Muscle per Gallon: Midsize SUVs
By
Rick Newman
Posted April 2, 2008
To rate cars' mix of performance and fuel economy (the muscle per gallon index), we multiplied the horsepower rating by the city MPG number, then divided by 100.
| Rank | Make | Model | Base MSRP | Engine Type | Horsepower | City MPG | Muscle per gallon index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid | $39,950 | Gas/electric V6 | 209 | 27 | 56.4 |
| 2 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | $38,555 | Gas V8 | 330 | 17 | 56.1 |
| 3 | Lexus | RX 400h | $42,680 | Gas/electric V6 | 208 | 26 | 54.1 |
| 4 | BMW | X5 | $54,500 | Gas V8 | 350 | 15 | 52.5 |
| 5 | Porsche | Cayenne | $57,900 | Gas V8 | 385 | 13 | 50.1 |
| 6 | Lexus | RX 350 | $37,400 | Gas V6 | 270 | 18 | 48.6 |
| 7 | Saab | 9-7X | $46,010 | Gas V8 | 390 | 12 | 46.8 |
| 7 | Chevrolet | Trailblazer | $35,250 | Gas V8 | 390 | 12 | 46.8 |
| 7 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | $40,725 | Gas V8 | 425 | 11 | 46.8 |
| 10 | Volkswagen | Touareg 2 | $68,340 | Diesel V10 | 310 | 15 | 46.5 |
| 11 | Toyota | Highlander | $34,150 | Gas V6 | 270 | 17 | 45.9 |
| 12 | Acura | MDX | $47,995 | Gas V6 | 300 | 15 | 45.0 |
| 13 | GMC | Acadia | $38,280 | Gas V6 | 275 | 16 | 44.0 |
| 13 | Buick | Enclave | $35,005 | Gas V6 | 275 | 16 | 44.0 |
| 15 | Saturn | Outlook | $30,260 | Gas V6 | 270 | 16 | 43.2 |
| 16 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | $39,105 | Diesel V6 | 330 | 13 | 42.9 |
| 17 | Lincoln | MKX | $35,605 | Gas V6 | 265 | 16 | 42.4 |
| 17 | Ford | Edge | $27,560 | Gas V6 | 265 | 16 | 42.4 |
| 19 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | $30,490 | Gas V8 | 302 | 14 | 42.3 |
| 20 | Audi | Q7 | $58,600 | Gas V8 | 350 | 12 | 42.0 |
| 21 | Infiniti | FX | $50,100 | Gas V8 | 320 | 13 | 41.6 |
| 21 | Cadillac | SRX | $44,615 | Gas V8 | 320 | 13 | 41.6 |
| 23 | Mazda | CX-7 | $23,750 | Gas I4 | 244 | 17 | 41.5 |
| 24 | Infiniti | FX | $39,550 | Gas V6 | 275 | 15 | 41.3 |
| 25 | Hyundai | Santa Fe | $25,850 | Gas V6 | 242 | 17 | 41.1 |
| 26 | Subaru | Tribeca | $37,795 | Gas 6-cyl | 256 | 16 | 41.0 |
| 27 | Porsche | Cayenne | $46,400 | Gas V6 | 290 | 14 | 40.6 |
| 28 | Volvo | XC90 | $49,870 | Gas V8 | 311 | 13 | 40.4 |
| 29 | Mercedes-Benz | R | $42,100 | Gas V6 | 268 | 15 | 40.2 |
| 30 | Saab | 9-7X | $39,880 | Gas I6 | 285 | 14 | 39.9 |
| 30 | Nissan | Pathfinder | $37,220 | Gas V6 | 266 | 15 | 39.9 |
| 30 | Chevrolet | Trailblazer | $31,570 | Gas V8 | 285 | 14 | 39.9 |
| 30 | GMC | Envoy | $29,755 | Gas I6 | 285 | 14 | 39.9 |
| 30 | Isuzu | Ascender | $27,149 | Gas I6 | 285 | 14 | 39.9 |
| 35 | Audi | Q7 | $48,350 | Gas V6 | 280 | 14 | 39.2 |
| 35 | Volkswagen | Touareg 2 | $39,300 | Gas V6 | 280 | 14 | 39.2 |
| 37 | Honda | Pilot | $33,645 | Gas V6 | 244 | 16 | 39.0 |
| 37 | Saab | 9-7X | $42,250 | Gas V8 | 300 | 13 | 39.0 |
| 37 | GMC | Envoy | $36,745 | Gas V8 | 300 | 13 | 39.0 |
| 37 | Nissan | Pathfinder | $33,070 | Gas V8 | 300 | 13 | 39.0 |
| 38 | Hyundai | Veracruz | $30,300 | Gas V6 | 260 | 15 | 39.0 |
| 42 | Mercedes Benz | R | $45,600 | Diesel V6 | 215 | 18 | 38.7 |
| 42 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | $28,520 | Gas/ethanol V8 | 215 | 18 | 38.7 |
| 44 | Cadillac | SRX | $37,615 | Gas V6 | 255 | 15 | 38.3 |
| 45 | Toyota | FJ Cruiser | $22,545 | Gas V6 | 239 | 16 | 38.2 |
| 46 | Ford | Explorer | $36,090 | Gas V8 | 292 | 13 | 38.0 |
| 46 | Mercury | Mountaineer | $32,370 | Gas V8 | 292 | 13 | 38.0 |
| 46 | Chrysler | Pacifica | $34,150 | Gas V6 | 253 | 15 | 38.0 |
| 49 | Toyota | 4Runner | $36,975 | Gas V6 | 236 | 16 | 37.8 |
| 50 | Volkswagen | Touareg 2 | $48,390 | Gas V8 | 310 | 12 | 37.2 |
| 51 | Lexus | GX | $46,815 | Gas V8 | 263 | 14 | 36.8 |
| 52 | Toyota | 4Runner | $33,980 | Gas V8 | 260 | 14 | 36.4 |
| 53 | Land Rover | LR3 | $48,525 | Gas V8 | 300 | 12 | 36.0 |
| 54 | Mitsubishi | Endeavor | $29,099 | Gas V6 | 225 | 15 | 33.8 |
| 55 | Hummer | H3 | $30,595 | Gas V8 | 242 | 13 | 31.5 |
| 55 | Hyundai | Santa Fe | $22,850 | Gas V6 | 185 | 17 | 31.5 |
| 57 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | $35,965 | Diesel V6 | 235 | 13 | 30.6 |
| 58 | Chrysler | Pacifica | $24,635 | Gas V6 | 200 | 15 | 30.0 |
| 59 | Mercury | Mountaineer | $28,600 | Gas V6 | 210 | 13 | 27.3 |
| 59 | Ford | Explorer | $28,305 | Gas V6 | 210 | 13 | 27.3 |
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