Owning an SUV offers plenty of advantages — from spacious interiors and robust performance to versatility for all kinds of terrains. However, one common drawback is their tendency to consume more fuel compared to smaller vehicles. Improving your SUV’s gas mileage can save you money, reduce your carbon footprint, and enhance your driving experience.
In this article, we’ll explore practical, effective, and easy-to-implement strategies to help you improve gas mileage in your SUV without sacrificing performance or comfort.
Why SUVs Tend to Have Lower Gas Mileage
SUVs generally have larger engines, heavier bodies, and increased drag due to their size and shape. These factors naturally lead to higher fuel consumption. Additionally, many SUVs come with all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), which further impacts fuel efficiency.
Understanding these challenges is key to knowing why specific improvements matter. While you can’t completely eliminate these factors, adopting smart driving habits and maintenance routines can significantly improve your miles per gallon (MPG).
Top 10 Tips to Improve Gas Mileage in Your SUV
1. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure
Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, causing your engine to work harder and burn more fuel. Check your SUV’s tire pressure monthly and inflate them to the manufacturer’s recommended levels, usually found on a sticker inside the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual.
Tip: Use a quality tire pressure gauge for accurate readings.
2. Regular Vehicle Maintenance
A well-maintained SUV runs more efficiently. Follow your manufacturer’s schedule for oil changes, air filter replacements, and spark plug inspections. Dirty air filters reduce airflow to the engine, hurting fuel economy, while old spark plugs can cause misfires and waste fuel.
3. Use the Recommended Motor Oil
Using the right grade of motor oil reduces engine friction and improves efficiency. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended oil type and avoid cheap alternatives that don’t meet specifications.
4. Reduce Excess Weight
Extra cargo and heavy items increase your SUV’s weight, forcing the engine to burn more fuel. Remove unnecessary items from your vehicle, especially heavy tools, luggage, or sports gear when not needed.
5. Avoid Roof Racks and Carriers When Not in Use
Roof racks and carriers increase aerodynamic drag, reducing fuel efficiency. Remove these accessories when you don’t need them to allow your SUV to cut through the air more smoothly.
6. Drive Smoothly and Avoid Rapid Acceleration
Aggressive driving — rapid acceleration, speeding, and sudden braking — can lower your SUV’s gas mileage by up to 33% on highways and 5% in city driving. Accelerate gradually, maintain steady speeds, and anticipate traffic to brake smoothly.
7. Limit Idling Time
Idling burns fuel unnecessarily. If you expect to be stopped for more than a minute, it’s more fuel-efficient to turn off the engine and restart when ready to move.
8. Use Cruise Control on Highways
Cruise control helps maintain a constant speed, reducing unnecessary acceleration and deceleration. Using it on highways can improve your SUV’s fuel economy by up to 7%.
9. Plan Efficient Routes and Combine Trips
Short trips from a cold start use more fuel than longer trips with a warmed-up engine. Plan your errands and trips to avoid backtracking and consolidate your driving into fewer, longer trips.
10. Choose the Right Fuel Type
Many SUVs require or perform best with premium gasoline, but some models run efficiently on regular unleaded. Using the correct fuel grade as specified by your manufacturer ensures optimal engine performance and fuel economy.
Advanced Tips for Fuel Efficiency
Upgrade to Low Rolling Resistance Tires
If you’re in the market for new tires, consider options labeled “low rolling resistance.” These tires reduce the energy your SUV uses to move, improving fuel economy by a few percentage points.
Use Synthetic Oils and Fuel Additives
Synthetic motor oils reduce engine friction better than conventional oils. Some fuel additives claim to clean fuel injectors and improve combustion efficiency, but research reviews and manufacturer advice before use.
Consider Engine or Transmission Tune-Ups
For older SUVs, tuning the engine and transmission can restore lost efficiency. Modern computerized diagnostics at service centers can optimize engine timing, fuel mixture, and transmission shifts to enhance MPG.
Benefits of Improving Your SUV’s Gas Mileage
- Save Money: The more miles you get per gallon, the less you spend on fuel.
- Reduce Environmental Impact: Lower fuel consumption means fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
- Extend Vehicle Life: Efficient driving habits and maintenance reduce wear and tear.
- Better Resale Value: Well-maintained vehicles with good fuel economy appeal more to buyers.
Common Myths About Improving SUV Fuel Efficiency
- Myth: Idling saves gas.
Fact: Idling wastes fuel; turn off your engine when stopped longer than a minute. - Myth: Premium gas always improves MPG.
Fact: Use premium only if your SUV requires it. - Myth: Air conditioning drastically reduces fuel efficiency.
Fact: AC has some impact but is less than the drag caused by open windows at high speeds.
Conclusion
Improving gas mileage in your SUV is achievable through a combination of regular maintenance, smart driving habits, and practical modifications. Whether you drive a compact crossover or a full-size SUV, these tips can help you save money at the pump and contribute to a greener environment.
Start with simple steps like maintaining tire pressure and driving smoothly, then explore more advanced techniques such as upgrading tires or tuning your engine. Your wallet and the planet will thank you.
Ready to boost your SUV’s fuel efficiency? Implement these tips today and experience the difference!