First of all, let’s make sure you haven’t missed any of the quick and simple strategies to get better miles per gallon (mpg), whether your vehicle runs on gas or deisel.

Our tips to save gas include the following checklist for better vehicle gas mileage:

• Cut out unnecessary journeys. If you only need to drive two blocks or less than a mile (1.6 kms) then give serious consideration to walking instead. You will also improve your fitness!
• Do your shopping less often. Organize to save staples by stocking up your kitchen larder and fridge.
• Pitch-in with a neighbor or friend, and be willing to shop for some of their groceries and they can do the same for you… Like maybe you pick up fresh bread, milk and fruit on Tuesdays and they cover Thursdays for you. It saves gas and can deepen friendships as well! It could also be possible to form a neighborhood Co-Op, where all the people in several households share chores. Try it out and encourage others to get interested as well.
• Make sure your car or truck has the correct air pressure in all of its tires (tyres in UK/AU) before you drive. Tires that are under-inflated (too soft) will have too much “give” as you drive, and this softness causes more friction. That extra friction is wasted energy that burns more of your precious fuel. Tires that are over-inflated (too hard) will save gas – at least a little bit – but the rubber tread will wear out more in the center.
• Remove any unnecessary weight that you’ve been carrying every day in the car. Check your car boot (trunk) for any tools or equipment you never use. It’s all excess weight, and that reduces your mpg (or litres/km in some countries). Eliminate the waste and again you’ll get better mileage/Kms and be saving gas money.
• If you have roof bars or a roof rack bolted to the top of your car, consider unbolting them and storing them in your garage until you need them for your next vacation. The roof bar causes more friction with air flowing over the shape of your vehicle. Cutting down on this unwanted friction will give your car or truck more improvements in vehicle gas mileage as well.

These are all little things, but they all add up to helping you save gas. But wait. Here are more gas saving tips for you. Get better mpg.

• Have the radiator flushed and fresh coolant added. Many people will be able to do this themselves, and it will improve engine efficiency by making sure your car’s motor doesn’t overheat. Don’t forget to use antifreeze, not water, if you have cold winters!
• Get your engine oil changed. This is simple enough for most people. Make sure your car’s engine is warm, so the oil will flow easily. Remove the bolt under the oil sump and drain it into an oil pan. Pour the dirty oil into an empty oil can and dispose of the oil responsibly … take it to the recycling facility. Replace the bolt plug and tighten it securely. Add new oil to the engine and check the level using the car’s dipstick. If you forget to tighten the oil plug bolt it will fall out while you’re driving, your oil will pour out, and you will destroy the engine. I had a lazy mechanic do this to me a few years ago.
• Some cars have a selection button which reads Power or Economy. If yours has one of these switches, then choose Economy. You will start to save gas immediately.
• Have your vehicle serviced by a qualified mechanic, and have them pay particular attention to aligning the steering and balancing the wheels.
• Get the wheel bearings greased. This is simple enough to do yourself with a grease gun; but be 101% sure that the car cannot possibly fall on top of you if you are going to venture underneath. A falling car will certainly kill you.
• Have the gearbox or auto transmission fluid changed. (All these tweaks minimize friction.)
• Schedule your car or truck for an engine tune-up, and the mechanic to tweak the carburetor adjustment for a slightly leaner fuel mixture. That way, you’ll burn less fuel. Yes, your engine will be slightly less responsive but it will save gas and save money too. And your motor vehicle will have much better vehicle gas mileage than it did before.

The Ford Escape Hybrid has two versions. A 2×4WD SUV and a 4×4WD version. The front wheel drive Ford Escape hybrid delivers between 31-34 mpg in the city, and from 29-30 mpg on the highway, depending who you believe. And the 4-wheel-drive hybrid SUV gets you a respectable 28 mpg in the city or on the highway. Ford says its hybrid SUVs use electric motors while stopped or running at low speeds, and use no fuel at those times. Kinetic energy in the braking system charges the vehicles battery packs, which power the SUV’s electric motors when the cars slow down.

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid also comes in two versions. the 2×4WD and 4×4WD, similarly to the Ford Escape Hybrid. Both Mercury 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive Mariner Hybrids have 2.3L 133HP engine with 30/34 mpg and 27/29 mpg respectively. Both SUV Mariners use electric motors to run at speeds up to 30 mph to save more while city driving. They can both run on full fuel, full electric, or a combination of the two. It all depends on traffic conditions at the time.

The Mazda Tribute Hybrid gives you 29-34 mpg in the city and 27-30 mpg on the highway, according to EPA tests. This is Mazda’s first ever attempt at a hybrid car, and it is a good effort. The Mazda Tribute has better mileage and a spacious compartment at the back. It has pleasingly low emission and offers excellent passenger safety with its side-curtain air bags.

The Saturn Vue Green Line is one of the absolutely best gas mileage vehicles at the moment, giving you 25 mpg in city conditions and 32 mpg on the highway. The Saturn Vue Green Line has a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder 172 horsepower engine and automatic transmission. It has a really strong body design and a multiple airbag system which adds to its safety features.

The BMW X6 xDrive35i model consumes around 25.9 mpg and is fitted with 3 liter DOHC, 6-cylinder 24-valve turbo charged 300 horsepower engine driving a 6-speed Sport Automatic Transmission with BMW Adaptive Transmission Control. The BMW X6 xDrive35i amazed us by accelerating from 0 to 60 mph on only 6.5 seconds. Wow. Some car.

The Nissan Rouge SL returns 22/27 mpg and a smaller version of the older Nissan Murano. The Rouge SL has a 2.5 liter, 167 horsepower, 4-cylinder engine with a Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nissan Rouge SL can be purchased the following options: electric power steering (EPS) and advanced airbag systems.

The Toyota Hilander does 20 mpg according to the EPA, which makes it one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market this year. The fuel efficiency return is better than the older V-6 Hilander was with its average 19 mpg. The Hilander has a the same 270 hp V-6 engine as the Toyota Camry and is pleasingly silent, especially when cruising on the freeways.

The Hyundai Veracruz Limited AWD is a powerful SUV contender with its powerful 3.8L, V6, 24 valve, 260 horsepower engine. Most standard SUVs have a mere 3.6 liter engine. The Veracruz Limited AWD’s engine powers up the hills with its 257 lb-ft torque, a better result than Hyundai’s earlier model.s It gets you 15 mpg in city traffic, acording to EPA figures, and 22 mpg ion the highway. This makes it one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs in the US market.

The Kia Sorento 4WD is powered by a 242 horsepower, 3.3 liter V6 engine which gives it one of the highest mpg ratings among SUVs today. The Kia Sorento 4WD SUV delivers 15 to 16 miles per gallon in the city and 20 to 22 mpg out on the highway. It has a 5-speed automatic transmission, knee and side-curtain airbags and an electronic stabilization system.

The Lexus LX570 SUV gives you 12 to 15 mpg which is still just about acceptable these days. It has a 5.7 liter, 381 horsepower V8 engine which delivers better power than the older versions of this vehicle. It can be fitted with a multi-terrain ABS braking system for slippery roads and a crawl control to make those nasty steep descents a breeze!

One of these vehicles should do you nicely if only the best gas mileage SUV will do for you and your family.