Fuel-efficient cars by body style
Choosing a new car? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet. The following cars are ranked by city miles per gallon (MPG), followed by highway MPG based on the Environmental Protection Agency's Fuel Economy Guide for the 2008 model year. (For details of the testing, see the notes below.)
| Rank | Model | MPG: city/hwy | Annual fuel cost * | Carbon footprint (tons/yr of CO2) |
Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Toyota Prius |
48/45 | $1328 | 4 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.5 liter, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular gas |
| 2 |
Honda Civic Hybrid |
40/45 | $1457 | 4.4 tons | 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular gas |
| 3 |
Nissan Altima Hybrid |
35/33 | $1799 | 5.4 tons | 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular gas |
| 4 (tie) |
Ford Escape Hybrid |
34/30 | $1916 | 5.7 tons | FWD, 4 cylinder, 2.3 liter, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular gas |
| 4 (tie) |  Mazda Tribute Hybrid |
34/30 | $1916 | 5.7 tons | 2WD, 4 cylinder, 2.3 liter, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular gas |
| 4 (tie) |
Mercury Mariner Hybrid |
34/30 | $1916 | 5.7 tons | FWD, 4 cylinder, 2.3 liter, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular gas |
| 7 |
smart fortwo |
33/41 | $1797 | 5.1 tons | 3 cyl, 1 liter, Automatic (S5), Premium gas |
| 8 |
Toyota Camry Hybrid |
33/34 | $1799 | 5.4 tons | 4 cylinder, 2.4 liter, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular gas |
| 9 |
Toyota Yaris |
29/36 | $1916 | 5.7 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.5 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
| 10 |
Toyota Corolla |
28/37 | $1977 | 5.9 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.8 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
Related link:
2006-2007 Fuel-efficiency guide
Notes:
* Annual fuel cost is based on an assumption of cars driven 15,000 miles annually, 54 percent on the highway, 46 percent in the city, and a fuel price of $ 4.08 per gallon. Visit the EPA's Web site to calculate annual fuel costs using a different fuel price or annual miles for a specific vehicle.
This year, the EPA has changed the way it estimates MPG to more accurately reflect real driving conditions. Estimates reflect the effects of: faster speeds and acceleration; air conditioner use; and colder outside temperatures. The tests lower MPG estimates for most vehicles compared to previous years. Miles per gallon will vary for models with different vehicle specifications. Driving habits will also affect MPG.
Each model is allowed to appear on the list only once, except the Honda Civic, which appears on the list twice because of its availability in both regular gasoline and gasoline-electric hybrid versions.
14 Comments
By cravin morehead on July 30, 2008 7:08 AM
smart fortwo is a stupid looking car
somthing that should not have been created
By FEV-Now.com on August 18, 2008 4:39 PM
It's not the looks that are most troubling with SmartForTwo; it's by far the lightest weight and has the smallest engine, yet can only manage 33 mpg around town? And premium gas! That's embarassing.
By Douglas Christensen on August 21, 2008 5:35 PM
You rate Toyota & but ignore the clear winner, VW Jetta tdi. I own the 2006 model and average regularly 46mpg using biodiesel
By Dominic on September 5, 2008 4:30 AM
My Volkswagon Jetta TDI 2009 9 gets 45+ on the freeway and 38+ around town. And it is a real car.
By Susan on September 5, 2008 10:16 AM
I, along with Dominic, am happy owner of an established model that somehow was not on this list - - a diesel VW beetle. And after a two year hiatus, VW is making diesels again.
My beetle gets almost 40 mpg in town and 40+ on highway. Always has, always will.
But fuel efficiency also comes from walking either whole or part way to my destinations since I'm able bodied. Hello, anybody else home???
Also, what about cleaner emissions? I'm burning B100 which has a slightly higher NOX factor but is 99% cleaner than burning petro diesel.
By Jeff, NWautos Producer on September 5, 2008 10:44 AM
Volkswagen did not produce any Jetta or Beetle diesels for the 2008 model year (or at least none that were rated by the EPA's fuel economy guide), so that is why they do not show up on this list.
It looks like the EPA has already rated the new 2009 Jetta TDI (diesel) and it has very good ratings: 30 mpg city and 41 mpg hwy.
Expect to see the Jetta TDI on next year's list when all the 2009 EPA fuel economy ratings are complete.
By Rodney on October 4, 2008 8:09 AM
My 08 Scion xD gets thirty-three mpg city and thirty-five mpg on the highway... If someone decides to purchase one of these. It's a good buy, keep an eye on wear and tear items. Besides that, it's a good car :) Everyone knows Honda produces the best cars.. Jeez..lol
By Zak on October 22, 2008 2:59 PM
I agree, Fortwo's are absurd! Props to all 30+mpg vehicles, but their design doesn't get the mileage it suggests it might. All imagine, no substance. Air resistance is a matter of shape, not size!
I agree, TDI Jettas are fantastic! My '09 Sportswagon has a catalytic converter, which solves the NOx problem Susan mentioned.
I agree Susan, consuming less, such as walking and biking, is the first line of defence.
Excellent comments, folks!
P.S. Green Bean in Maine sells biodiesel made from used cooking oil. My car is running on garbage! Isn't that the plot to Back to the Future?
By Jeff on October 31, 2008 10:08 AM
Jeff, stop making excuses. You sound just like the government. Your post suggests that hybrids are the best solution when everyone in Europe knows that diesels are the best. If you did your research you'd find out that other car manufacturers are rolling out diesels in a couple of years. Give information to people so they can wait a couple of years for better diesel cars by Honda and Subaru just to name a few companies. Why don't you inform people that a hybrid gets worse mileage in highway driving than a BMW 500 series sedan. Also, find out why diesel cars are so hard to get in the US.
By Jerry Gropp Architect AIA on November 3, 2008 6:59 AM
Here's a link to my Google "Knol" about my '07 Prius experiences as an architect- a "SomeDay" Plug-In Conversion for my own '07 Toyota Prius & picture of the '10 rius.https://knol.google.com/k/jerry-gropp-architect-aia/a-someday-plug-in-conversion-for-my-own/246qxuxd260sm/8#
By liam on November 10, 2008 11:43 AM
Let's see, a "Smart for Two"
an extremely tiny car,
carries only 2 people and not much else
3 cylinder engine
merely 1 liter engine
yet requires premium gas
takes forever to reach highway speed
yet, "cough, cough,"
ONLY gets 33 mph in city
Only gets 41 mpg in highway
What a piece of c**p!
Maybe not-so-"funfortwo" should have borrowed some Japanese motorcycle engines, such as Honda or Yamaha. Wouldn't have gotten much better mpg w/ better hp than this crap of nonsense. What a joke!
By paul on November 12, 2008 8:06 PM
Nice and informative piece. I found an article with pictures of the top and bottom 10 fuel efficient vehicles according to the EPA here: http://www.ethanolplug.com/PlugNews/WebExclusiveEPAMPGRanking/tabid/94/Default.aspx at www.ethanolplug.com
By Jane Keller Watson on November 18, 2008 9:34 AM
Thanks for all the comments. We have now posted the EPA's updated list of 2009's most fuel-efficient cars.
-- Jane Keller Watson
NWautos senior editor
By Charlie Aarons on December 20, 2008 8:50 PM
You guys are dumping on the SmartCar; the diesel version gets ~70mpg on the highway. Thank our idiotic government that we can't get them.
Charlie