Fuel-efficient cars by body style
- Compact cars
- Sports cars/coupes
- Wagons
- Minivans/vans
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 2010 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 |
Honda Civic Hybrid |
40/45 | $953 | 4.4 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.3 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 2 |
Honda Insight |
40/43 | $977 | 4.5 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.3 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 3 |  Smart fortwo |
33/41 | $1113 | 5.1 tons | 3 cylinder, 1 liter, Auto(AM5), regular gas |
| 4 (tie) |
Volkswagen Jetta |
30/42 | $1235 | 6.2 tons | 4 cylinder, 2 liter, automatic (S6), diesel |
| 4 (tie) |
Volkswagen Golf |
30/42 | $1235 | 6.2 tons | 4 cylinder, 2 liter, automatic (S6), diesel |
| 6 | 
Toyota Yaris |
29/36 | $1254 | 5.7 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.5 liter, manual 5-speed, regular gas |
| 7 | 
MINI Cooper |
28/37 | $1366 | 5.7 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.6 liter, manual 6-speed, premium gas |
| 8 | 
MINI Clubman |
28/36 | $1410 | 5.9 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.6 liter, manual 6-speed, premium gas |
| 10 (tie) | 
Kia Rio |
28/34 | $1294 | 5.9 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.6 liter, manual 5-speed, regular gas |
| 10 (tie) |
Hyundai Accent |
28/34 | $1334 | 6.1 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.6 liter, manual 5-speed, regular gas |
Notes:
* Annual fuel cost estimates are based on the assumptions that you travel 15,000 miles per year (55 percent in the city and 45 percent on the highway) and that fuel costs $3.48 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, $3.75 per gallon for premium and $3.88 for diesel. Visit www.fueleconomy.gov to calculate fuel costs based on current fuel prices and your driving habits.
Each model is allowed to appear on the list only once regardless of variations in its trim, options and/or specs.
Note that the models featured on the research pages linked here may have slight variations to the models specified in this list.
1 Comment
By mary on March 10, 2011 10:51 PM
I believe that cars like this should be a priority since the need for a green revolution is up. I think parts should also be available like in the site car part warehouse where I have been getting most of my parts.