Gas mileage and fuel economy have become the new watch words of the automotive world, with many vehicles and manufacturers complying with the standards that are being laid out. Still, there are a few hold outs in the SUV class that don’t exactly get spectacular fuel economy. In fact, some of the worst SUVs for gas mileage aren’t even the largest SUVs you can buy. Some of these, when driven carefully, only achieve about 13 miles per gallon. This makes it extraordinarily easy to tip the scale down to the single-digit range, particularly if you’re towing a heavy trailer or just carrying a full compliment of passengers.
2012 Nissan Armada SV 13 miles per gallon
The Nissan Armada may have earned a recommendation from Consumer Reports for its owner satisfaction survey, but its fuel economy is utterly dismal. The Armada only manages a measly 12 miles per gallon in careful city driving and an equally meager 18 miles per gallon on the highway. Compared to a vehicle like the Ford Flex’s 17 miles per gallon combined fuel economy, the Armada is a positive guzzler. The saving grace of this truck is that it has .05 horsepower per pound of weight, meaning that there’s plenty of power in the engine to push its heft around. If you nurse the throttle, chances are good that you’ll actually get the full 13 miles per gallon.
2012 Ford Expedition Eddie Bower 13 miles per gallon
Traditionally one of the worst performing SUVs for fuel economy, the 2012 Ford Expedition hasn’t improved its game. At just 13 miles per gallon and a thousand pounds heavier than some of its rivals, it is the undisputed towing champion, but for day-to-day driving, you might be better off hiring a private helicopter. The Expedition Eddie Bower has only .04 horsepower per pound of weight, meaning that it takes some doing to get the bulk of this land yacht going from stop light to stop light. If you add an 8,000-pound trailer to the mix, you’ll have just .02 horsepower to move every pound of weight on the truck. You might want to carry along some spare fuel if you do, just in case.
2012 Cadillac Escalade 13 miles per gallon
The 2012 Cadillac Escalade might at first glance seem to be the biggest loser in this comparison, but in fact, it comes out far ahead of the other competition, even some of the smaller SUVs. This is because the Cadillac has a grand total of .06 horsepower for every pound it weighs, meaning that getting this Caddy rolling will be easier for the engine than with the other models, translating into better all-around fuel economy, relatively speaking.
2012 Lincoln Navigator 13 miles per gallon
While the Lincoln Navigator is poised as a competitor to the Escalade, the fuel economy numbers just can’t lie. The Navigator only has a pitiful .04 horsepower per pound, the same as its sister vehicle, the Ford Expedition. Sadly, it just can’t stack up based on the additional $20,000 you’ll need to bring this beast home. If it’s luxury you’re after, with some economy thrown in the mix, the Escalade is definitely the way to go.
2012 Nissan Pathfinder 15 miles per gallon
The Nissan Pathfinder, a smaller SUV than the others on the list, is only a marginal performer at best. With just .06 horsepower per pound, it stands as an equivalent vehicle to the Cadillac Escalade in worst SUVs for fuel economy. That it is a far less expensive vehicle helps somewhat, but if you’re thinking that the Pathfinder is a fuel conscious vehicle just because it’s a bit smaller, you’re in for a rude surprise. You’ll probably get actual fuel economy nearing that of the larger SUVs on the list.
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 15 miles per gallon
The Jeep Wrangler really shouldn’t be on this list, given that there really isn’t much to these vehicles, but the sad truth is that the Wrangler’s dismal fuel economy has been a constantly painful spot for Jeep engineers. Yes, it is one of the most versatile SUVs on the planet, but for daily, non-enthusiast driving, you’d be far better off in another vehicle. The Wrangler Sahara only manages .06 horsepower per pound for being such a small vehicle.
Sources:
Jeep: 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara: www.jeep.com
Lincoln: 2012 Lincoln Navigator: www.lincoln.com
Nissan: 2012 Nissan SUVs: www.nissanusa.com
Cadillac: 2012 Cadillac Escalade: www.cadillac.com
Ford: 2012 Ford Expedition: www.ford.com
