There’s about a baker’s dozen full-size SUVs on the market. Each boasts a third row of seats, a spacious cargo hold, and some towing capability. None has particularly good fuel efficiency, but some are better than others.
To that end, in this guide we have ranked our top 10 best large SUVs for gas mileage. (Note: We also mention where diesel engines are available, but we’ve excluded electric vehicles beyond hybrid SUVs.)
The Best Large SUVs for Gas Mileage 2025
- BMW X7
- Toyota Sequoia
- Mercedes-Benz GLS
- Land Rover Range Rover
- Ford Expedition
- Lexus LX 600
- Lincoln Navigator
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Chevrolet Suburban
- 2024 GMC Yukon
- Models That Didn’t Make the List
- Factors to Consider when Choosing a Large SUV
- Tips for Maximizing Gas Mileage in Large SUVs
- Fuel-Saving Features in Large SUVs
BMW X7
Gas mileage: 22 mpg | Base price: $84,675
The BMW X7 ties with the Toyota Sequoia for the most fuel-efficient gas-powered full-size SUV. Its 22 mpg EPA combined figure corresponds to xDrive40i models, meaning those with the 375-horsepower turbocharged inline-six engine. Opting for the 523 hp M60i or the 631 hp Alpina XB7 — both of which have a boosted V8 under the hood — will shave 4 or 5 mpg off that rating.
Toyota Sequoia
Gas mileage: 22 mpg | Base price: $64,120
The truck-like Toyota Sequoia has a hybrid powertrain, pairing a twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor for 437 horsepower. Choosing a four-wheel-drive example over a rear-driver requires a 2-mpg sacrifice, but it’s the thing to do if you intend to take this big Toyota off-road.
Mercedes-Benz GLS
Gas mileage: 21 mpg | Base price: $90,350
The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class takes aim squarely at another luxury SUV, the BMW X7, offering similar powertrains: The GLS450 has a 375 hp turbo inline-six, while the GLS580 and GLS63 have a twin-turbo V8, good for 510 or 603 hp, respectively. The 21 mpg fuel economy rating applies to the six-cylinder-powered model. Those with the V8 see 15 or 16 mpg combined.
Land Rover Range Rover
Gas mileage: 21 mpg | Base price: $109,525
The Range Rover has a reputation for being both incredibly luxurious as well as capable. It comes in two sizes, with the long-wheelbase version outstretching the short by about 8 inches. The entry-level model, the P400, makes 395 horsepower from a mild-hybrid-assisted turbocharged inline-six and returns a combined EPA rating of 21 mpg. Stepping up to the P530 and its 523 hp twin-turbo V8 comes with an efficiency drop to 19 mpg, but it’s the highest-rated Range Rover in terms of towing.
This Land Rover is also one of the only large SUVs to offer a plug-in hybrid. With a charged battery, the P550e can travel an estimated 53 miles on electricity alone and boasts an EPA combined rating of 53 MPGe; when it runs out of juice, it matches the P400 for fuel economy, with a 21 mpg rating. (A Range Rover Electric is also on the horizon.)
Ford Expedition
Gas mileage: 19 mpg | Base price: $57,625
The Ford Expedition is a great option for those who wish to tow, as it can pull trailers weighing some 9,000 pounds. Ford also sells the Expedition in long-wheelbase form as the Expedition Max. Both employ a twin-turbocharged V6; power depends on the trim level, with the lesser 2024 models making 380 horsepower and top ones seeing 440.
Lexus LX 600
Gas mileage: 19 mpg | Base price: $93,915
The Lexus LX mixes Lexus luxury with off-road capability. Under the hood is a twin-turbo V6, making 409 horsepower. Come 2025, a new hybrid model, the LX 700h, will join the lineup. Lexus anticipates it’ll see a 1 mpg gain in fuel economy (for 20 mpg) compared with the LX 600.
Lincoln Navigator
Gas mileage: 18 mpg | Base price: $85,260
The Lincoln Navigator is a posher version of the Expedition, though unlike the Ford, the Lincoln is unavailable with two-wheel drive. For a roomier third row and cargo hold, look at the Navigator L, as it’s about 12 inches longer than the regular Gator. Both get a 440 hp twin-turbo V6.
Chevrolet Tahoe
Gas mileage: 17 mpg | Diesel mileage: 24 mpg | Base price: $58,195
The Chevrolet Tahoe is one of GM’s three full-size, body-on-frame offerings. It’s more or less the same thing as the GMC Yukon and merely a shorter version of the Chevy Suburban (see below). When it comes to gas mileage, the best the Tahoe can do is 17 mpg combined: That’s for a two-wheel-drive model with the 5.3-liter V8. Selecting the 6.2-liter and/or four-wheel drive will reduce this big SUV’s poor fuel economy even more. That said, if you were to purchase a 2024 Tahoe with a diesel engine, you’d see up to 24 mpg combined.
Chevrolet Suburban
Gas mileage: 17 mpg | Diesel mileage: 23 mpg | Base price: $61,195
As noted above, the Chevrolet Suburban is a stretched Tahoe, and as such, it returns almost identical ratings as its stablemate, while passengers benefit from more space. This giant SUV can seat up to nine people, and it offers a fairly fuel-efficient diesel engine.
GMC Yukon
Gas mileage: 17 mpg | Diesel mileage: 23 mpg | Base price: $60,195
While it has a few features and styling differences to justify its higher base price, the GMC Yukon is a mechanical twin of the Chevy Tahoe and gets similar fuel economy.
Models That Didn’t Make the List
The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer and 2025 Infiniti QX80 can best a few of our top 10 in fuel economy, but the Wagoneer has faced some reliability issues and the QX80, while luxurious inside, isn’t as nice to drive as others. The 2024 Nissan Armada fails to impress in many regards, including EPA testing, where it received 16 mpg combined. And while the 2025 Cadillac Escalade is swanky and comfortable, its 13 mpg combined rating is a segment low.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Large SUV
Before you settle on a large SUV, it’s important to think about what you need out of it. Here are some considerations:
Body construction: Many vehicles on the market are unibody, meaning the vehicle’s body and frame are integrated into one piece. In the full-size SUV class, however, many options (e.g., the Lexus LX and the Ford Expedition) are body-on-frame, where the body sits atop a separate frame. Why is this important to know? Well, unibody models tend to ride more comfortably, handle better, and weigh less than body-on-frame models, but they’re typically not as capable when it comes to towing or off-road performance.
Tow rating: Everything on this list can tow at least 6,000 pounds in some form or another. The most capable unibody model is the Range Rover, which has a maximum capacity of 8,200 pounds, whereas the body-on-frame Ford Expedition and Toyota Sequoia can tug more than 9,000 pounds when properly equipped.
Cargo space: Several full-size SUVs come in two (wheelbase) lengths. Chevy gives its models individual names, but others, like Ford and GMC, simply tack a modifier onto the base model’s nameplate to indicate the stretch. If you intend to use the third row of your full-size SUV only occasionally, one of the shorter models should do. Not only will it cost less, but it’ll be less wieldy to maneuver. That said, if you have a large family and need all the seats plus a spacious cargo compartment, that’s when the long-wheelbase models make sense.
Fuel economy: In general, the larger the vehicle, the lower the fuel economy. If you don’t need the giant interior or the tremendous towing capacity of a full-size SUV, you’ll find more fuel-efficient options — we’re talking models with mileage estimates in the mid-30s — in the midsize SUV segment. Many of these crossovers, including the popular Toyota Highlander and Kia Sorento, offer three rows of seats and decent cargo space too. Plus, the list of brands grows considerably to include Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Honda, Volkswagen, and more. Downsizing to a compact or subcompact SUV would be even better for fuel efficiency, but you’ll have to give up a row of seats and a lot of cargo room.
Seat count: A couple of three-row SUVs can fit up to nine people, with three rows of bench seats. Most, however, cap the seat count at seven or eight. If you want to preserve as many seats as possible, you’ll likely need to settle for a low trim, as second-row captain’s chairs tend to be standard fare in high-level models.
Drivetrain: Two-wheel-drive (2WD) models are less complicated, lighter, cheaper, and more fuel-efficient than all-wheel-drive (AWD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) SUVs. They also tend to have an advantage in towing.
Price: Full-size vehicles from the mainstream brands have come a long way in terms of refinement, with some rivaling their luxury-brand equivalent in terms of interior quality. If you want a swanky interior in a Ford or Chevy, just look for a high trim level.
Driver-assistance features: You’ll definitely want blind-spot monitoring with a vehicle this large and possibly some advanced towing features, if you’re going to hook up a trailer to the back. Ford, in particular, offers some useful tech, including hitch guidance for aligning your hitch with the trailer and onboard scales for helping you determine the proper weight distribution of your trailer and its tongue load.
Tips for Maximizing Gas Mileage in Large SUVs
Weight is the enemy of fuel efficiency. Remove unnecessary items from the cabin, cargo hold, and roof to lighten the load. This includes snow, which not only weighs down the vehicle and hurts its aerodynamics, but it sprays back on other cars, affecting their visibility.
Driving efficiently is also a great way to save fuel. An easy way to do that is to let the car brake and accelerate for you, assuming it has adaptive cruise control. Keep to the speed limit, as vehicles are most efficient between 45 and 55 mph; beyond that, efficiency drops quickly as the SUV’s velocity increases.
Lastly, don’t choose a model with large wheels or knobby tires. While those things may look cool, they’re a detriment to gas mileage.
Fuel-Saving Features in Large SUVs
As mentioned above, opting for a diesel engine over a gas one can boost fuel economy substantially.
Hybridization — be it a large electric motor for propulsion or a small one for mild-hybrid assistance — is also a boon. Several models on this list have some form of it.
Eco modes tend to reduce the vehicle’s power, which results in more leisurely acceleration but better fuel economy. It can also adjust how the transmission shifts and the operation of the HVAC system to maximize efficiency.
Many models have engine start/stop technology, too, which automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a halt and restarts it when you lift off the brake pedal. Keep this system turned on to get the best mileage.
GM saves fuel in the Tahoe and Suburban with cylinder deactivation. This is where the powertrain computer selectively shuts down certain cylinders in low-load situations, effectively turning a V8 or V6 into a four-cylinder engine.
Lastly, the vehicle’s rolling gear can have an outsize impact on fuel economy. Choosing the smallest factory wheel size and non-aggressive all-season tires will be the best option for eco-conscious drivers.
