The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1987

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 1987 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 1987 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 1987 Cars by Miles per Gallon

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Chevrolet Sprint ER Manual 5-spd47$1,350
Honda Civic CRX HF Manual 5-spd46$1,350
Honda Civic CRX HF Manual 5-spd40$1,550
Chevrolet Sprint Manual 5-spd39$1,600
Pontiac Firefly Manual 5-spd39$1,600
Suzuki Forsa Manual 5-spd39$1,600
Ford Escort Manual 5-spd35$2,200
Mercury Lynx Manual 5-spd35$2,200
Chevrolet Sprint Automatic 3-spd34$1,850
Chevrolet Turbo Sprint Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Honda Civic Manual 4-spd34$1,850
Pontiac Firefly Automatic 3-spd34$1,850
Pontiac Turbo Firefly Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Subaru Justy Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Suzuki Forsa Automatic 3-spd34$1,850
Suzuki Forsa Turbo Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Chevrolet Spectrum Manual 5-spd33$1,900
Isuzu I-Mark Manual 5-spd33$1,900
Pontiac Sunburst Manual 5-spd33$1,900
Toyota Tercel Manual 4-spd33$1,900
Volkswagen Golf Manual 5-spd33$2,350
Isuzu Pickup 2WD Manual 4-spd32$2,400
Renault Alliance Manual 4-spd32$1,950
Dodge Colt Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Ford Escort Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Ford Escort Wagon Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Isuzu I-Mark Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Mercury Lynx Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Mercury Lynx Wagon Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Mitsubishi Mirage Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Nissan Sentra Honeybee Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Plymouth Colt Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Renault Alliance Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Dodge Colt Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Mitsubishi Mirage Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Plymouth Colt Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Renault Alliance Manual 4-spd30$2,100
Toyota Tercel Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic CRX Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Isuzu Pickup 2WD Manual 5-spd29$2,650
Subaru Hatchback Manual 4-spd29$2,150
Toyota Corolla Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Chevrolet Nova Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Chevrolet Spectrum Automatic 3-spd28$2,250
Ford Escort Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Ford Escort Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Ford EXP Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Honda Civic Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Isuzu I-Mark Automatic 3-spd28$2,250
Isuzu Pickup 2WD Manual 5-spd28$2,750
Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Automatic 4-spd28$2,750
Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Manual 5-spd28$2,750
Mercury Lynx Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Mercury Lynx Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Pontiac Sunburst Automatic 3-spd28$2,250
Renault Alliance Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Toyota Tercel Wagon 2WD Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Chevrolet Chevette CS Manual 4-spd27$2,300
Chevrolet Chevette CS Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Chevrolet Spectrum Turbo Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Dodge Colt Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Honda Civic CRX Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Honda Civic CRX Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Hyundai Excel Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Isuzu I-Mark Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Mazda 323 Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Mazda 323 Wagon Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Mitsubishi Mirage Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Mitsubishi Precis Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Nissan Sentra Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Nissan Sentra Wagon Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Plymouth Colt Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Pontiac 1000 Manual 4-spd27$2,300
Pontiac 1000 Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Renault Alliance Convertible Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Toyota Corolla Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Toyota Corolla Sport Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Toyota Tercel Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Buick Skyhawk Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Buick Skyhawk Wagon Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Nova Automatic 3-spd26$2,400
Dodge Charger Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD Manual 5-spd26$2,950
Honda Accord Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Honda Civic Wagon Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Hyundai Excel Manual 4-spd26$2,400
Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Turbo Automatic 4-spd26$2,950
Mitsubishi Precis Manual 4-spd26$2,400
Nissan Sentra Coupe Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Oldsmobile Firenza Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Plymouth Turismo Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Pontiac Sunbird Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Pontiac Sunbird Convertible Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Pontiac Sunbird Wagon Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Subaru Hatchback Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Toyota Camry Manual 5-spd26$2,400

Best 1987 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 1987 regular fuel cars by combined miles per gallon (MPG).

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Chevrolet Sprint ER (Manual 5-spd)47$1,350
Honda Civic CRX HF (Manual 5-spd)46$1,350
Honda Civic CRX HF (Manual 5-spd)40$1,550
Chevrolet Sprint (Manual 5-spd)39$1,600
Pontiac Firefly (Manual 5-spd)39$1,600
Suzuki Forsa (Manual 5-spd)39$1,600
Ford Escort (Manual 5-spd)35$2,200
Mercury Lynx (Manual 5-spd)35$2,200
Chevrolet Sprint (Automatic 3-spd)34$1,850
Chevrolet Turbo Sprint (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Honda Civic (Manual 4-spd)34$1,850
Pontiac Firefly (Automatic 3-spd)34$1,850
Pontiac Turbo Firefly (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Subaru Justy (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Suzuki Forsa (Automatic 3-spd)34$1,850
Suzuki Forsa Turbo (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Chevrolet Spectrum (Manual 5-spd)33$1,900
Isuzu I-Mark (Manual 5-spd)33$1,900
Pontiac Sunburst (Manual 5-spd)33$1,900
Toyota Tercel (Manual 4-spd)33$1,900
Volkswagen Golf (Manual 5-spd)33$2,350
Isuzu Pickup 2WD (Manual 4-spd)32$2,400
Renault Alliance (Manual 4-spd)32$1,950
Dodge Colt (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Ford Escort (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Ford Escort Wagon (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Isuzu I-Mark (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Mercury Lynx (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Mercury Lynx Wagon (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Mitsubishi Mirage (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Nissan Sentra Honeybee (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Plymouth Colt (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Renault Alliance (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Dodge Colt (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Mitsubishi Mirage (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Plymouth Colt (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Renault Alliance (Manual 4-spd)30$2,100
Toyota Tercel (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic CRX (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Isuzu Pickup 2WD (Manual 5-spd)29$2,650
Subaru Hatchback (Manual 4-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Chevrolet Nova (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Chevrolet Spectrum (Automatic 3-spd)28$2,250
Ford Escort (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Ford Escort Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Ford EXP (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Honda Civic Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Isuzu I-Mark (Automatic 3-spd)28$2,250
Isuzu Pickup 2WD (Manual 5-spd)28$2,750
Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,750
Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 (Manual 5-spd)28$2,750
Mercury Lynx (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Mercury Lynx Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Pontiac Sunburst (Automatic 3-spd)28$2,250
Renault Alliance (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Tercel Wagon 2WD (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Chevrolet Chevette CS (Manual 4-spd)27$2,300
Chevrolet Chevette CS (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Chevrolet Spectrum Turbo (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Dodge Colt (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Honda Civic CRX (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Honda Civic CRX (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Hyundai Excel (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Isuzu I-Mark (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Mazda 323 (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Mazda 323 Wagon (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Mitsubishi Mirage (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Mitsubishi Precis (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Nissan Sentra (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Nissan Sentra Wagon (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Plymouth Colt (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac 1000 (Manual 4-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac 1000 (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Renault Alliance Convertible (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Corolla Sport (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Tercel (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Buick Skyhawk (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Buick Skyhawk Wagon (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Nova (Automatic 3-spd)26$2,400
Dodge Charger (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Ford Ranger Pickup 2WD (Manual 5-spd)26$2,950
Honda Accord (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Honda Civic Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Hyundai Excel (Manual 4-spd)26$2,400
Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Turbo (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,950
Mitsubishi Precis (Manual 4-spd)26$2,400
Nissan Sentra Coupe (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Oldsmobile Firenza (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Plymouth Turismo (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Pontiac Sunbird (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Pontiac Sunbird Convertible (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Pontiac Sunbird Wagon (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Subaru Hatchback (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Toyota Camry (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 1987 is the Chevrolet Sprint ER. It has a combined MPG of 47 and costs $1,350 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of 1987 is the Chevrolet Sprint ER. It has a combined MPG of 47 and costs $1,350 per year to drive it.

Most Fuel Efficient Cars By Year

Link To or Reference This Page

If you use this page in your research, please reference MPG Buddy as the source.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1987." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1987.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1987." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1987. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1987. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1987.