Best Mileage Models for Your New-Car Money

As consumers turn toward fuel-efficient vehicles, it pays to know which ones are thriftiest—and which aren't as economical as they might appear.

Largely ignored by most car buyers for years, fuel economy has become a top selling point following the rapid hike in gasoline prices. Gas mileage is only one item in the cost of ownership, though. Purchase price, resale value, and likely maintenance costs also need to be considered.

“Your Mileage May Vary”
Just a few years back, it would have been unheard of to get better gas mileage from a car with an automatic transmission than from an equivalent model with manual shift. After all, automatic transmissions operated on a principle of slippage, which meant a loss of efficiency. Engineers have since been very busy developing higher-efficiency automatics, many with six speeds. As a result, a surprising number of cars get fuel-economy estimates with an automatic transmission that match—or even beat—those of comparable manual-gearbox models. Taking just one example, the Kia Spectra earns an EPA estimate of 24 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway with automatic—but only 23/30 mpg with manual shift.


Gas mileage estimates provided by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) are just that—estimates. Actual vehicles are not evaluated. Instead, every vehicle sold in the U.S. gets an estimate derived from a simulation of actual driving. Following the change in methodology that began with 2008 models, EPA figures reflect real world driving much more closely than in the past. Still, not every driver will match—or even approach—the published mileage figures. Some drivers, on the other hand, manage to exceed those estimates. Or at least, they claim to do so.

The Least Gas by Automotive Class
Here's a rundown of the thriftiest cars on the market, judged by estimated gas mileage, in various vehicle categories. Premium-level cars have been omitted, to concentrate on those with more modest sticker prices. Note that 2009 estimates have not yet been released for all models, so some figures reflect the 2008 model year. Check out our New Car Buyer's Guides for more information on these vehicles.

Subcompact Cars
Toyota's Yaris hatchback and sedan take the lead among the smallest conventional passenger cars. With a manual gearbox, the Yaris get an EPA estimate of 29 mpg city/36 mpg highway. With an automatic transmission, those figures drop to 27/35 city/highway mpg. For all-out frugality, the recently launched smart fortwo is the top choice, with a 33/41 mpg estimate. But the smart car holds only two passengers. Several subcompacts come close to Yaris estimates, including the Chevrolet Aveo (25/36 mpg with automatic, 27/34 with manual).

Compact Cars
Fuel-efficiency leaders in this group include the frugal XFE editions of the Chevrolet Cobalt and related Pontiac G5, which earn an estimate of 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway. Ford's Focus comes close with 24/35 mpg manual and 24/33 mpg automatic. So does the Honda Civic, with estimates of 26/34 mpg with manual and 25/36 with automatic; and the Toyota Corolla, which scores 26/35 and 27/35 mpg. The Nissan Versa, with its roomy backseat, scores a thrifty 27/33 mpg with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Hybrid Compacts and Midsize Models
Nowadays, the big trouble with hybrids is the difficulty of finding one for sale. Many dealers have run low, forcing hybrid-seekers onto long waiting lists. Top scorer in the EPA-estimate race is the popular Toyota Prius, rated at 48 mpg for city driving and 45 mpg on the highway. The higher city figure reflects the Prius's ability to run on electricity alone part of the time. The Honda Civic Hybrid works differently, and therefore gets a city estimate of only 40 mpg—but the same 45 mpg in highway driving.


Among the larger hybrid sedans, Nissan's Altima edges out the Toyota Camry, with 35/33 mpg versus the Camry's 33/34 mpg. From GM, the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura Hybrids get an impressive 34 mpg rating on the highway, but only 26 mpg for city driving.

Specialty Compact and Midsize Models
Among the vehicles that don't quite fit into regular categories, the Pontiac Vibe and similar Toyota Matrix take thrift honors, courtesy of 25-26 mpg estimates in city driving and 31-32 mpg on the highway. Chevrolet's HHR with manual shift gets an EPA estimate of up to 22/32 mpg. The Chrysler PT Cruiser, Kia Rondo, Mazda5, and Scion xB aren't quite as frugal, according to the EPA.

Midsize Sedans
Four-cylinder models take the lead here, with V-6 versions falling short. With a six-speed automatic transmission and four-cylinder engine, the Chevrolet Malibu and related Saturn Aura/Pontiac G6 score 22-mpg city/33-mpg highway estimates. Kia's four-cylinder Optima gets 22/32 mpg EPA estimates with either manual or automatic shift—just a hair better than the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Camry. The Nissan Altima is rated 23/32 mpg with manual shift and 23/31 mpg with a CVT.

Large Midsize Sedans
Compared to the Buick LaCrosse, Hyundai Azera, and redesigned 2009 Nissan Maxima, the fuel-efficiency leader in this group is the four-cylinder Volkswagen Passat, which earns a 21/31 mpg estimate with manual shift (19/29 with automatic). Chevrolet's Impala isn't far behind at 19/29 mpg.

Full-Size Cars
Size matters in the fuel-efficiency struggle, so big cars nearly always consume more fuel. Toyota's Avalon edges past its large-car rivals with a 19/28 mpg EPA estimate. The front-drive Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable come close with 18/28 mpg.