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 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 |
Toyota Prius |
51/48 | $801 | 3.7 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.8 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 2 (tie) |
Ford Fusion Hybrid
|
41/36 | $1025 | 4.7 tons | front-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 2 (tie) |
Mercury Milan Hybrid |
41/36 | $1025 | 4.7 tons | front-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 4 |
Honda Civic Hybrid
|
40/45 | $953 | 4.4 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.3 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 5 |
Honda Insight |
40/43 | $977 | 4.5 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.3 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 6 |
Lexus HS 250h |
35/34 | $1145 | 5.3 tons | 4 cylinder, 2.4 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), hybrid, regular gas |
| 7 |  Nissan Altima Hybrid |
35/33 | $1177 | 5.4 tons | 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 8 (tie) |
Ford Escape Hybrid |
34/31 | $1254 | 5.7 tons | front-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 8 (tie) |
Mazda Tribute Hybrid |
34/31 | $1254 | 5.7 tons | two-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas |
| 8 (tie) |
Mercury Mariner Hybrid |
34/31 | $1254 | 5.7 tons | front-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), 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). Fuel cost estimates listed here assume fuel costs $2.67 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, $2.91 per gallon for premium gasoline and $2.80 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.
4 Comments
By fuel efficient cars | Mindrich on February 4, 2010 5:32 PM
Owning a fuel efficient vehicle has become of greater importance in today's world, where gas has become a documented expense, as opposed to a spur of the moment purchase.
By Dzl_TDI on July 7, 2010 1:07 PM
Where are the diesel cars (VW, Audi, etc)?
By SteveD on February 23, 2011 4:42 AM
Where is My Little City Car? Toyota Yaris
Paid 11,200 for it and it gets 32mpg in town and 44mpg on the highway. Sure beats the Overpriced Prius. Part of the Deal is what you pay for the car too! Not just fuel economy. For 14,000 you can buy a LOT of Gas. The Hybrid will never pay
By Jeff Ronalds on May 20, 2011 1:51 AM
There's no doubt that the toyota prius will be the number 1 on this. I just have one question about fuel efficiency, is it true that washer pump consume lot of fuel?