What's the best economical 4x4? updated

25 April 2012

  • 40mpg+ cars with four-wheel drive
  • Family-friendly SUVs
  • Priced from £18k

BMX x3

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If you're looking for an economical 4x4 that combines low emissions and high mpg all wrapped up in a great overall package, then you've come to the right place.

These 4x4 diesel cars are fuel efficient – all average more than 40mpg – make tax-efficient company cars and are great to own for private buyers, too.

The BMW X3 is the best SUV you can buy. It’s classy, practical and good to drive. The engines are efficient, too, and standard kit is pretty generous. The xDrive20d SE is the model to go for. The 2.0-litre diesel engine is strong and reasonably refined, has average economy of more than 50mpg, and comes with good spec.

The Mazda CX-5 gives you lots of interior space and equipment for a reasonable price. It also brings class-leading figures for emissions and fuel economy, and the entry-level diesel engine returns an impressive average economy of 61.4 mpg. The CX-5 2.2 150 SE-L version is the one we recommend.

Underneath the rather mundane styling of the Audi Q3 lies a decent car. All engines in the range are strong and refined, the ride is comfortable and the upmarket cabin is hard to fault. Our favourite four-wheel-drive version is the 2.0 TDI 177 SE, which averages 47.9mpg.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a cracking family 4x4. It's great value, providing lots of space, practicality, power and kit. It's good to drive and comes with a five-year warranty, too. The Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Style 7-seat is our favourite version and returns average economy of 41.5mpg.

The car-like dynamics of the Volkswagen Tiguan combined with its smart, versatile cabin make it a classy crossover that's well worth considering. Opt for the 2.0TDI Bluemotion Tech S 4WD model and you get a punchy, smooth diesel engine that's flexible enough to cope with every situation, and S trim keeps the price reasonable. The Tiguan averages 48.7mpg, too.

The Nissan Qashqai makes a brilliant family car because it's roomy, comfortable, refined and affordable to run. The best four-wheel-drive version is the 1.6 dCi N-Tec, which averages 55.4mpg.

Volvo's XC60 is a brilliant family car. It’s practical, classy, good to drive and scores highly for safety. The XC60 2.4 D3 163 SE is the four-wheel-drive version we'd go for.

The Audi Q5 is an impressive car thanks to its great refinement. It also has a large boot and generous interior space for passengers. It's well equipped and the dash is clear and easy to use. We'd go for the 45mpg 2.0 TDI 170 SE version.

The sharp steering and fine body control make the Skoda Yeti fun to drive. It's also great for families thanks to a massive cabin with versatile seating. The 4x4 model is surprisingly capable off-road, too. We'd recommend the 2.0 TDI CR 110 S 4WD version.

The BMW X1 has sharp handling, low CO2 emissions and comes with plenty of standard kit. It's keenly priced for a BMW, too. The four-wheel-drive version to go for is the 48mpg xDrive 20d SE.

For more SUV reviews have a look at our favourite 4x4 reviews and our Crossover reviews.