MPG Buddy Fuel economy and gas mileage for every car, 1984 to today

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars in 1987

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars of the 1987 model year, ranked by combined MPG and MPGe. The data comes straight from the EPA fuel economy dataset and includes both gasoline cars and electric vehicles.

Combined MPG (or MPGe for electric vehicles) is the EPA's headline efficiency figure. It blends a city test cycle and a highway test cycle, weighted 55% city and 45% highway, into a single number that lets you compare cars across the entire dataset.

Electric vehicles dominate the very top of the ranking because moving electrons through a motor is several times more efficient than burning gasoline. If you are shopping for a regular gasoline car, scroll down to the second table, which excludes battery-electric vehicles.

All 1987 vehicles, including electric

Every 1987 model year vehicle the EPA rated, sorted by combined MPG from highest to lowest. Battery electric vehicles use MPGe, which converts their electricity use into a gasoline-equivalent figure so the ranking remains on a single scale.

# Make and model Combined MPG(e) Annual fuel cost
1 Chevrolet Sprint ER 47 MPG $1,250
2 Honda Civic CRX HF 46 MPG $1,300
3 Chevrolet Sprint 34 MPG $1,750
4 Chevrolet Turbo Sprint 34 MPG $1,750
5 Honda Civic 34 MPG $1,750
6 Pontiac Firefly 34 MPG $1,750
7 Pontiac Turbo Firefly 34 MPG $1,750
8 Subaru Justy 34 MPG $1,750
9 Suzuki Forsa 34 MPG $1,750
10 Suzuki Forsa Turbo 34 MPG $1,750
11 Volkswagen Golf 33 MPG $2,450
12 Subaru Hatchback 29 MPG $2,050
13 Chevrolet Spectrum 28 MPG $2,150
14 Isuzu I-Mark 28 MPG $2,150
15 Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 28 MPG $2,900
16 Pontiac Sunburst 28 MPG $2,150
17 Chevrolet Spectrum Turbo 27 MPG $2,200
18 Dodge Colt 27 MPG $2,200
19 Honda Civic CRX 27 MPG $2,200
20 Mitsubishi Mirage 27 MPG $2,200
21 Plymouth Colt 27 MPG $2,200
22 Toyota Tercel 27 MPG $2,200
23 Chevrolet Nova 26 MPG $2,300
24 Honda Civic Wagon 26 MPG $2,300
25 Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Turbo 26 MPG $3,100
26 Toyota Celica Convertible 26 MPG $2,300
27 Toyota Corolla 26 MPG $2,300
28 Toyota Corolla Sport 26 MPG $2,300
29 Toyota Tercel Wagon 2WD 26 MPG $2,300
30 Yugo GV/GVX 26 MPG $2,300
31 Ford Escort 25 MPG $2,400
32 Ford Escort Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
33 Ford EXP 25 MPG $2,400
34 Isuzu Pickup 2WD 25 MPG $2,400
35 Jeep Cherokee/Wagoneer 4WD 25 MPG $3,250
36 Jeep Comanche 2WD 25 MPG $3,250
37 Mercury Lynx 25 MPG $2,400
38 Mercury Lynx Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
39 Nissan Sentra Coupe 25 MPG $2,400
40 Nissan Sentra Honeybee 25 MPG $2,400
41 Pontiac Sunbird Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
42 Renault Alliance 25 MPG $2,400
43 Renault GTA 25 MPG $2,400
44 Subaru XT-DL 25 MPG $2,400
45 Suzuki Samurai Convertible 25 MPG $2,400
46 Suzuki Samurai Hardtop 25 MPG $2,400
47 Toyota MR2 25 MPG $2,400
48 Volkswagen Fox 25 MPG $2,400
49 Volkswagen Fox GL Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
50 Acura Integra 24 MPG $2,500
51 Buick Skyhawk 24 MPG $2,500
52 Buick Skyhawk Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
53 Chevrolet Beretta 24 MPG $2,500
54 Chevrolet Cavalier 24 MPG $2,500
55 Chevrolet Cavalier Convertible 24 MPG $2,500
56 Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
57 Chevrolet Chevette CS 24 MPG $2,500
58 Chevrolet Corsica 24 MPG $2,500
59 Ford Laser 24 MPG $2,500
60 Ford Ranger Pickup 4WD 24 MPG $3,400
61 Honda Civic Wagon 4WD 24 MPG $2,500
62 Hyundai Excel 24 MPG $2,500
63 Mazda 323 24 MPG $2,500
64 Mazda 323 Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
65 Mercedes-Benz 300D 24 MPG $3,400
66 Mitsubishi Precis 24 MPG $2,500
67 Nissan Sentra 24 MPG $2,500
68 Nissan Sentra Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
69 Oldsmobile Firenza 24 MPG $2,500
70 Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser 24 MPG $2,500
71 Pontiac 1000 24 MPG $2,500
72 Pontiac Fiero 24 MPG $2,500
73 Toyota Camry 24 MPG $2,500
74 Toyota Camry Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
75 Toyota Corolla FX 24 MPG $2,500
76 Buick Century 23 MPG $2,600
77 Buick Somerset/Skylark 23 MPG $2,600
78 Cadillac Cimarron 23 MPG $2,600
79 Chevrolet Celebrity 23 MPG $2,600
80 Chevrolet Celebrity Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
81 Honda Accord 23 MPG $2,600
82 Honda Prelude 23 MPG $2,600
83 Isuzu Pickup 4WD 23 MPG $3,500
84 Nissan Pulsar NX 23 MPG $2,600
85 Nissan Sentra Wagon 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
86 Oldsmobile Calais 23 MPG $2,600
87 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera 23 MPG $2,600
88 Pontiac 6000 23 MPG $2,600
89 Red Shift Ltd. Delta 204T 23 MPG $3,000
90 Renault Alliance Convertible 23 MPG $2,600
91 Renault GTA Convertible 23 MPG $2,600
92 Subaru Brat 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
93 Subaru Hatchback 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
94 Subaru XT 23 MPG $2,600
95 Volkswagen GTI 16v 23 MPG $2,600
96 Volkswagen Jetta GLI 16v 23 MPG $2,600
97 Volkswagen Scirocco 16v 23 MPG $2,600
98 Audi 4000 22 MPG $2,700
99 Bertone X1/9 22 MPG $2,700
100 Dodge Aries 22 MPG $2,700

Most efficient 1987 gasoline cars

The same 1987 ranking with battery electric vehicles removed. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids appear because they run primarily on gasoline. This is the table to use when shopping for a conventional car, since comparing a pure EV to a regular gas car on a per-gallon basis tends to mislead more than it informs.

# Make and model Combined MPG Annual fuel cost
1 Chevrolet Sprint ER 47 MPG $1,250
2 Honda Civic CRX HF 46 MPG $1,300
3 Chevrolet Sprint 34 MPG $1,750
4 Chevrolet Turbo Sprint 34 MPG $1,750
5 Honda Civic 34 MPG $1,750
6 Pontiac Firefly 34 MPG $1,750
7 Pontiac Turbo Firefly 34 MPG $1,750
8 Subaru Justy 34 MPG $1,750
9 Suzuki Forsa 34 MPG $1,750
10 Suzuki Forsa Turbo 34 MPG $1,750
11 Volkswagen Golf 33 MPG $2,450
12 Subaru Hatchback 29 MPG $2,050
13 Chevrolet Spectrum 28 MPG $2,150
14 Isuzu I-Mark 28 MPG $2,150
15 Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 28 MPG $2,900
16 Pontiac Sunburst 28 MPG $2,150
17 Chevrolet Spectrum Turbo 27 MPG $2,200
18 Dodge Colt 27 MPG $2,200
19 Honda Civic CRX 27 MPG $2,200
20 Mitsubishi Mirage 27 MPG $2,200
21 Plymouth Colt 27 MPG $2,200
22 Toyota Tercel 27 MPG $2,200
23 Chevrolet Nova 26 MPG $2,300
24 Honda Civic Wagon 26 MPG $2,300
25 Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Turbo 26 MPG $3,100
26 Toyota Celica Convertible 26 MPG $2,300
27 Toyota Corolla 26 MPG $2,300
28 Toyota Corolla Sport 26 MPG $2,300
29 Toyota Tercel Wagon 2WD 26 MPG $2,300
30 Yugo GV/GVX 26 MPG $2,300
31 Ford Escort 25 MPG $2,400
32 Ford Escort Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
33 Ford EXP 25 MPG $2,400
34 Isuzu Pickup 2WD 25 MPG $2,400
35 Jeep Cherokee/Wagoneer 4WD 25 MPG $3,250
36 Jeep Comanche 2WD 25 MPG $3,250
37 Mercury Lynx 25 MPG $2,400
38 Mercury Lynx Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
39 Nissan Sentra Coupe 25 MPG $2,400
40 Nissan Sentra Honeybee 25 MPG $2,400
41 Pontiac Sunbird Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
42 Renault Alliance 25 MPG $2,400
43 Renault GTA 25 MPG $2,400
44 Subaru XT-DL 25 MPG $2,400
45 Suzuki Samurai Convertible 25 MPG $2,400
46 Suzuki Samurai Hardtop 25 MPG $2,400
47 Toyota MR2 25 MPG $2,400
48 Volkswagen Fox 25 MPG $2,400
49 Volkswagen Fox GL Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
50 Acura Integra 24 MPG $2,500
51 Buick Skyhawk 24 MPG $2,500
52 Buick Skyhawk Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
53 Chevrolet Beretta 24 MPG $2,500
54 Chevrolet Cavalier 24 MPG $2,500
55 Chevrolet Cavalier Convertible 24 MPG $2,500
56 Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
57 Chevrolet Chevette CS 24 MPG $2,500
58 Chevrolet Corsica 24 MPG $2,500
59 Ford Laser 24 MPG $2,500
60 Ford Ranger Pickup 4WD 24 MPG $3,400
61 Honda Civic Wagon 4WD 24 MPG $2,500
62 Hyundai Excel 24 MPG $2,500
63 Mazda 323 24 MPG $2,500
64 Mazda 323 Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
65 Mercedes-Benz 300D 24 MPG $3,400
66 Mitsubishi Precis 24 MPG $2,500
67 Nissan Sentra 24 MPG $2,500
68 Nissan Sentra Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
69 Oldsmobile Firenza 24 MPG $2,500
70 Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser 24 MPG $2,500
71 Pontiac 1000 24 MPG $2,500
72 Pontiac Fiero 24 MPG $2,500
73 Toyota Camry 24 MPG $2,500
74 Toyota Camry Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
75 Toyota Corolla FX 24 MPG $2,500
76 Buick Century 23 MPG $2,600
77 Buick Somerset/Skylark 23 MPG $2,600
78 Cadillac Cimarron 23 MPG $2,600
79 Chevrolet Celebrity 23 MPG $2,600
80 Chevrolet Celebrity Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
81 Honda Accord 23 MPG $2,600
82 Honda Prelude 23 MPG $2,600
83 Isuzu Pickup 4WD 23 MPG $3,500
84 Nissan Pulsar NX 23 MPG $2,600
85 Nissan Sentra Wagon 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
86 Oldsmobile Calais 23 MPG $2,600
87 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera 23 MPG $2,600
88 Pontiac 6000 23 MPG $2,600
89 Red Shift Ltd. Delta 204T 23 MPG $3,000
90 Renault Alliance Convertible 23 MPG $2,600
91 Renault GTA Convertible 23 MPG $2,600
92 Subaru Brat 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
93 Subaru Hatchback 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
94 Subaru XT 23 MPG $2,600
95 Volkswagen GTI 16v 23 MPG $2,600
96 Volkswagen Jetta GLI 16v 23 MPG $2,600
97 Volkswagen Scirocco 16v 23 MPG $2,600
98 Audi 4000 22 MPG $2,700
99 Bertone X1/9 22 MPG $2,700
100 Dodge Aries 22 MPG $2,700

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset.