional. The Uplander seats seven with the choice of second-row removable modular bucket seats or removable captain’s chairs. While leather trimmed seats are available for the first and second row, the kids stuck way back in the third row are out of luck.
