CARS.COM — SUVs are the hot ticket in the auto market, and compact models that offer more utility than most passenger cars but without a major gas-mileage penalty are in one of the hottest segments. The four best-selling SUVs — the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue and Ford Escape — are in this category, which also has entries from several luxury brands.
Related: 2016 Compact SUV Driving Ranges
Though compact SUVs generally provide better fuel economy than larger SUVs, their smaller dimensions leave less space for a fuel tank, so you won’t find any vehicles in this category that can carry more than 20 gallons of fuel.
That effectively limits the driving range — how far a vehicle can go between fuel stops — of some compact SUVs compared with larger ones. However, higher fuel economy and the availability of gas-electric hybrid technology on some models helps these smaller SUVs stretch the distance they can go on a tank of gas or diesel fuel.
The driving range of any vehicle depends on the engine, transmission, choice of two- or four-wheel drive when offered, and your own driving style and mix of city and highway driving. Some compact SUVs come with only one engine and transmission, and some only with standard four-wheel drive, limiting the options for increasing the range. On some vehicles where 4WD is optional, those models have smaller fuel tanks (to make room for the hardware to drive the rear wheels), reducing the range even more.
The information here lists the estimated driving range for model-year 2017 compact SUVs based on the EPA combined city/highway rating for the powertrain configuration (engine, transmission and number of drive wheels) that produces the most miles between fuel stops.
EPA combined ratings are based on 55 percent city driving and 45 percent highway driving, so extended periods of highway driving should increase the range. Conversely, driving mostly in a congested urban area, carrying heavy cargo or frequently accelerating aggressively could reduce the range. Bear in mind that these are estimates.
EPA estimates for some 2017 SUVs are different than they were for 2016 – and lower in most cases. The EPA updated the calculations it uses based on test data from the previous six years to “better reflect today’s vehicle fleet.”
Driving Range for 2017 Compact SUVs
Acura RDX
Configuration: 3.5-liter V-6, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 23 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.0 gallons
Driving range: 368 miles
Audi Q5
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 22 mpg
Fuel capacity: 19.8 gallons
Driving range: 436 miles
Audi SQ5
Configuration: Supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, eight-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 19 mpg
Fuel capacity: 19.8 gallons
Driving range: 376 miles
BMW X3
Configuration: Turbo-diesel 2.0-liter four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: TBA (2017 EPA ratings will be announced soon)
Fuel capacity: 17.7 gallons
Driving range: TBA
BMW X4
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 23 mpg
Fuel capacity: 17.7 gallons
Driving range: 407 miles
Buick Envision
Configuration: 2.5-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 17.3 gallons
Driving range: 433 miles
Chevrolet Equinox
Configuration: 2.4-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 18.8 gallons
Driving range: 470 miles
Ford Escape
Configuration: Turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 26 mpg
Fuel capacity: 15.7 gallons
Driving range: 408 miles
GMC Terrain
Configuration: 2.4-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 18.8 gallons
Driving range: 470 miles
Honda CR-V
Configuration: Turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 30 mpg
Fuel capacity: 14.0 gallons
Driving range: 420 miles
Hyundai Tucson
Configuration: Turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder, seven-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 27 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.4 gallons
Driving range: 443 miles
Infiniti QX50
Configuration: 3.7-liter V-6, seven-speed automatic transmission, 2WD or 4WD
EPA combined rating: 20 mpg
Fuel capacity: 20.0 gallons
Driving range: 400 miles
(City/highway/combined ratings are 17/24/20 mpg both with 2WD and 4WD)
Jeep Cherokee
Configuration: 2.4-liter four-cylinder, nine-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 15.8 gallons
Driving range: 395 miles
Jeep Compass
Configuration: 2.0-liter four-cylinder or 2.4-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 13.6 gallons
Driving range: 340 miles
(City/highway/combined ratings are 23/30/25 mpg with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 23/28/25 mpg with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder)
Jeep Patriot
Configuration: 2.0-liter four-cylinder or 2.4-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 13.6 gallons
Driving range: 340 miles
(City/highway/combined ratings are 23/30/25 mpg with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 25/23/28 mpg with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder)
Jeep Wrangler
Configuration: 3.6-liter V-6, six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 18 mpg
Fuel capacity: 18.6 gallons
Driving range: 335 miles
(City/highway/combined ratings are 17/21/18 mpg both with the manual and the automatic)
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Configuration: 3.6-liter V-6, six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 18 mpg
Fuel capacity: 22.5 gallons
Driving range: 405 miles
(City/highway/combined ratings are 16/21/18 mpg with the manual and 16/20/18 mpg with the automatic)
Kia Sportage
Configuration: 2.4-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.4 gallons
Driving range: 410 miles
Lexus NX 200t
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons
Driving range: 398 miles
Lexus NX 300h
Configuration: 2.5-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 31 mpg
Fuel capacity: 14.8 gallons
Driving range: 459 miles
Lincoln MKC
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 23 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.2 gallons
Driving range: 373 miles
Mazda CX-5
Configuration: TBA
EPA combined rating: TBA
Fuel capacity: TBA
Driving range: TBA
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, nine-speed automatic transmission, 2WD or 4WD
EPA combined rating: 24 mpg
Fuel capacity: 17.4 gallons
Driving range: 418 miles
(City/highway/combined ratings are 22/28/24 mpg with 2WD, 21/28/24 with 4WD and 22/27/24 mpg with the coupe)
Mitsubishi Outlander
Configuration: 2.4-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 27 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.6 gallons
Driving range: 448 miles
Nissan Rogue
Configuration: 2.5-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 29 mpg
Fuel capacity: 14.5 gallons
Driving range: 421 miles
Nissan Rogue Hybrid
Configuration: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: TBA
Fuel capacity: 14.5 gallons
Driving range: TBA
Porsche Macan
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, seven-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 22 mpg
Fuel capacity: 19.8 gallons
Driving range: 436 miles
Subaru Forester
Configuration: 2.5-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 28 mpg
Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons
Driving range: 445 miles
Toyota RAV4
Configuration: 2.5-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 26 mpg
Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons
Driving range: 413 miles
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Configuration: 2.5-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 32 mpg
Fuel capacity: 14.8 gallons
Driving range: 474 miles
Volkswagen Tiguan
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 22 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.9 gallons
Driving range: 372 miles
Volvo XC60
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 26 mpg
Fuel capacity: 18.5 gallons
Driving range: 481 miles
Data Integrity Analyst Bryan McTague contributed to this story.