With gas, hybrid, electric and now natural gas vehicles all vying for better gas mileages averages and the marketing of fuel efficiency among manufacturers at its peak, it's hard to keep track of what carmakers top the list.
Pure electric cars, of course, top the list. But what might come as a surprise, it's not all current models that make the all-time list of best gas mileage average among electric cars — at least dating to 1984.
Here are the top-10 Electric cars gas mileage average (electric equivalent), 1984-2012, with vehicle model, configuration and mpg combined/city/highway:
1. Mitsubishi i-MiEV (2012), 112/126/99
2. Nissan Leaf (2011–12), 99/106/92
3. MINI Mini E (2008), 98/102/94
4. smart fortwo electric drive cabriolet, coupe, (2011), 87/94/79
5. Nissan Altra EV (2000), 85/81/91
6. GMC EV1 (1999), 85/79/84
7. Toyota RAV4 EV (2002–03), 78/87/69
8. Nissan Hyper-Mini (2001), 75/84/66
9. Ford Th!nk (2001), 65/74/58
10. Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Wagon, Van, (2012), 62/62/62
Article Last Updated: November 26, 2011.
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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.
