30+ MPG SUV suggestions

[Euchrestalin]

My parents are looking to replace their Ford Escape hybrid. The two things that they want in their new vehicle are:

Similar or better city MPG of 30+
High ground clearance (bad hips)

What is out there that would match this criteria?

 

[jaedaliu]

Lexus RX450h

With a MPG requirement, I feel like cost is an issue to them. Do they have a planned budget yet?

 

[Euchrestalin]

Lexus RX450h

With a MPG requirement, I feel like cost is an issue to them. Do they have a planned budget yet?

For the sake of this discussion I would say their budget is <$50,000

 

[Insomniator]

For the sake of this discussion I would say their budget is <$50,000

...so who cares about mpg...

 

[vi edit]

Very few *cars* can even get that kind of economy in town. Hybrids are one of the few that can reliably get that kind of economy in the city without being a total hypermiler. Adding more weight/size in an SUV is going to make it even harder.

A Mazda CX-5 is going to be one of your best bets for a non-hybrid vehicle. Hybrid wise I would look at a Prius V as it sits higher up and has similar seating/storage room as a compact SUV. After those two there is the Ford C-Max which is sort of like slightly jacked up station wagon. It sits higher than a car, but not as high as an SUV. And from there you have a $10,000+ gap getting you into the luxury "performance hybrid" SUV's.

Prius V and Mazda CX-5 are probably the closest to their requirements unless they just want to spend a bucketload of money on the Lexus/Lincoln level vehicles.

 

[JulesMaximus]

How about the Ford C-Max hybrid?