What Are the Most Fuel-Efficient Cars?
Short of haggling for the best possible deal at a dealership, one of the best ways to save money is by choosing a very fuel-efficient vehicle. What makes this even better than any one-time savings is the fact that having a car that sips gasoline will keep more money in your pocket for many years and miles down the road.
There is always the option to cut your fuel bills to zero if you choose an all-electric model, of course. Yet for many car shoppers, the switch to electric might not suit their driving needs or budget. This is why a frugal gas-only, hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle can prove ideal for many people.
Related: How Much Does a Hybrid Save on Fuel Compared to Its Gas Equivalent?
Below you’ll find three lists of the thriftiest model-year 2024 gas-powered vehicles as rated by the EPA and separated by type: gas-only, gas-electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid. Keep in mind these ratings are EPA estimates; your mileage may differ depending on a number of factors, such as your driving habits and the amount of time spent in stop-and-go traffic versus on mpg-friendly empty stretches of highway.
Gas-Only Cars With the Best Gas Mileage
1. Mitsubishi Mirage: 36/43/39 mpg city/highway/combined
2. Honda Civic: 33/42/36 mpg
3. Hyundai Elantra: 32/41/36 mpg
4. Toyota Corolla: 32/41/35 mpg
5. Nissan Versa: 32/40/35 mpg
Mitsubishi Mirage
Not only is the 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage the least thirsty gas-powered car sold today, it’s also the most affordable with a starting price just below $18,000. The front-wheel-drive-only Mirage hatchback and Mirage G4 sedan are both powered by a 78-horsepower, 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission. The most fuel-efficient Mirage is the hatchback, rated at 36/43/39 mpg city/highway/combined; the Mirage G4 sedan is rated at 35/41/37 mpg.
Honda Civic
The 2024 Honda Civic offers both sedan and hatchback body styles, three engine choices and either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT. The most efficient 2024 Civic is the mid-level EX with the more powerful 180-hp, turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder and a CVT, rated at 33/42/36 mpg.
The base engine in the Civic is a 158-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. In the sedan, that’s good for up to 31/40/35 mpg in the base LX and 30/37/33 mpg in the Sport. The sportier Si is only available with a six-speed manual and a 200-hp, turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder; it’s rated at 27/37/31 mpg and requires a diet of premium-grade gas. The base hatchback LX trim gets the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder and CVT; it is good for 30/38/33 mpg. Choose the wildly sporty 315-hp Civic Type R and acceleration soars, but economy sinks to 22/28/24 mpg.
Hyundai Elantra
The FWD 2024 Hyundai Elantra also offers buyers a variety of engine and transmission choices. Among the non-hybrid Elantras, the base SE with a 147-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT is the most fuel-efficient at 32/41/36 mpg; more option-laden versions with this powertrain drop slightly to 31/40/34 mpg.
The sportier N Line gets a 201-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic; it’s rated at 28/35/31 mpg. Those looking for performance over fuel economy can go for the Elantra N’s 276-hp, turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder, rated at 21/29/24 mpg with the standard six-speed manual transmission or 20/27/23 mpg with the optional eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Toyota Corolla
Fourth place on the list goes to the trusty Toyota Corolla. Known for rock-solid reliability, the Corolla’s gas-only sedan and hatchback variants return with a 169-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and standard CVT. (A six-speed manual transmission is now only found in the GR Corolla hot hatch.) The Corolla sedan LE and hatchback SE are the most efficient versions, rated at 32/41/35 mpg. Fuel economy drops to 31/40/34 mpg for the sedan’s SE and XSE trims and 30/38/33 mpg for the hatchback XSE.
Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa is another compact five-passenger sedan with a meager appetite for fuel. Among the three available trims, the most efficient are those equipped with the standard 122-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired to the optional CVT; this powertrain delivers 32/40/35 mpg. In what’s becoming increasingly rare in the car world, the Versa comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission in the S trim. With this shift-for-yourself gearbox, fuel economy comes in at 27/35/30 mpg.
Gas-Electric Hybrids With the Best Gas Mileage
1. Toyota Prius: 57/56/57 mpg
2. Hyundai Elantra Hybrid: 51/58/54 mpg
3. Kia Niro Hybrid: 53/54/53 mpg
4. Toyota Camry Hybrid: 51/53/52 mpg
5. Toyota Corolla Hybrid: 53/46/50 mpg
Toyota Prius
Possibly the most well-known of all hybrids, the Toyota Prius remains fresh from a complete redesign for the 2023 model year that gave it a dramatic swept-back exterior — albeit at the expense of rear headroom and cargo space, as compared to its more upright predecessor. The Prius’ base 194-hp LE trim with FWD is the most efficient at 57/56/57 mpg; opting for the 196-hp all-wheel-drive variant with a second electric motor drops fuel economy to 53/54/54 mpg. Stepping up to higher trims like the XLE and Limited also means a lower rating of 52/52/52 mpg with FWD and 49/50/49 mpg with AWD.
Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
The Hyundai Elantra makes a second appearance here as a hybrid model, and the total system output from its 1.6-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine and electric motor is 139 hp. The sole transmission choice is a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. The base Blue variant is the most efficient at 51/58/54 mpg; higher trims are rated at 49/52/50 mpg.
Kia Niro
The Kia Niro spoils car buyers for choice since it’s available with a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric powertrain. The Niro hybrid’s base FE trim makes 139-hp from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with two electric motors; it gets 53/54/53 mpg. Upgrading to higher trims like the EX Touring or SX Touring drops the compact SUV’s fuel efficiency to 53/45/49 mpg.
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Powered by a 208-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and a CVT, the Toyota Camry Hybrid gets 51/53/52 mpg in its base LE trim. The mid-size sedan’s fuel efficiency takes a dip for higher trims, with 44/47/46 mpg for the SE, SE Nightshade, XLE and XSE.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid stands out as an eminently practical choice among compact sedans. Its powertrain consists of a 1.8-liter four-cylinder coupled to two electric motors and a CVT for a total of 138 hp. In something of a rarity among small economy-minded cars, the Corolla Hybrid is available with either FWD or AWD. FWD variants provide better mileage, with up to an EPA-estimated 53/46/50 mpg; going with AWD drops maximum fuel economy to 51/44/48 mpg.
Plug-in Hybrids With the Best Gas Mileage
1. Toyota Prius Prime: 127 mpg-equivalent
2. Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid: 108 mpg-e (manufacturer estimate)
3. Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid: 101 mpg-e (manufacturer estimate)
4. Toyota RAV4 Prime: 94 mpg-e
5. Lexus NX 450h+: 84 mpg-e
Toyota Prius Prime
The Toyota Prius Prime takes a good thing (high fuel economy) and makes it even better. Using the Prius as its base, the Prime delivers a 127 mpg-e combined average for electric and gas driving and 52 mpg in Hybrid mode in the entry-level SE trim; its all-electric driving range is 45 miles. The XSE and XSE Premium trims are still great on gas, with each returning 114 mpg-e and 48 mpg combined and an all-electric range of 40 miles. Getting the Prius Prime down the road is a 2.0-liter gas engine paired to two electric motors and a CVT; it’s good for a system total of 220 hp. Unlike the regular Prius, however, the Prime is FWD only and can charge its battery on a Level 2 charger in about four hours.
Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Like the Prius and Prius Prime, a reboot for the 2023 model year gave the Kia Niro flashy styling to match its fuel-conscious driving manners. The 2024 Niro Plug-In Hybrid rolls into its second model year with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors that send a total of 180 hp to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It has a manufacturer-estimated 108 mpg-e average and an electric-only driving range of 33 miles. A full recharge using a Level 2 240-volt charger should take about three hours.
Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid
The 2024 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid is another strong candidate among compact SUVs with plug-in hybrid drivetrains. It comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a front electric motor that produce a combined 210 hp and gets a manufacturer-estimated 101 mpg-e. That’s plenty peppy for routine driving and won’t leave you and your Ford PHEV feeling outmatched during quick highway passing maneuvers. Similar to some competing plug-in hybrid SUVs, one sacrifice is that AWD is unavailable; the Escape PHEV is FWD only. When cruising purely on electrons, the Escape PHEV has 37 miles of electric range, and its battery pack requires roughly 3.5 hours to recharge when using a 240-volt connection.
Toyota RAV4 Prime
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime packs a surprising burst of speed for a docile-looking, family-friendly compact SUV. It comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors that produce a total of 302 hp, as well as AWD and a CVT. The RAV4 Prime’s 94 mpg-e and 38 mpg combined are impressive, as is its 42 miles of electric-only range. It can also replenish its battery in about two and a half hours with a Level 2 charger. Yet the real surprise is how speedy the RAV4 Prime is when you hit the gas pedal; the sprint from zero to 0-60 mph takes only 5.5 seconds.
Lexus NX 450h+
For those who want something a little more luxurious but still easy on a fuel budget, there is the 2024 Lexus NX 450h+. It combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a total output of 304 hp, which is enough to scoot this luxury SUV from 0-60 mph in just over 6 seconds. This is boosted by an 84 mpg-e combined average for electric and gas driving and 36 mpg when powered by gas only. The NX 450h+’s all-electric range is rated at 37 miles, and it can be charged in as little as 2.5 hours with a 240-volt charger. Even better is the fact that these numbers don’t come at the expense of added grip during inclement weather, as AWD is standard on all trims.
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- Electric Cars With the Longest Range
- Why Does My Car Need Premium Gas?
- What’s the Difference Between a Hybrid and a Plug-In Hybrid?
- More Fuel Economy News
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