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 2012 model year. (For details of the testing, see the notes below.)
| Rank | Model | MPG: overall |
MPG: city/hwy | Annual fuel cost* | Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mitsubishi i-MiEV |
112 | 126/99 | $540 | electric; automatic transmission |
| 2 |
Nissan Leaf |
99 | 106/92 | $612 | electric; automatic transmission |
| 3 |
Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric Van or Wagon |
62 | 62/62 | $972 | electric; automatic transmission |
| 4 |
Chevrolet Volt
|
60 | 58/62 | $648 | plug-in hybrid; automatic continuously variable transmission, 1.4 liter, 4 cylinder |
| 5 |
Toyota Prius
|
50 | 48/51 | $987 | hybrid; automatic continuously variable transmission, 1.8 liter, 4 cylinder |
| 6 |
Honda Civic Hybrid |
44 | 44/44 | $1,120 | hybrid; automatic continuously variable transmission, 1.5 liter, 4 cylinder |
| 7 (tie) |
Toyota Prius v |
42 | 44/40 | $1,175 | hybrid; automatic continuously variable transmission, 1.8 liter, 4 cylinder |
| 7 (tie) |
Lexus CT 200h |
42 | 43/40 | $1,175 | hybrid; automatic continuously variable transmission, 1.8 liter, 4 cylinder |
| 7 (tie) |
Honda Insight |
42 | 41/44 | $1,175 | hybrid; automatic continuously variable transmission with select shift, 1.3 liter, 4 cylinder |
| 10 |
Toyota Camry Hybrid |
41 | 43/39 | $1,204 | hybrid; automatic continuously variable transmission, 2.5 liter, 4 cylinder |
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 $3.30 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, $3.57 per gallon for premium gasoline, $3.78 for diesel and $.12/kWh for electricity. 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.