Gas mileage efficiency is an important consideration for many new car buyers. It’s likely more important for someone buying a Toyota Yaris than it is for the purchaser of a Cadillac Escalade.
But EPA city and hwy mileage average are the most prominent numbers listed on an manufacturer’s monroney sticker.
Someone purchasing a Hummer is as interested in the numbers as someone buying a Honda Insight, but odds are they’ll still look at the averages.
All things considered, here are top 15 most fuel efficient cars, ranked in increasingly efficient order based on city mpg.
15. The Hyundai Elantra Blue (manual), MPG: 26 city, 35 highway Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $14,145; 14. Mini Cooper (manual) MPG: 28 city, 37 highway; MSRP: $19,500.
13. Toyota Yaris (manual), MPG: 29 city, 36 highway; MSRP: $12,905; 12 (tie): Volkswagen Jetta TDI (manual) MPG: 30 city, 41 highway, MSRP: $22,830; 12. Volkswagen Golf TDI (manual), MPG: 30 city, 41 highway; MSRP: $22,354 (Golf).
10. (tie) Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (automatic), MPG: 30 city, 42 highway; MSRP: $24,615; 10. Audi A3 (automatic), MPG: 30 city, 42 highway; MSRP: $27,270.
8. Smart For-Two Coupe or Convertible (both automatic), MPG: 33 city, 41 highway; MSRP: $11,990; 7. Ford Escape (and Mazda Tribute) Hybrid (both automatic); MPG: 34 city, 31 highway; MSRP: $29,175.
6. Nissan Altima Hybrid (automatic), MPG: 35 city, 34 highway; MSRP: $26,650; 5. 2010 Lexus HS 250h (automatic), MPG: 35 city, 34 highway; MSRP: $34,650.
4. Honda Insight Hybrid (automatic), MPG: 40 city, 43 highway; MSRP: $19,800; 3. Honda Civic Hybrid (automatic), MPG: 40 city, 45 highway; MSRP: $23,800.
2. Ford Fusion (and Mercury Milan) Hybrid (automatic), MPG: 41 city, 36 highway; MSRP: $27,950; 1. Toyota Prius (automatic), MPG: 51 city, 48 highway; MSRP: $22,800.
Article Last Updated: March 2, 2010.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
I wonder why the list was based on EPA city figures…would using the city/highway combined figures be a better ranking?