2017 Subcompact SUV Driving Range
CARS.COM — It’s easy to see why subcompact SUVs are popular: They have better fuel economy than their bigger brothers and sisters, and they provide more utility than a typical small car. Moreover, they offer four- or all-wheel-drive traction, either as an option or as a standard feature.
Related: 2016 Subcompact SUV Driving Range
All subcompact SUVs come with three- or four-cylinder engines that provide better fuel economy than most larger utility vehicles even come close to matching. That doesn’t mean, however, that they can cruise endlessly between fill-ups. Small vehicles don’t have the room for the 25- or 30-gallon fuel tanks found on large SUVs. That effectively limits the driving range — how far a vehicle can go between fuel stops — of some subcompact SUVs compared to larger ones.
The driving range of any vehicle depends on the engine, transmission, number of drive wheels and your own driving style. Several small SUVs come with only one engine and transmission, and some with only standard 4WD, limiting the options for increasing the range.
The EPA fuel economy estimates are typically higher with two-wheel drive than 4WD, but on some small SUVs the combined city/highway ratings are the same. But on some vehicles where four- or all-wheel drive is optional, the 4WD/AWD 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 subcompact 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 frequent hard acceleration could reduce the range. Bear in mind that these are estimates, and your mileage will vary based on how you drive.
EPA estimates for some 2017 SUVs are different than they were for 2016 — and lower in most cases. The EPA says it updated the calculations it uses based on test data from the previous six years to “better reflect today’s vehicle fleet.”
Driving Ranges for 2017 Subcompact SUVs
Audi Q3
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD or 4WD
EPA combined rating: 23 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.9 gallons
Driving range: 389 miles
(EPA ratings are identical for 2WD or 4WD: 20/28/23 mpg city/highway/combined.)
BMW X1
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, eight-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 26 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.1 gallons
Driving range: 419 miles
Buick Encore
Configuration: Turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 30 mpg
Fuel capacity: 14.0 gallons
Driving range: 420 miles
Chevrolet Trax
Configuration: Turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 28 mpg
Fuel capacity: 14.0 gallons
Driving range: 392 miles
Fiat 500X
Configuration: Turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder, six-speed manual transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 28 mpg
Fuel capacity: 12.7 gallons
Driving range: 356 miles
Honda HR-V
Configuration: 1.8-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 31 mpg
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gallons
Driving range: 409 miles
Infiniti QX30
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, seven-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 27 mpg
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gallons
Driving range: 356 miles
Jeep Renegade
Configuration: Turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder, six-speed manual transmission, 2WD or 4WD
EPA combined rating: 26 mpg
Fuel capacity: 12.7 gallons
Driving range: 330 miles
(EPA ratings are identical for 2WD or 4WD: 24/31/26 mpg city/highway/combined.)
Kia Niro
Configuration: 1.6-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 49 mpg
Fuel capacity: 11.9 gallons
Driving range: 583 miles
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, nine-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 24 mpg
Fuel capacity: 18.5 gallons
Driving range: 444 miles
Mazda CX-3
Configuration: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, six-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 31 mpg
Fuel capacity: 12.7 gallons
Driving range: 394 miles
Mercedes-AMG GLA45
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, seven-speed automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 25 mpg
Fuel capacity: 14.8 gallons
Driving range: 370 miles
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Configuration: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, seven-speed automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 27 mpg
Fuel capacity: 14.8 gallons
Driving range: 400 miles
Mini Countryman
Configuration: NA
EPA combined rating: NA
Fuel capacity: 16.1 gallons
Driving range: NA
(Editor’s note: The 2017 Countryman goes on sale in March; EPA estimates will be announced.)
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Configuration: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 27 mpg
Fuel capacity: 16.6 gallons
Driving range: 448 miles
Nissan Juke
Configuration: Turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder, six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission, 2WD
EPA combined rating: 29 mpg
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gallons
Driving range: 383 miles
(Combined rating is same with either transmission; it gets 27/33 mpg city/highway with the manual and 28/32 with the CVT.)
Subaru Crosstrek
Configuration: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, continuously variable automatic transmission, 4WD
EPA combined rating: 29 mpg
Fuel capacity: 15.9 gallons
Driving range: 461 miles
Cars.com Data Integrity Analyst Bryan McTague contributed to this story.
