The 15 most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive vehicles

30 mpg combined (27 mpg city/36 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $17,495

The all-wheel-drive Impreza was redesigned for 2012 with a new and thrifty 2-liter 148-horsepower flat-4 engine and a roomier interior that contains one of the best-finished cockpits in the compact class. To maximize economy, order the optional ($1,000) continuously variable transmission. Mileage with the standard 5-speed manual drops to 28 mpg combined, but performance is livelier. The Impreza hatchback costs around $500 more than the sedan.

2013 Subaru Impreza

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29 mpg combined (30 mpg city/28 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $47,310

This midsize luxury SUV hybrid combines a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and three electric motors, recharged by regenerative braking, for a combined output of 295 horsepower. The RX 450h is able to travel at up to 30 mph on electric power alone, so its overall economy is outstanding. The price, however, is $6,000 more than a gas-only RX, which means you'll need to rack up the miles to realize any savings. The RX is well-finished and available with a host of convenience and technology features.

2013 Lexus RX 450h

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28 mpg combined (25 mpg city/31 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $23,645

This all-new model is the benchmark for driving dynamics in the compact crossover/SUV category. A sophisticated 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection is the only power option, but its 155-horsepower rating, combined with great braking and agility, make the CX-5 truly fun to drive. Well-equipped in even the base Sport trim, the CX-5 comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and keyless entry, and seats five people while retaining 34 cubic feet of cargo space.

2014 Mazda CX-5

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28 mpg combined (25 mpg city/31 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $27,050

The biggest MINI offers much more interior room than the standard hardtop, a usable back seat and up to three times the cargo space. The All4 option is available only with the turbocharged 1.6-liter 181-horsepower engine, and either a manual or automatic transmission (the automatic drops combined fuel economy to 26 mpg). The Cooper S Countryman is a MINI, so it's a little quirky but fun to drive.

2012 MINI Countryman

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28 mpg combined (25 mpg city/33 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $21,995

With its beefed-up suspension, the new Subaru Crosstrek offers the possibility of adventure. The Crosstrek is based on the Impreza hatchback but rides 3 inches higher and offers 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it more capable for light off-road use or on pothole-ridden urban streets. Cargo space may be the best in the compact crossover class: 51.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Order the optional $1,000 CVT to maximize economy. The standard 5-speed manual transmission returns 26 mpg combined.

View Pictures:  Subaru Crosstrek at the 2012 New York Auto Show

27 mpg combined (25 mpg city/30 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $21,650

The styling of this groovy little crossover might be polarizing, but there's no question that the Juke is fun to drive. The 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine cranks out 188 horsepower through a continuously variable automatic transmission, and the suspension is tuned for quick back-road handling. The addition of the AWD option does not diminish performance. The base trim comes with 17-inch alloy rims, Bluetooth and 6-speaker audio. The curvy sheet metal limits rear-seat headroom and aft storage space.

2013 Nissan JUKE

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26 mpg combined (22 mpg city/33 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $32,350

The new X1 is a compact SUV that's a little leaner than the X3. A 2-liter 240-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with automatic stop-start technology and an 8-speed automatic transmission boasts good fuel economy and moves the X1 from zero to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds. The AWD system also includes hill-descent control — handy when inching down a steep, icy road. Comfort and driving dynamics are outstanding, though cargo space is limited.

2013 BMW X1

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25 mpg combined (22 mpg city/31 mph highway)
Base price with AWD: $32,200

Ford's all-new Fusion midsize sedan offers sharp styling and improved interior room. The AWD powertrain is available only with the premium Titanium trim, which adds more than $10,000 to the base price, but includes the turbocharged 2-liter 240-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Other Titanium features include heated leather power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, the MyFord Touch touch-screen displays and a rearview camera.

2013 Ford Fusion

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25 mpg combined (22 mpg city/31 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $37,815

With sweeping fastback styling, a retractable glass roof panel and an imposing grille, the new MKZ midsize sedan cuts a striking profile; it's based on the same chassis as the new Fusion. The MKZ's interior is trimmed in luxurious leather and wood and can be had with a touch-screen display, adaptive cruise control and other contemporary technologies. All-wheel drive is offered with the base 240-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder engine and a 3.7-liter 300-horsepower V6 (21 mpg combined), each with paddle shifters controlling a 6-speed automatic.

2013 Lincoln MKZ

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25 mpg combined (22 mpg city/30 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $26,820

Freshly redesigned, the Escape has evolved from a trucklike SUV to a modern, sporty crossover based on the competent Focus platform. To get AWD, you'll need to move up to the second-level SE trim, which also includes a 1.6-liter 178-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The SE Escape also comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, the Sync cellphone and audio system, and a 4-inch display screen. The best option is a hands-free power tailgate.

2013 Ford Escape

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25 mpg combined (22 mpg city/30 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $23,945

Redesigned for 2012, the compact CR-V SUV offers updated styling and a quieter cabin. A 2.4-liter 185-horsepower 4-cylinder is the only engine option, and it delivers good economy that can be enhanced by selecting an "Econ" mode that dials back the power but leaves performance a little sluggish. Standard features on the base LX trim include a rearview camera, a Pandora audio interface and SMS text messaging. A rear-seat DVD system is an option.

2013 Honda CR-V

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25 mpg combined (22 mpg city/30 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $16,999

This Suzuki SX4 entry-level compact hatchback has the lowest base price on our list. A 2-liter 150-horsepower 4-cylinder engine makes our mileage threshold when paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, which many drivers find offers better control on snowy roads. Power is lacking and the interior looks a little dated, but the SX4 Crossover offers a generous 54 cubic feet of cargo room with the back seat folded. An 11.9-gallon fuel tank limits range.

2012 Suzuki SX4 Crossover

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25 mpg combined (21 mpg city/31 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $93,000

The Mercedes S-Class may represent the pinnacle of automotive design. All-wheel drive is standard on the diesel-powered S350 sedan, which also delivers the best fuel economy in the full-size luxury category. The turbodiesel 3-liter V6 engine provides 240 horsepower and an astounding 455 lb-ft of torque, yet is so well-muffled it's hard to tell it's a diesel from inside the cabin. A 23.8-gallon fuel tank gives the S350 a highway range of 700 miles. Its technology, materials and performance are all first class.

2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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24 mpg combined (20 mpg city/30 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $44,400

The Audi A6 midsize sedan offers a fabulous combination of comfort and sport, with all kinds of leading-edge technology on the options list. Standard power is a turbocharged 2-liter 211-horsepower 4-cylinder engine that's mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission in the AWD quattro package, which also includes heated leather seats. Adjustable-mode steering, throttle and shift let you dial down the performance on slick roads. A heads-up display, night-vision assist, blind-spot warning and even in-car Wi-Fi are available.

2013 Audi A6

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24 mpg combined (20 mpg city/30 mpg highway)
Base price with AWD: $36,900

This all-new ATS sport sedan seeks to match the combination of sport and comfort offered by popular German imports, and it hits its marks. All-wheel drive is available with the optional turbocharged 2-liter 272-horsepower 4-cylinder engine or the 3.6-liter 321-horsepower V6. Cadillac offers a manual transmission in the ATS, but sadly not with AWD. Standard trim includes 17-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth and a 7-speaker Bose sound system. The optional Cue infotainment interface has a swipe-screen like a smartphone.

2013 Cadillac ATS

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For more information on the vehicles in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Subaru Impreza
-Lexus RX 450h
-Mazda CX-5
-MINI Cooper S Countryman
-Nissan Juke
-BMW X1
-Ford Fusion
-Lincoln MKZ
-Ford Escape
-Honda CR-V
-Suzuki SX4 Crossover
-Mercedes-Benz S-Class
-Audi A6
-Cadillac ATS

Compare: Available Vehicles

Veteran moto-journalist and Wisconsin-native Charles Plueddeman has been driving, riding and testing automobiles, motorcycles, boats, ATVs and snowmobiles for more than 20 years. He is a regular contributor to Boating Magazine and Outdoor Life, and his product evaluation articles have appeared in Popular Mechanics, Men's Journal, AutoWorld, Playboy, Boats.com and many other national publications and Web sites.