The 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Courtesy of Toyota
The only hybrid to make the list of best crossover fuel economy is the Toyota Highlander hybrid. Like the Honda CR-V, the Highlander has been around a few years and was marketed as a very light-duty SUV -- that is, until the crossover category caught on. As a hybrid, the Highlander gets 28 miles per gallon (11.9 kilometers per liter) city, 28 miles per gallon (11.9 kilometers per liter) highway and a combined 28 miles per gallon (11.9 kilometers per liter) -- which is very consistent, but not tops on the list. That honor goes to the Mini Cooper Countryman.
Like most hybrids on the road today, the Toyota Highlander hybrid has a gasoline engine -- this one is a V-6 with 231 horsepower -- plus an electric motor powered by batteries. The system has a total of 280 horsepower when the two power sources work together, more than most other crossovers. This hybrid will set you back a bit more at the outset, too -- the starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $37,490 [source: Toyota.com].
