The most fuel-efficient cars

Last updated: February 2013

Among Consumer Reports' vehicle test criteria are measurements of fuel economy. Our fuel economy numbers come from our measurements using a precision flow meter and are rounded to the nearest mile per gallon (mpg).

CR's overall mileage is calculated from equal portions of city and expressway driving.

The chart that follows features the 30 most fuel-efficient cars currently sold that Consumer Reports has tested (see our list of the most fuel-efficient SUVs). Also see our Ratings comparison by category (available to subscribers), which lists each vehicle's overall mileage. (Find out how you can compare these cars and get unlimited price reports with Cars Best Deals Plus.)

Rank Make & model CR Overall MPG City MPG Highway MPG
1 Mitsubishi i SE 111¹ 104¹ 116¹
2 Ford Focus Electric 107¹ 108¹ 107¹
3 Nissan Leaf SL 106¹ 86¹ 118¹
4 Chevrolet Volt 61² 45² 76²
5 Fisker Karma Eco Sport 44² 34² 55²
6 Toyota Prius Four 44 32 55
7 Toyota Prius C Two 43 37 48
8 Toyota Prius V Three 41 33 47
9 Lexus CT 200h Premium 40 31 47
10 Honda Civic Hybrid 40 28 50
11 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE 39 35 41
12 Smart ForTwo Passion 39 30 44
13 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE 38 32 43
14 Honda Insight EX 38 29 45
15 Volkswagen Golf TDI (MT) 38 27 49
16 Ford C-MAX Hybrid SE 37 35 38
17 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE 37 26 51
18 Lexus ES 300h 36 28 44
19 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (MT) 36 25 49
20 Honda CR-Z EX (MT) 35 26 45
21 Scion iQ 34 27 40
22 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 34 25 45
23 Fiat 500 Pop (MT) 34 25 42
24 Scion xD (MT) 34 25 40
25 Mazda2 Sport (MT) 33 25 40
26 Fiat 500 Sport (MT) 33 24 42
27 Mini Cooper (base, MT) 33 24 41
28 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 33 24 40
29 Honda Fit Sport (MT) 33 24 37
30 Ford Fiesta SE sedan 33 22 45

1 = MPGe
2 = composite of electricity & gas

   

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