The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars of All Time

Have you ever wondered just how much more fuel efficient modern cars have become? Which cars are the most fuel efficient now that electric vehicles are mainstream? In this article, we'll give you the 100 most fuel efficient cars of all time, with information on each of them!

How to Determine Fuel Efficiency

The list of the best fuel efficient cars on this page is based on one simple metric provided to us by the U.S. Department of Energy: the combined miles per gallon (MPG).

This metric is calculated by taking the total miles driven by the car and dividing it by the total gallons of fuel used.

Manufacturers provide this information to the Department of Energy, they provide it to us, and we provide it to you after sifting and organizing it.

The combined miles per gallon (MPG) is a measure of how much fuel the car uses per mile and is a good indicator of how efficient the car is. It's a combination of both city and highway driving, to give you a more overall accurate MPG.

With that out of the way, let's dive into the list. You can click the links in the table below to see more detailed information about each car.

Best Cars by Miles per Gallon

The list below is sorted by the combined miles per gallon (MPG) of the car, with the highest MPG at the top. This list includes both electric and regular fuel cars.

Car Combined MPG Fuel Cost
2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus... 142 $450
2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus 141 $450
2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric 136 $500
2018 Hyundai Ioniq Electric 136 $500
2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric 136 $500
2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD 134 $500
2021 Hyundai Ioniq Electric 133 $500
2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric 133 $500
2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus 133 $500
2022 Tesla Model 3 RWD 132 $500
2022 Lucid Air G Touring AWD w/19in wh... 131 $500
2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD 131 $500
2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range 131 $500
2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range 131 $500
2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range 130 $500
2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range 130 $500
2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range 130 $500
2022 Tesla Model Y RWD 129 $500
2021 Tesla Model Y Standard Range RWD 129 $500
2017 Tesla Model 3 Long Range 126 $500
2022 Lucid Air Dream R AWD w/19in wheels 125 $500
2021 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD 125 $550
2017 BMW i3 BEV (60 Amp-hour battery) 124 $550
2016 BMW i3 BEV 124 $550
2015 BMW i3 BEV 124 $550
2014 BMW i3 BEV 124 $550
2022 Tesla Model Y AWD 123 $550
2020 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range 123 $550
2019 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range 123 $550
2018 Tesla Model 3 Mid Range 123 $550
2022 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD 122 $550
2022 Lucid Air G Touring AWD w/21in wh... 121 $550
2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD 121 $550
2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range Performa... 121 $550
2020 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD 121 $550
2020 Tesla Model Y Performance AWD 121 $550
2013 Scion iQ EV 121 $550
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV 120 $550
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric 120 $550
2022 Tesla Model S 120 $550
2021 Hyundai Kona Electric 120 $550
2021 Tesla Model S Long Range 120 $550
2020 Hyundai Kona Electric 120 $550
2019 Hyundai Kona Electric 120 $550
2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV 119 $550
2019 Volkswagen e-Golf 119 $550
2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV 119 $550
2018 Volkswagen e-Golf 119 $550
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV 119 $550
2017 Volkswagen e-Golf 119 $550
2016 Chevrolet Spark EV 119 $550
2015 Chevrolet Spark EV 119 $550
2014 Chevrolet Spark EV 119 $550
2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV 118 $550
2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV 118 $550
2018 BMW i3 (94Ah) 118 $550
2017 BMW i3 BEV (94 Amp-hour battery) 118 $550
2014 Honda Fit EV 118 $550
2013 Honda Fit EV 118 $550
2022 Kia EV6 RWD (Long Range) 117 $550
2022 Kia EV6 RWD (Standard Range) 117 $550
2020 Tesla Model S Long Range Plus 117 $550
2022 Lucid Air Dream P AWD w/19in wheels 116 $550
2022 Lucid Air Dream R AWD w/21in wheels 116 $550
2022 Tesla Model S Plaid (19in Wheels) 116 $550
2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range Performa... 116 $550
2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD 116 $550
2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD Perf... 116 $550
2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD 116 $550
2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD Per... 116 $550
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf 116 $550
2015 Fiat 500e 116 $550
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf 116 $550
2014 Fiat 500e 116 $550
2013 Fiat 500e 116 $550
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV 115 $550
2013 Nissan Leaf 115 $550
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD (Long Range) 114 $600
2021 Kandi K27 114 $600
2020 Kia Soul Electric 114 $550
2019 Honda Clarity EV 114 $600
2018 Honda Clarity EV 114 $600
2017 Honda Clarity EV 114 $600
2016 Nissan Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) 114 $600
2015 Nissan Leaf 114 $600
2014 Nissan Leaf 114 $600
2022 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD 113 $600
2021 BMW i3 113 $600
2021 BMW i3s 113 $600
2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD 113 $600
2020 BMW i3 113 $600
2020 BMW i3s 113 $600
2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range Performa... 113 $600
2019 BMW i3 113 $600
2019 BMW i3s 113 $600
2022 Kia Niro Electric 112 $600
2022 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro 112 $600
2021 Kia Niro Electric 112 $600
2020 Kia Niro Electric 112 $600
2019 Fiat 500e 112 $600

Best Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

You might have noticed that the list above includes a lot of electric cars. We can remove those from the list by filtering out the electric cars, to give us the best fuel efficient cars that run on regular fuel.

Car Combined MPG Fuel Cost
2003 Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd) 53 $1,200
2002 Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd) 53 $1,200
2001 Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd) 53 $1,200
2000 Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd) 53 $1,200
2006 Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd) 52 $1,200
2005 Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd) 52 $1,200
2004 Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd) 52 $1,200
2006 Honda Insight (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 47 $1,350
2005 Honda Insight (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 47 $1,350
2004 Honda Insight (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 47 $1,350
2003 Honda Insight (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 47 $1,350
2002 Honda Insight (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 47 $1,350
2001 Honda Insight (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 47 $1,350
2007 Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 46 $1,350
2006 Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 46 $1,350
2005 Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 46 $1,350
2004 Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 46 $1,350
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 42 $1,500
2006 Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 42 $1,500
2005 Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 41 $1,550
2005 Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd) 41 $1,550
2004 Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 41 $1,550
2004 Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd) 41 $1,550
2003 Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 41 $1,550
2003 Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd) 41 $1,550
2003 Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 41 $1,550
2002 Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 41 $1,550
2001 Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 41 $1,550
1984 Nissan Sentra (Manual 4-spd) 41 $1,900
2005 Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 40 $1,550
2005 Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd) 40 $1,550
2004 Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 40 $1,550
2004 Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd) 40 $1,550
2003 Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ra...) 40 $1,550
2003 Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd) 40 $1,550
1986 Nissan Sentra (Manual 4-spd) 40 $1,950
1985 Ford Escort (Manual 5-spd) 40 $1,950
1985 Mercury Lynx (Manual 5-spd) 40 $1,950
1985 Nissan Sentra (Manual 4-spd) 40 $1,950
1984 Nissan Sentra (Manual 4-spd) 40 $1,950
2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (Manual 5-spd) 39 $2,000
2002 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (Manual 5-spd) 39 $2,000
1984 Mercury Lynx (Manual 5-spd) 39 $2,000
2003 Volkswagen Golf (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2003 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2003 Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2002 Volkswagen Golf (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2002 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2002 Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2001 Volkswagen Golf (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2001 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2001 Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2000 Volkswagen Golf (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2000 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
2000 Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
1999 Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
1999 Volkswagen New Golf (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
1999 Volkswagen New Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
1998 Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
1996 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
1996 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
1986 Ford Escort FS (Manual 5-spd) 38 $2,050
1984 Toyota Corolla (Manual 4-spd) 38 $2,050
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit (Manual 4-spd) 38 $2,050
2019 Chevrolet Cruze (Automatic 9-spd) 37 $2,100
2018 Chevrolet Cruze (Automatic 9-spd) 37 $2,100
2018 Chevrolet Cruze (Manual 6-spd) 37 $2,100
2017 Chevrolet Cruze (Automatic 9-spd) 37 $2,100
2017 Chevrolet Cruze (Manual 6-spd) 37 $2,100
1999 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 37 $2,100
1998 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 37 $2,100
1998 Volkswagen Passat (Manual 5-spd) 37 $2,100
1998 Volkswagen Passat Wagon (Manual 5-spd) 37 $2,100
1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (Manual 5-spd) 37 $2,100
1997 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 37 $2,100
1984 Nissan Sentra (Manual 5-spd) 37 $2,100
1984 Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd) 37 $2,100
1984 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 4-spd) 37 $2,100
2019 Jaguar XE (Automatic (S8)) 36 $2,150
2018 BMW 328d (Automatic (S8)) 36 $2,150
2018 Jaguar XE (Automatic (S8)) 36 $2,150
2017 BMW 328d (Automatic (S8)) 36 $2,150
2017 Jaguar XE (Automatic (S8)) 36 $2,150
2015 BMW 328d (Automatic (S8)) 36 $2,150
2014 BMW 328d (Automatic (S8)) 36 $2,150
2004 Volkswagen Golf (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
2004 Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
2004 Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1997 Volkswagen Passat (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1997 Volkswagen Passat Wagon (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1986 Chevrolet Chevette CS (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1985 Chevrolet Chevette (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1985 Pontiac 1000 (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1985 Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1984 Chevrolet Chevette (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1984 Nissan Sentra (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1984 Pontiac 1000 (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1984 Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit (Manual 5-spd) 36 $2,150
2019 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback (Automatic 9-spd) 35 $2,200

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of all time is the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD. It has a combined MPG of 142 and costs $450 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of all time is the 2003 Honda Insight. It has a combined MPG of 53 and costs $1,200 per year to drive it.

Most Fuel Efficient Cars By Year

If you want to continue researching the best fuel efficient cars of all time, you can also look at the list of cars by year.

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