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Gas prices have become outrageously high for millions of Americans. SUVs are the most popular vehicles in the country. What impact does the sudden increase in gasoline prices have on SUVs?

The annual fuel cost just increased for SUVs

A white 2022 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium compact SUV is parked outdoors.
A white 2022 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium compact SUV is parked outdoors | Toyota

Whether you drive a typical internal combustion engine vehicle, a hybrid, or a plug-in hybrid, most vehicles depend on gasoline to function. The only vehicles safe from the sudden increase in gasoline prices are electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Larger, heavier vehicles often burn fuel faster than smaller vehicles and have worse fuel efficiency. Many large SUV owners will feel the sting of the recent increase in gasoline prices. According to The New York Times, gas prices in California have reached $5.34. The Jeep Wagoneer popular large SUV has a 26.5-gallon gas tank. It could cost Wagoneer drivers as much as $141.51 to refuel the large SUV in California. While this example may seem extreme, this is the reality many truck and SUV drivers are facing.

The 2022 Kia Telluride is one of the most popular midsize SUVs at the moment. It has an 18.8-gallon gas tank. Some Telluride owners will pay as much as $100 to fill up their midsize SUVs.

How much will it cost to refuel the most common SUV in America?

A red, white, and blue Toyota RAV4 small SUV are parked near the water.
Toyota RAV4 small SUVs are parked | Toyota

The Toyota RAV4 has consistently been the most popular vehicle in America. It has a 14.5-gallon gas tank. Americans can expect to pay at least $59 to fill up their RAV4 models based on the current national gasoline price average. Expect to pay as much as $77 in the most expensive states to buy gas.

The increase in gas prices has caused a severe bump in the cost of ownership for SUV models. This price increase may actually make SUVs too expensive to maintain for consumers seeing the worst of the price hike. Ultimately, gas prices are making SUV ownership harder in America. Inflation will push many Americans out of SUVs with internal combustion engines and into vehicles with better fuel economy.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has caused America’s access to gasoline to become completely unpredictable. America is considering looking to other countries for oil. This means that our supply issue may not be solved any time soon. Expect high gas prices for the foreseeable future.

What SUVs have the best gas mileage?

A gray 2022 Lexus UX 250h is driving on the road.
The 2022 Lexus UX 250h | Lexus

According to a list compiled by U.S. News & World Report, the Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester are among the most fuel-efficient SUVs. Both the Outback and the Forester get 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on the highway.

The Lexus UX Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient hybrid SUV model. It gets a combined 42 miles per gallon. There are several hybrid SUVs on the market that offer incredible fuel economy. Today, there are also electric SUVs on the market that allow drivers to avoid high gas prices completely.

If you’re looking for a new SUV, gas mileage is now more important than ever before. Choosing an SUV with poor gas mileage could prove to be a costly mistake.

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