Best Used Compact SUVs With Standout Fuel Economy

These reliable 2021 SUVs had impressive fuel economy when new and make smart alternatives to high-priced new vehicles

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated June 19, 2026

White 2018 Mazda CX-3 on city street with buildings behind it — Mazda CX-3

Buying a well-maintained used SUV is a smart financial move, according to the auto experts at Consumer Reports. By the time an SUV is 5 years old, it has typically passed the steepest part of the depreciation curve. That means savvy shoppers will get many of the features found in brand-new models at a much lower price.

But buyers need to shop carefully, because not every 2021 SUV is a good choice. To help you find the best ones, we’ve assembled a list of the most fuel-efficient compact and subcompact SUVs from that year. Each one performed well enough in our tests to be recommended when new, and all have average or better reliability based on Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Surveys. This year, CR members reported data on what went wrong on more than 380,000 vehicles.

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Used SUVs: Subcompact SUVs Compact SUVs Luxury SUVs

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.