With the ever-changing auto industry, 2011 sees some new and unique introductions into the market.  It seems as if full-fledged electric cars might be here to stay within the next ten years, with several already serving as popular alternatives to fully gas-powered vehicles.

As such, the hybrid, a five-plus year old technology, is starting to see its heyday.

That said, the majority of the ten most fuel efficient SUVs in today’s market are hybrids.

2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid:  This luxurious, classy SUV seats eight while maintaining a high degree of environmentally friendly facets.  It features a 300 Volt battery that’s well-placed and concealed so as to not make the car appear too shoddy.

2011 Ford Escape Hybrid:  The Escape has already been a popular car for the better part of the past decade, but its hybrid model is a relatively new addition.  The car is generally seen as having the full-package: it’s got a large engine, lots of horsepower and torque.  But unlike many cars with those characteristics, the Escape ranks highly on all safety testing.

2011 Lexus RX:  The RX is in an interesting boat, in that it gets more miles per gallon in the city than on the highway.  That’s the way the vehicle is set up: more for practical, inter-city usage of transporting cargo.

2011 Chevrolet Trailblazer:  Like many other vehicles on this list, the Trailblazer has been a popular vehicle for years.  But the newest model, although packing the power associated with the previous ones, comes with even more space, serving as the epitome of a sporting utility vehicle.

2011 Kia Sorrento:  Although technically counting as an SUV, the Sorrento is typically more associated with smaller economy cars.  It has the room and set up of an SUV but it’s more compact, meaning better gas mileage.  It lacks the power and space of others on this list, but it makes up for it in gas mileage and overall wear and tear.

2011 Land Rover LRX:  The Land Rover has changed styles and face many times before, but this year we find the Rover looking more powerful, larger, and more spacious.  Past models hammed up the off-road capability whereas the current one looks more like a luxury vehicle on steroids.

2011 Mazda Tribute:  Mazda makes its way back into prominence this year with the Tribute—an extremely efficient SUV.  It’s got a large frame but manages to pull off decent gas mileage, making it a high option if utility and a lower carbon footprint are both priorities.

2011 Nissan Juke:  The Juke is one of the only SUVs on this list that places sporty-approach above other facets.  The Juke’s straightforward, with plenty of space, reliable torque, and a solid 32 miles per gallon on the interstate.  It’s a true crossover, allowing you to use it for practical purposes while still having fun enjoying its more slender frame.

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport:  The Outlander Sport is similar to the Nissan Juke in the sense that it’s sporty-yet-luxurious.  It gets only slightly below the mileage that the Nissan Juke does, and otherwise checks in at about all the same numbers as the Juke, making it an extremely good choice of the Juke doesn’t suit your fancy.

2011 Jeep Patriot:  Unfortunately, this is the first one on the list that gets below 30 miles per gallon on the interstate, but it still ranks in at about 29, making it among the most fuel efficient of today’s SUVs.  The Patriot resembles the old fashioned Jeeps with a hint of a Range Rover body style.  Its focus is on power and space, making it excellent in the utility field.

Although specifics on gas mileage can depend on a variety of factors including but not limited to climate and terrain, it’s generally believed that every car on this list with the exception of the last two gets above 30 miles per gallon, which until 10 years ago (roughly) was a high standard even for compact cars, let alone SUVs.