1. 2019 Subaru Outback

...The 2019 Subaru Outback delivers good fuel economy with its base engine. Though fuel-economy ratings for the 2019 Outback merit a 5 out of 10 score. ... With the base 2.5-liter flat-4 fitted to the vast majority of 2019 Outbacks, the EPA rates the crossover SUV at 25 mpg city, 32 highway, 28 combined.

LIKES

• Like a crossover SUV, but better
• No shortage of safety gear
• Spacious, refined interior
• Rides and handles well
• Better off-road than many SUVs

$26,345

2. Volkswagen Golf SportWagen

...Combined Fuel Economy 32 MPG

If you’re looking for a true small station wagon vs. a hatchback, check out the VW SportWagen. It has the roominess of a small SUV, the manners of a sedan, and a budget-friendly price. All-wheel drive is available, as is a manual transmission. VW’s new 6-year/72,000-mile warranty inspires confidence.

VW’s more efficient 1.4-liter turbo engine replaces the 1.8-liter in the front-wheel-drive SportWagen model (4Motion variants retain the 1.8), and when tied to an automatic transmission gains a new 8-speed. Base S trims now offer the Driver Assistance package with features like blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. The top-line SEL trim has been discontinued

3. Kia Niro

...46 MPG | 105 MPGe

If you’re shopping for a hybrid or electric vehicle that’s not too expensive or avant-garde, the 2019 Kia Niro has what you’re looking for. From its stylish exterior to its handsome and functional 5-passenger interior, the Niro is designed to please, as is its standard 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty

The big news for the 2019 Kia Niro lineup is the introduction of the all-electric Niro EV. This battery powered vehicle, currently available in a dozen states, has an impressive range of up to 239 miles and can be recharged to 80 percent in just over an hour on a DC fast charger.

...Excellent workhorse vehicle with strong reliability, great efficiency, great mileage per gallon, roomy & very functional vehicle. I would highly recommend this vehicle for a family vehicle...

Kia wanted to be sure its hybrid kept pace with the company’s sporty image, so it injected the Niro with a nimble platform that feels as good in the turns as it does the open highway. Despite its 139 horsepower and 3,000-pound weight, the Niro accelerates briskly. Setting the drive mode to Sport sharpens the throttle response, improves the 6-speed automatic’s shift points and firms up the steering.

4. Volvo V60

...Starting price: $35,950

Miles per gallon: 25 city, 37 highway, 31 combined

We'll note that the two-liter, four-cylinder engine for the front-wheel drive model is the only one that gets anything close to this kind of mileage. The five-cylinder all-wheel-drive upgrade cuts combined mileage to less than 25 miles per gallon, but the base still gets you 43.8 cubic feet of cargo space; 3,500 pounds of towing capacity power driver's; and front-passengers' seats, power moonroof and an audio and communications system with a seven-inch touchscreen.

LIKES

• The Volvo wagon is back
• Sleek, stylish, unboxy lines
• Sport-sedan roadholding
• Superb front seats

One final note: A button on the console let the driver flip down both outboard rear-seat headrests, opening up a full view out the tailgate window in the rearview mirror. It is a hugely helpful feature when the back seat is empty, and it's one that we think should be fitted to every new car.

5. Mercedes-Benz 2020 E 450 4MATIC Wagon

...$78,365 City: 19 MPG Hwy: 26 MPG

A lonely, excellent wagon in a sea of crossovers.

The E450 is essentially an E-Class Sedan with a longer roofline and comes with the same features and safety tech. Mercedes was in a giving mood when it decided what features should be standard-fit on the luxury wagon, and the inside leaves very little to be desired. It offers excellent handling capability and more than enough power to outshine its rivals at a base level, but this has led to the sacrifice of fuel economy. Nevertheless, the E450 comes loaded with notable features including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as 64-color ambient lighting, and safety is bolstered by the addition of blind-spot monitoring and active emergency braking. It also has the option of seating up to seven by means of a third-row of rear-facing seats.

6. BMW 328d sports wagon

...MSRP: $44,150

Miles per gallon: 31 city, 43 highway, 37 combined

The BMW 3 Series isn't so much the "cheap BMW" as it is the sought-after Bimmer that just happens to come in at that price.

Packed with great features including a head-up display projected onto the windshield, blind-spot detectors in the rearview mirrors and a freestanding iDrive screen for communication, navigation, entertainment and apps, the 3 series doesn't exactly come up short on perks. In fact, it piles them on with features including a pushbutton starter that shuts the engine off when idling, a panoramic moonroof, automatic dual-zone climate control, integrated garage-door opener, a 180-horsepower engine, adaptive all-wheel drive and a nine-speaker sound system with HD Radio.

7. 2018 Audi A4 allroad

...The 2019 Audi Allroad is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that is connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. ... The Allroad uses premium unleaded gasoline, but with a combined fuel economy of 25 mpg, it is respectably efficient.

If you want the spaciousness and all-wheel-drive capabilities of a small SUV but the athletic handling and efficiency of a luxury-sports sedan, the Audi A4 Allroad checks all the boxes. Amid a sea of SUVs, it also stands out with its elegant, sporty design.

Combined Fuel Economy 25 MPG

Fuel Economy

• City: 22 MPG
• Highway: 29 MPG
• Combined: 25 MPG

8. Skoda Octavia Estate

from £19,000

...Skoda has the benefit of being able to pick engines from the Volkswagen Group, and its petrols and diesels feature the latest efficiency-boosting technology. This can include mild-hybrid hardware that uses a 48-volt starter motor and battery to harvest energy when the Octavia slows down. Once captured, this electric reserve can allow engine-off coasting, extended stop/start and a torque boost under acceleration to reduce fuel consumption

Preliminary figures for the 2.0-litre TDI diesel suggest it could even top 70mpg and emit just 102g/km with a six-speed manual gearbox and smaller alloy wheels. Selecting Skoda's seven-speed automatic gearbox should still give an impressive 65mpg. For reference, the Ford Focus Estate with a 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel returns figures of 64.2mpg and 91g/km.

9. Fiat Tipo Station Wagon

• ^{Good standard kit}
• ^{Spacious interior and big boot}
• ^{Tempting entry price}

Fiat's Tipo Station Wagon offers a sensible, spacious and affordable option to rationally-orientated buyers looking for a compact yet spacious five-door estate in the Focus-class segment. If you're not troubled by badge equity and don't need irrelevant niceties of design, it might actually be well worth a look.

From £16,000 to £22,000

Well in some ways, this modern Tipo shares much in concept with the Eighties original. Like that model, it's a global car built in Turkey, uses modular front-driven architecture and prioritises plenty of interior space. The difference this time round though, lies in the simplicity of Fiat's approach - which wouldn't work if this car was priced directly against its main rivals. But that isn't the case. The bottom line is that if you're looking for the best car in this segment, then this isn't it. If you're looking for the best value choice in the class though, it might well be.

10. Citroën C5 Tourer estate

£18,295 - £30,445

...With a diesel-only engine line-up, nearly all versions of the Citroen C5 Tourer offer good fuel economy – only automatic models disappoint.

There are only two diesel engines to choose from in the C5 Tourer, and Citroen claims both are capable of achieving 64mpg – even with an automatic gearbox in the more powerful version. This version actually has slightly lower CO2 emissions, too – at 114g/km, while the BlueHDi 150 emits 115g/km, so tax will cost you just £30 per year for both versions.

While running costs are quite impressive, it’s the C5 Tourer’s rate of depreciation that’s the biggest cause for concern. Top-of-the-range models are predicted to retain just 27% of their original value after three years or 36,000 miles of ownership, which is significantly worse than the Volkswagen Passat. Even a basic BMW 3 Series Touring will cost less over three years because it holds its value so much better and the running costs are lower.

11. Peugeot 308 SW

...From 22,650$...

The Peugeot 308 SW with a BlueHDi diesel engine offers very impressive fuel economy figures

The weight saving that Peugeot achieved when designing the new 308 SW meant fuel economy was always likely to improve compared to the old model. The body is far more aerodynamic, too.

The most efficient engine is the 1.5-litre BlueHDi diesel, with both the 100 and 129bhp versions recording economy figures of over 62mpg and CO2 emissions that start below 100g/km. In comparison, the VW Golf Estate is capable of up to 57.6mpg in 113bhp 1.6 TDI model form. Even the range-topping 2.0-litre BlueHDi 180 version of the 308 SW can return 49.4mpg, and that’s combined with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and 18-inch alloy wheels.