This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain.

Key takeaways

  • Returns 30% better combined MPG than the average car in the Compact Cars class for the 2010 model year (23 MPG class average).
  • The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2010 model year is the Honda Civic Hybrid at 42 MPG.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 30 MPG
City MPG 25 MPG
Highway MPG 37 MPG
Annual fuel cost $2,000
Tailpipe CO₂ 296 g/mi
Fuel type Regular

How the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan compares

The 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan returns 30 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 23 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 30%.

The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2010 model year is the Honda Civic Hybrid at 42 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2010 model year (across all classes) returns 20.2 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2010 model year is on its own page.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan
30 MPG
Class average, 2010
23 MPG
Class best, 2010
42 MPG
Average new car, 2010
20.2 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 500 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,000
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $2,000
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $3,333

Compare against other Compact Cars for 2010

If you are cross-shopping the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Honda Civic Hybrid leads this group at 42 MPG, 12 MPG ahead of the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan.

Specifications

The 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan runs a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a manual 5-spd, sending power through front-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Compact Cars
Engine
2.2L 4-cylinder
Transmission
Manual 5-spd
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Regular
Annual petroleum use
9.9 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan.

  • Is the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan fuel efficient?
    Yes. The 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan returns 30 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year by about 30%.
  • What MPG does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan get?
    The EPA rates the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan at 30 combined MPG, 25 MPG in city driving, and 37 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,000 for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • What fuel does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan use?
    The EPA lists the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 296 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 4,444 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan?
    City driving returns 25 MPG and highway driving returns 37 MPG, a gap of 12 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.
  • What engine is in the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan?
    The 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan has a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine.
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan have?
    The 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan comes with a manual 5-spd transmission and front-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 2010 model year is the Honda Civic Hybrid at 42 combined MPG. The Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan returns 30 MPG, a gap of 12 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
  • How much petroleum does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan use per year?
    The EPA estimates the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Sedan consumes about 9.9 barrels of petroleum per year, based on the standard 15,000 miles of driving. A barrel is 42 U.S. gallons of crude oil, which is refined into gasoline plus other products.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.