Fuel prices still bite, yet a handful of new SUVs shrug off efficiency in favor of power, size and swagger. These are the full-size haulers, off-road icons and performance trucks whose window stickers land near the bottom of the 2026 economy charts. Here are eleven SUVs you can still buy new that drink fuel the fastest.
1. Cadillac Escalade-V: The 682-Horsepower Fuel Bill
The range-topping Escalade-V pairs a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 making 682 horsepower with well over three tons of full-size luxury, and the pump reflects every pound. Independent tallies of the worst 2026 fuel-economy figures place it near 13 mpg combined, among the thirstiest gasoline vehicles a shopper can still order new.
That rating turns a long commute into a standing expense, since a heavy foot pushes real-world numbers into single digits. Buyers drawn to the Escalade-V accept the running cost as the price of its rare blend of speed and space, but it anchors the bottom of the mileage chart for a reason.
2. GMC Yukon Denali: The Body-On-Frame Thirst
GMC’s full-size Yukon Denali carries a large V8 in a body-on-frame chassis tuned for towing rather than efficiency, and its combined rating sits in the mid-teens. The Denali trim adds weight through its plush cabin and 22-inch wheels, nudging fuel use higher than the lighter trims below it.
Owners who tow trailers or haul families notice the tank drain fast on the highway, where aerodynamics work against the tall profile. The Yukon rewards that appetite with a quiet, spacious ride, yet it remains a fixture on lists of the least efficient large SUVs sold today.
3. Jeep Wrangler 392: The 6.4-Liter Hemi Penalty
The Wrangler 392 drops a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 into a boxy, off-road-first body, and government figures rate it near 14 mpg combined. The upright windshield and knobby tires that make it capable in the dirt also make it push a wall of air down the interstate.
That trade sends the 470-horsepower Jeep to the fuel pump far more often than its four-cylinder siblings. Enthusiasts buy it for straight-line thrill and trail muscle, accepting that a Wrangler built for speed and rocks will never sip fuel the way a commuter crossover does.
4. Mercedes-Benz G-Class: The Boxy Icon’s Bill
The G550 wagon keeps the slab-sided shape Mercedes has sold for decades, and that brick-like aerodynamics leaves it rated in the low-to-mid teens. A twin-turbo V8 hauls the heavy, ladder-frame body with authority, but the shape fights every mile of highway travel.
The G-Class treats fuel economy as an afterthought, prioritizing presence, off-road hardware and status instead. Its buyers rarely flinch at the figure, yet the number keeps this six-figure luxury SUV firmly among the thirstiest vehicles a dealer will sell in 2026.
5. Toyota Sequoia: The Twin-Turbo Surprise
Even with a modern hybrid setup, the full-size Sequoia leans on a twin-turbo V6 that still returns unimpressive combined numbers for its class. The heavy body-on-frame platform and three-row cabin blunt the efficiency gains the electrified system might otherwise deliver.
Real-world driving, especially with a full load, often lands below the window sticker, catching some shoppers off guard. The Sequoia trades outright thrift for towing strength and durability, a formula that keeps it planted among the less economical large SUVs on the market.
6. Lincoln Navigator: The Luxury Heft Tax
Lincoln’s flagship Navigator wraps a twin-turbo V6 in a long, heavy body loaded with sound deadening and screens, and the combined rating suffers for it. The weight that makes the cabin feel like a lounge is the same weight the engine must move down every road.
Highway stints and city crawls alike keep the fuel gauge moving, particularly in the extended-wheelbase version. Navigator owners prize the quiet, first-class ride, but that experience comes bundled with a running cost that lands it near the bottom of the efficiency rankings.
7. Chevrolet Tahoe: The Highway Fuel Drinker
The V8 Chevrolet Tahoe remains a staple for families and fleets, and its full-size body-on-frame build keeps combined economy modest. The tall, blunt front pushes hard against the wind, so highway numbers rarely climb as high as owners hope.
Its enormous cargo hold and towing rating explain the compromise, since a vehicle this capable carries mass that fuel must overcome. The Tahoe is competent and comfortable, yet it stays a regular presence on any honest list of thirsty large SUVs sold new.
8. Nissan Armada: The Heavy Hauler’s Appetite
Nissan’s full-size Armada moved to a twin-turbo V6 for its latest generation, but the heavy body-on-frame chassis keeps combined economy stuck in the teens. The truck-based platform prioritizes towing and durability over the slippery shapes that help crossovers save fuel.
Loaded with passengers or a trailer, the Armada asks for frequent fill-ups on longer trips. Shoppers get a rugged, spacious SUV with serious pulling power, but the running cost places it squarely among the least efficient choices in the full-size field.
9. Land Rover Defender V8: The Supercharged Off-Roader
The supercharged Defender V8 fits a 5.0-liter engine into a rugged, upright body built to climb and wade, and the combination lands it near the bottom for economy. Its off-road hardware, heft and tall stance all work against efficiency on pavement.
That means regular stops at the pump for anyone who drives it daily rather than off-road. The Defender V8 sells on character, capability and speed, and its owners treat the fuel figure as the toll for a genuinely go-anywhere machine with real performance.
10. Infiniti QX80: The Luxury Full-Size Cost
Infiniti’s QX80 flagship carries a large engine and a heavy, feature-packed body, leaving it rated in the mid-teens combined. The plush cabin, big wheels and body-on-frame roots add mass that the drivetrain must haul everywhere it goes.
Highway driving and stop-and-go traffic both keep the fuel needle busy, particularly for owners who use every seat. The QX80 delivers space, presence and towing muscle, but the efficiency figure keeps it among the thirstier luxury SUVs a buyer can drive off the lot.
11. Dodge Durango SRT: The Hemi SRT Extreme
The Durango SRT packs a Hemi V8 into a three-row SUV aimed at drag strips as much as school runs, and that focus tanks its combined economy. The high-output engine and performance tuning are built for acceleration, not for stretching a gallon.
Owners who exercise the throttle watch fuel disappear quickly, especially around town. The Durango SRT earns its spot by offering muscle-car pace with room for the family, a rare mix that comes with one of the steepest fuel bills among the SUVs listed here.
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