SUV fuel economy is a contradiction in terms; As a matter of fact, SUVs are known as the biggest gas guzzlers that the average American can buy. So when searching for the best gas mileage SUV rating, be prepared to discover that none will get good gas mileage; it's just that some are less bad than others!

If you're going to buy an SUV, you are expressing a certain message: vehicle size and luxury matters to you much more than efficiency. Of course, there are certain SUV companies such as Subaru which specifically market to hippies and other supposedly environmentally conscious folks. But even these are not known for being very energy-efficient. Nevertheless, if you are in the market for a new SUV, it's better to find out more about the best gas mileage SUVs.

The SUV category includes big off-road vehicles, which are supposed to be rugged vehicles. However, the reality is much different; many SUVs are just status symbols for people who like to be seen driving around in the biggest, baddest vehicles on the road. Sitting higher than everyone else, looking down on the low-to-the-ground hybrids.

SUVs sit higher off the road and are heavier than most other vehicles, making them generally safer in crashes. However, SUV crashes often result in deadly rollovers, due to the higher center of gravity from having this higher stance off the road. That isn't to say that SUVs are not safe; they are just not as safe as most people think.

But what vehicles are actually considered SUVs instead of just "large cars" is open to debate. The Saturn Outlook, for example, is considered by some to be a SUV and others not. Would this crossover vehicle qualify as the best gas mileage SUV? Who knows, but any vehicle big enough to make you feel like you're in a SUV should probably be a SUV.

Finding out what the best gas mileage SUV may just make you reconsider ever buying one. You may even conclude that a hybrid car is your best choice after you run the numbers on your monthly fuel bill! After looking at numbers like a $500 dollar a month fuel bill, you may just change your mind about ever wanting a SUV.

If you don't have much to carry around and don't drive in the snow, why pay extra money for a SUV? Instead, invest in a hybrid car and let's get some independence from the choke-hold that the middle east has on our economy!