Main image for post: What Are the Most Economical 4x4s?

4x4s have a lot to offer - great looks, fantastic road presence and the obvious off-road capability. But there’s a whole lot more to think about when you buy a car, such as affordability and running costs. Don’t be put off - there are plenty of economical 4x4s on the market.

Many people are put off by 4x4s, thinking that they are expensive to run. In search of much needed extra room, they compromise with MPVs or estate cars instead. This doesn’t have to be the case with improved engines offering better fuel efficiency, even on larger cars. 

Mpg isn’t always accurate but it’s a good place to start when sizing up different models. New WLTP reporting by car manufacturers means that vehicle specifications will be more realistic than previous NEDC figures when it comes to reporting mpg. When you’re looking at fuel efficiency, make sure that you are using the same sets of numbers and comparing like for like. We’re using WLTP figures here.

Take a look at our range of economical 4x4s that will leave you wishing you’d made the change to an all-wheel-drive car a long time ago. 

Nissan Qashqai 4WD - 50.0 mpg

Blue Nissan Qashqai parked facing three-quarters left

Thanks to good suspension, the 1.8-litre DCI 150 Manual Nissan Qashqai is comfortable and easy to handle. It’s compact enough for city driving, yet spacious enough to accommodate a family with ease. At 50.0 mpg combined it makes a great buy as a used economical 4x4 and with a max speed of 119 mph and 0-62 mph in 9.5 sec, it’s fairly nippy, too. 

This economical 4x4 can handle most terrains, making light work of a trip to the country or to the beach. With a decent torque of 340 Nm, towing a horsebox or caravan is a piece of cake too!

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Volkswagen Tiguan 4Motion - 44.1 mpg

Volkswagen Tiguan

A 2.0-litre VW Tiguan TDI SCR Manual 4Motion has the same high-quality build that you’d expect from any Volkswagen with the added bonus of economical 4x4 capability thrown in! A combined mpg of 44.1 makes the fuel costs manageable while multi-zone climate control, armrests, cupholders and a bucket-load of storage keeps driver and passengers happy.

Opt for the Tiguan Allspace and you can squeeze an extra two passengers into this incredibly stylish, economical 4x4. Adaptive cruise control, distance monitor and emergency braking make this both a relaxing and safe drive. What’s not to love?

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Audi Q3 Quattro - 42.2 mpg

Audi Q3

Economy, technology and performance combine in the Audi Q3 2.0-litre 35 TDI Quattro 150 to enable a more than reasonable 42.2 mpg combined, and a hefty top speed of 131 mph. Fuel efficiency is further assisted by the clever Stop/Start functionality which turns off the engine while in queuing traffic.

Sporty looks with chrome double tailpipe, front sports seats and rear spoiler means that you’ll always impress on the road with this economical 4x4 while Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel drive provides enhanced grip when you decide to venture further afield. 

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Land Rover Range Rover Evoque - 42.0 mpg

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Land Rover is often the first name that comes to mind whenever off-road driving is mentioned. At 42.0mpg combined, the Range Rover Evoque 2.0-litre D150 AWD is one of the more economical 4x4s on offer from the SUV specialist, and also one of the best looking.

If the 591 litres of boot space isn’t enough for all of your luggage, a torque of 380 Nm provides a good amount of pulling power for trailers. Hands-free tailgate, traffic sign recognition, surround cameras, and front and rear parking sensors make loading, parking and driving even more pleasant. 

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Land Rover Discovery Sport - 40.9 mpg

Land Rover Discovery Sport

If you’re in need of a little more space, the Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0-litre 150D AWD Automatic has all that you need. At 4.6 m long, and with a 5+2 seating option as well as a massive 1,137 litres of luggage space it’s a wonder that it can get anywhere near its claimed 40.9 mpg combined!

Thanks to a wading depth of 600mm and ground clearance of 212 mm you’ll find that the Discovery Sport can handle pretty much anything on the road ahead. Combine this with the Terrain Response system which intelligently switches between driving modes and you’ll manage a smooth drive, wherever you are.

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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV AWD - 141 mpg

Mitsubishi Outlander

No, it’s not a typo! Thanks to a petrol hybrid engine, the Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4-litre Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle has a fuel efficiency claim of over 140 mpg! Although the hybrid engine isn’t quite as powerful as the diesel option, it can still achieve up to 106 mph (83 mph in electric mode) with a torque of 211 Nm. 

A streamlined interior complete with an unfussy but well-equipped dashboard provides Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard with optional touchscreen sat-nav system  to keep you on track.

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Tempted yet? You should be. All that style and practicality in an easy-to-handle, economical 4x4 is hard to resist. Visit us at cartime’s dedicated 4x4 showroom to discover even more great-value SUVs.