Downsizing: The 12 most useful cars per mpg

High gas prices are driving many consumers to consider downsizing their SUVs with every $60 fill up. But many families might find it hard to give up the functionality of an SUV, along with all-terrain traction and towing ability. In researching our 2011 downsizing series, we've come up with a list of 12 vehicles that offer the most utility per gallon. In other words, these are the vehicles that require the least amount of compromise for consumers who want to get better mileage across different car types and size classes.

This is especially relevant, given that modest improvements in the fuel economy of large vehicles saves more gas (and money) than larger mpg differences in smaller cars. (Read: "Comparing mileage: Not all mpg's are created equal.")

Our list includes a variety of choices ranging from a small hatchback and a couple of wagons that may offer all the utility most urban couples may ever need; a few "downsized" small SUVs that add all-wheel drive, a high view of the road, and even a small third-row seat for occasional kids' friends; minivans that offer a ton of space and can seat up to eight; and a couple big SUVs that are relatively fuel efficient for those who may still need to tow a sizable trailer. These vehicles also come at a wide variety of prices, ranging from less than $20,000 to almost $70,000.

There's something for everybody on this list. If you can't do without the functionality of a mid-sized SUV, and can afford it, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is hard to beat with its 27 mpg overall! But if what you need is really a smaller vehicle that's comfortable for four (more in a pinch with an available third-row seat), has good cargo space for warehouse-store errands, all-wheel drive, and can tow an occasional small utility trailer, the Toyota RAV4 will fill the bill for less than $30,000.

Although there are exceptions highlighted below, small cars still generally get better mileage than larger ones. The fuel-economy benchmark, the Toyota Prius hatchback uses half the gas of some of the larger competitors on this list, offering an affordable alternative to conventional family cars, midsized wagons, and even small SUVs.

At the other end of the spectrum, our analysis showed that some of the biggest gas guzzlers on the market, such as the Ford Expedition EL and the Toyota Sequoia, offer a really impressive amount of utility even for the paltry 13-15 mpg they achieve. But they aren't really downsizing opportunities, are they?

The trick is in finding the exceptions that offer an unusual amount of passenger or cargo space, or towing capacity for the amount of fuel they consume. And that's what this list represents, arranged in order of price.

No matter what type of utility you need, you should be able to find something here to suit your needs:

Related:
How higher gas prices impact that appeal of car downsizing
Lessons in car downsizing
Downsizing: Choosing a used car to save gas and money
Downsizing: Right-sizing the sedan fuel bill is no easy challenge
Downsizing your SUV for better mpg—does it make cents?
How to know when it's time to downsize your car
Downsizing: The 12 most useful cars per mpg

—Eric Evarts