Best Fuel Economy Cars by Segment
Owning a car is expensive, and having to fuel it with gasoline at the current, ridiculous prices, only makes matters worse.
Many that are contemplating a new vehicle purchase are starting to put a larger emphasis on fuel economy. The good news is, pound-for-pound, horsepower-to-horsepower, cars have never been more efficient then they are today. Technology has come a long way and the amount of power engineers can extract from internal combustion engines while using the least amount of fuel possible is impressive.
But some cars excel at sipping gasoline more than others. Regardless of size, shape, or drivetrain, there are vehicles designed to put an absolute priority on fuel economy. To highlight the best of the best, we have listed the segment leaders for 13 key car categories below. So if it’s a fuel-frugal car you’re after, take a look at the options below. Note – we will be making a separate list for pure electric vehicles. This article is all about fuel economy.
Subcompact Car – MINI Cooper 2-Door
28 mpg city / 39 mpg hwy
With the demise of fuel-sipping, low power city cars like the Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa, an unlikely fuel champion has emerged in the sub-compact class: the MINI Cooper 2-Door. Even with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine making 161 hp, the diminutive size and lightweight of the MINI Cooper 2-Door achieves 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.
Compact Gas Car – Honda Civic
32 mpg city / 41 mpg hwy
Compact cars are moving more and more towards hybrid powertrains. But that doesn't mean there aren't some efficient all-gas models left. Take the Honda Civic for example. With a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, lower trim models achieve 32 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. That's pretty good considering the Civic isn't all that compact now, and comes standard with a ton of equipment.
Compact Hybrid Car – Toyota Prius
57 mpg city / 56 mpg hwy
Seeing a Toyota Prius on this list isn't a big surprise. It's the compact car that really put hybrids on the map. But this isn't as decisive of a fuel economy victory as it once was. Rated at 57 mpg in the city and 56 mpg on the highway, the Prius hybrid front-wheel drive just beats out other effiecnent compact hybrids in terms of overall efficiency, notably the the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Blue.
Compact Plug-in Hybrid Car – Toyota Prius Plug-In
127 MPGe
When it comes to compact plug-in hybrids, it's no surprise the Toyota Prius makes another appearance, this time with the Plug-In variant. In fact, it’s the most efficient gasoline-powered vehicle period. With an incredible 127 MPGe, it’s far ahead of the next best offerings. Best of all, the latest Prius is quite powerful, looks amazing, and is surprisingly enjoyable to drive.
Mid-Size Gas Car - Honda Accord
29 mpg city / 37 mpg highway
Honda has always been really good at getting a lot of power out of an engine while using little fuel, so seeing another pure gas model appear on this list shouldn't be much of a surprise. Granted, there aren't many mid-size sedans left on the market, especially those not using some for of hybrid powertrain. But, with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine making 192 hp, the Accord can still achieve 29 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.
Midsize Hybrid Car – Toyota Camry Hybrid / Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
51 mpg city / 53 mpg hwy (Toyota)
47 mpg city / 56 mpg hwy (Sonata)
Hybrid family sedans have taken over the mid-size segment and we have a tie for the most efficient offering. The interesting this here is the different approaches both the Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata take. With a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain, the Camry is more efficient in the city. The Sonata counters though using a smaller 2.0-liter engine that makes less power on paper, but does achieve better highway efficiency.
Midsize Plug-in Hybrid – BMW 550e xDrive
68 MPGe
The BMW 550e xDrive is case of having it all. With a turbocharged inline-six cylinder engine paired to large electric motors, the car generates 483 horsepower and can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. It comes standard with all-wheel drive and space for full-size adults in the back seat. Thanks to the plug-in drivetrain, it is rated for 68 MPGe, which is best in class.
Full-Size Gas Car – BMW 740i
25 mpg city / 31 mpg hwy
BMW, a brand synonymous with making driver's cars, also makes them rather efficient for their size. No fewer than three of the 13 vehicles on this list are from BMW, including the most efficient large gas-powered car, the 740i. Okay, technically the 740i has a mild hybrid system, but it's motivated 99% of the time by that 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six cylinder engine. The fact it can achieve over 30 mpg on the highway while weighing in excess of 4,700 pounds is impressive.
Full-Size Hybrid Car – Toyota Crown Hybrid
42 mpg city / 41 mpg hwy
The Toyota Crown is an interesting vehicle. It has the size, presence and styling of a crossover, but it is in fact a car. Look at the ride height, the fact it has a trunk, and the official EPA classification.
Regardless of what the vehicle may or may not really be, in hybrid form, the Crown is impressively efficient. It delivers over 40 mpg combined in a large, multi-person cruiser.
Full-Size Plug-in Hybrid Car – BMW 750e xDrive
70 MPGe
BMW is back with another vehicle using the plug-in hybrid drivetrain found in the 550e xDrive. But, somehow in a complete defiance of physics, the larger 750e xDrive is actually more efficient, rated officially at 70 MPGe. There are many factors that actually equate to this improved fuel consumption, but the fact remains nothing the size of the 750e uses less gas.
Sports Car Gas – Mazda MX-5 Miata
26 mpg city / 35 mpg hwy
A sports car doesn’t have to be a gas-guzzling monster, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata proves this. With a 181 hp four-cylinder engine under the hood, the lightweight convertible gets similar fuel economy numbers as a lot of compact crossovers. There's no way to have more fun using less gas. These fuel economy numbers are also much better than some of the MX-5's competitors, notably the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ.
Sports Car Hybrid – Honda Prelude
46 mpg city / 41 mpg hwy
This will be a controversial inclusion. Some may argue it does deserve to be on the list while others will claim it's just a compact hybrid with a sporty body. Regardless of which camp you reside on, the Honda Prelude is very efficient, with official fuel economy ratings of 46 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. It also can hold its own on twisty roads thanks to inclusion of plenty of Civic Type R hardware.
Sports Car Plug-in Hybrid – Ferrari 296 GTB
47 MPGe
How did a Ferrari make this list? Simply put, there aren't that many plug-in hybrid sports cars, especially ones that are this efficient. Adding all the necessary hardware associated with a plug-in hybrid is counter-intuitive for a sports car as it adds weight. But, when including a plug-in hybrid set-up similar to those used by Le Mans Hypercar racers, it suddenly has immense performance advantages. Amongst that crowd, the Ferrari 296 GTB is the most efficient.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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My 2022 Volvo S60 FWD B5 Momentum averages 28-30 mpg in suburban type driving and I have averaged 40 mpg on straight highway driving staying no higher than 65 mph. Car does require premium fuel. I use 93 octane gas.