Top 10 Cars With the Least Horsepower in 2017
Not everyone shopping for cars wants an 840-horsepower Dodge Challenger Demon.
The cars on this list are actually the total opposite of everything the Dodge Challenger Demon is. These vehicles have the lowest horsepower output, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad cars. These cars are all affordable and have decent fuel economy, and even though they may not be powerful, they make up for their lack of speed with other useful features.
SEE ALSO: 10 Worst Cars of 2017: The Short List.
Here are the top 10 cars with the lowest amount of horsepower available in the 2017 model year.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
10. Hyundai Elantra Eco
Powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Hyundai Elantra Eco lives up to its name. With 128 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque, its output is actually fairly respectable in its class despite being one of the lowest horsepower cars available today. The model returns up to 32 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway for a 35-mpg combined rating.
Read our Hyundai Elantra Review
9. Ford Focus SE Sedan
For decades, the Ford Focus has competed in the compact segment, attracting buyers on a budget. The Ford Focus SE sedan specifically features a 1.0-liter EcoBoost inline-three-cylinder engine, providing 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. When paired to a six-speed manual transmission, it returns 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway for a 34-mpg combined rating, while the six-speed automatic gets 27 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway for a 31-mpg combined rating.
8. Ford Fiesta
Also from the Ford family is the compact Ford Fiesta, powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 120 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy for the manual transmission-equipped model comes in at 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway for a 30-mpg combined rating, while the automatic returns slightly better 37 mpg on the highway with its 27-mpg city rating for a 31-mpg combined figure.
7. Nissan Versa / Versa Note / Nissan Micra
Nissan occupies the seventh spot with three different models, all powered by the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 109 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque. In the U.S., that’s found in the Versa and Versa Note models, while in Canada, there’s the Nissan Micra. With a five-speed manual transmission, the Versa sedan returns 27 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, while the automatic model gets 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The Versa Note performs better thanks to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), returning 31 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.
In Canada, the Nissan Micra returns 8.7 L/100km in the city and 6.8 L/100km on the highway.
5. Toyota Yaris (tie)
Tying in fifth place is the Toyota Yaris with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 106 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque. The subcompact car returns 30 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway for a 33-mpg combined rating.
5. Toyota Yaris iA (tie)
The Toyota Yaris iA may share the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 106 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque as the standard Yaris, but the Yaris iA is a traditional sedan. The model originally started its life as the Scion iA, but since then Toyota has dissolved its youth-oriented brand and rebadged the models as Toyota. The Yaris iA returns 30 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway for a 34-mpg combined rating.
Read our Toyota Yaris iA Review
4. Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 finds its way on the list with its 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine providing 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. But the MultiAir engine works well with the subcompact car, returning up to 31 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway when paired with a five-speed manual transmission.
3. Chevrolet Spark
Treading into the double-digit territory is the Chevrolet Spark, with its 1.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine generating 98 hp and 94 lb-ft of torque. Its fuel economy comes in at 29 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.
Read our Chevrolet Spark Review
2. Smart Fortwo
The gasoline-powered Smart Fortwo won’t be available in North American much longer, as the automaker will only be offering the Electric Drive versions. But in case you’re still interested, the 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine under the hood provides 89 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque, good for 31 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway, or a 34-mpg combined rating.
1. Mitsubishi Mirage
The least powerful car available today is the Mitsubishi Mirage, with its 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine providing just 78 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque. It, however, makes it up with impressive fuel economy, especially for a non-electrified vehicle, returning 37 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway for a 39-mpg combined rating.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation
Sorry but they are boring eco-boxes. All starting to look the same too.
I've got a John Deere Riding Mower with 17 Horsepower !!!