Which Mazda SUV Has the Best Gas Mileage?
The Mazda MX-30 compact crossover SUV is the most fuel-efficient Mazda available, thanks to its electric powertrain.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 2022 Mazda MX-30 compact crossover SUV is the most fuel-efficient Mazda available, since it’s propelled by an all-electric battery powertrain. The catch is that it’s only available in California. If you’re not in Cali, the Mazda SUV with the best gas mileage is the 2023 Mazda CX-30.
Although SUVs have dominated the vehicle market in recent years, they’ve increasingly had to prove that they can also still be fuel-efficient. This is especially true as gas prices rise and concerns about climate change are becoming more and more tangible.
The MX-30 is the first chargeable vehicle that Mazda has produced, but new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models have been revealed for upcoming lineups, particularly the CX-70 and CX-90 SUVs for North American markets. In Europe, Japan, and Australia, the Mazda CX-60 has given us a picture of what these new hybrid Mazda SUVs will be like. The CX-50 is also expected to receive a new Toyota-sourced traditional hybrid drivetrain
Looking to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to fuelling a Mazda SUV?
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhich Mazda SUVs have the best gas mileage/fuel economy?
Looking at their current lineup, the top three Mazda SUVs for gas mileage and fuel efficiency are the Mazda MX-30 electric vehicle, the Mazda CX-30, and the Mazda CX-5/CX-50. Here’s how the EPA rates them:
- 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV: up to 92 MPGe combined
However, there’s much more to this picture than EPA combined fuel economy ratings. Let’s take a more indepth look at how these Mazda SUVs measure up to competitors, and which configurations of each are most efficient.
2022 Mazda MX-30
The all-new 2022 Mazda MX-30 wins the award for the most fuel-efficient Mazda SUV, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice. Of any EV on the current market, the Mazda MX-30 has the shortest range, able to only drive 100 miles before its small 35.5-kWh battery will need a charge.
Mazda plans to add an electricity-generating rotary engine to make future MX-30s into plug-in hybrids similar to the Chevrolet Volt. That said, in its current form, the MX-30’s short range doesn’t really make it a great choice for drivers who want an SUV to take on adventures.
However, if you’re just looking for a short-range daily driver that’s safe, fuel-efficient, and fun to drive, the MX-30 deserves a look! But remember, it’s only available in California so far.
In terms of fuel economy, the Mazda MX-30 gets a miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 98 in the city and 85 MPGe on the highway. In its current form it will still take about 36 minutes to charge with a DC fast charger, but Mazda has promised that this will be fixed in upcoming iterations.
The MX-30’s $33,470 MSRP is also fairly uninspiring. If you can live without the MX-30’s admittedly brilliant driving manners, the 2023
Nissan Leaf
is probably a better choice. It’s the cheapest EV on the current market, with an MSRP of $27,800, and it’s also eligible for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits. Plus, it gets a range of 149 miles with an efficiency of 123/99 MPGe (city/hwy).2023 Mazda CX-30
A subcompact crossover, the 2023 Mazda CX-30 S has the best gas mileage of any Mazda SUV. With the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder “S” engine, the CX-30 gets 191 horsepower and a fuel economy of 26/33 mpg (city/hwy). It’s also available with a turbocharged version of this engine, which reduces those numbers to 22/30 mpg. Both versions come with a 6-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD), allowing for a 2000-pound towing capacity.
The CX-30’s $24,225 starting price keeps it in line with other competitors, but the
Hyundai Kona
and Kia Soul
both offer similar fuel economy and towing capacity at lower prices. The Kona starts at $22,595 and gets 27/32 mpg (city/hwy), while the Soul starts at only $21,085 with an EPA rating of 27/33 mpg.2023 Mazda CX-5
A step up in size from the CX-30, the 2023 Mazda CX-5 S is also powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A turbocharged version that ups the horsepower from 187 to 256 is also available here, although you’ll only get 227 horsepower with the Turbo unless you use 93-octane fuel.
The step up in size from the CX-30 sacrifices some fuel economy. For the CX-5 S, you’ll get 24/30 mpg (city/hwy), while the CX-5 Turbo gets 22/27 mpg. If you really want the Turbocharged engine, you might as well upgrade to the CX-50 Turbo, which somehow gets better mileage than the CX-5 Turbo. More on that in the next section.
The 2023 Mazda CX-5 has a starting price of $27,975, undercutting the
Honda CR-V
, and sitting around the same price point as the Volkswagen Tiguan
, Kia Sportage
, and Hyundai Tucson
. But if you can come up with an extra thousand dollars, the Toyota RAV4
starts at $28,910 and manages 27/35 mpg (city/hwy), losing only 1 mpg when optional AWD is applied.MORE:
Are Mazdas good cars?
2023 Mazda CX-50
The 2023 Mazda CX-50 is an all-new compact crossover SUV model that takes the CX-5 and makes it a little bit bigger—and a little bit better.
In terms of fuel economy, you’ll enjoy the same EPA rating of 24/30 mpg (city/hwy) as the CX-5 when you go for the CX-50 S, but the CX-50 Turbo only sacrifices 1 mpg, making it more efficient than the CX-5 Turbo—at least according to the EPA.
We’re not certain how this ended up happening, but it might have something to do with a miscalculation on the EPA’s part. Car and Driver found that the CX-5 Turbo got 30 mpg during their 75-mph highway test. The CX-50 Turbo only got 28 mpg in the same test, so take that as you will.
Make sure to be on the lookout for the new Toyota-sourced hybrid powertrain set to arrive for the Mazda CX-50 within the coming year. It’s expected to be similar to—read: probably the same as—the one used in the RAV4 Hybrid, which gets 41/38/40 mpg (city/hwy/comb).
Mazda fuel economies by model
If you’re looking for even better fuel economy, you might consider the
Mazda 3
instead of one of these SUV options, but there are even more Mazda models to compare! Here’s a list of every Mazda available on the current lineup, paired with their EPA economy ratings. Clicking the links will set you on the path to cheap car insurance!Model | City mpg | Highway mpg | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 Mazda MX-30 | 98 | 85 | 91 |
2023 Mazda CX-30 S | 26 | 33 | 29 |
2023 Mazda CX-30 Turbo | 22 | 33 | 25 |
2023 Mazda CX-5 S | 24 | 30 | 27 |
2023 Mazda CX-5 Turbo | 22 | 27 | 24 |
2023 Mazda CX-50 S | 24 | 30 | 27 |
2023 Mazda CX-50 Turbo | 23 | 29 | 27 |
2023 Mazda CX-9 | 22 | 28 | 25 |
2023 Mazda CX-9 AWD | 20 | 26 | 23 |
2023 Mazda 3 S | 33–37 | 26–28 | 29–31 |
2023 Mazda 3 Turbo | 23 | 31–32 | 26 |
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata | 26 | 34–35 | 29 |
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How to save on Mazda insurance costs
Getting a vehicle that can reduce your gas payments is a fantastic way to save on your long term transportation costs. But there’s another key area where you can unlock even more savings: car insurance.
Luckily, unlocking those savings is easier than ever, with
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FAQs
Which Mazda SUV gets the worst gas mileage?
The 2023 Mazda CX-9 full-size crossover SUV has the worst gas mileage of any new Mazda, but it could be much worse! Even with AWD equipped, it’s rated for 20/26/23 mpg (city/hwy/comb).
What is the best SUV for gas mileage?
The Tesla Model Y Long Range gets the best EPA fuel economy rating of any SUV, to the tune of 129/116/122 MPGe (city/hwy/comb). In terms of gas mileage, excluding EVs and PHEVs, the new Ford Escape Hybrid earns the top award, getting 41 combined mpg.
