The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1988

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 1988 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 1988 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 1988 Cars by Miles per Gallon

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Chevrolet Sprint Metro Manual 5-spd47$1,350
Honda Civic CRX HF Manual 5-spd44$1,400
Honda Civic CRX HF Manual 5-spd41$1,550
Chevrolet Sprint Manual 5-spd39$1,600
Pontiac Firefly Manual 5-spd39$1,600
Suzuki Forsa Manual 5-spd39$1,600
Ford Festiva Manual 5-spd35$1,800
Chevrolet Sprint Automatic 3-spd34$1,850
Chevrolet Turbo Sprint Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Daihatsu Charade Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Ford Festiva Manual 4-spd34$1,850
Pontiac Firefly Automatic 3-spd34$1,850
Pontiac Turbo Firefly 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
Subaru Justy Manual 5-spd33$1,900
Toyota Tercel EZ Manual 4-spd33$1,900
Ford Escort Manual 4-spd32$1,950
Ford Escort Wagon Manual 4-spd32$1,950
Honda Civic Manual 4-spd32$1,950
Honda Civic Manual 4-spd32$1,950
Honda Civic CRX Manual 5-spd32$1,950
Dodge Colt Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Isuzu I-Mark Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Mitsubishi Mirage Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Plymouth Colt Manual 4-spd31$2,000
Dodge Colt Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Mitsubishi Mirage Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Plymouth Colt Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Pontiac Lemans Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Chevrolet Nova Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Honda Civic CRX Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Honda Civic Wagon Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Pontiac Lemans Manual 4-spd29$2,150
Toyota Corolla FX Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Toyota Tercel Manual 4-spd29$2,150
Toyota Tercel Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Chevrolet Spectrum Automatic 3-spd28$2,250
Dodge Colt Wagon Manual 5-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 Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Honda Civic CRX Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Hyundai Excel Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Isuzu I-Mark Automatic 3-spd28$2,250
Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 Automatic 4-spd28$2,750
Mitsubishi Mirage Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Mitsubishi Precis Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Nissan Sentra Manual 4-spd28$2,250
Nissan Sentra Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Nissan Sentra Coupe Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Plymouth Colt Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Pontiac Sunburst Automatic 3-spd28$2,250
Subaru Justy 4WD Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Toyota Corolla Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Toyota Corolla Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Buick Skyhawk Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Buick Skyhawk Wagon Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Chevrolet Spectrum Turbo Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Dodge Colt Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Honda Civic Wagon Automatic 4-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
Mercury Tracer Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Mercury Tracer Wagon Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Mitsubishi Mirage Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Nissan Sentra Wagon Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Oldsmobile Firenza Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Plymouth Colt Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Pontiac Sunbird Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Pontiac Sunbird Wagon Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Buick Skyhawk Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Buick Skyhawk Wagon Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Nova Automatic 3-spd26$2,400
Ford EXP Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Honda Accord Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Honda Civic Wagon Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Hyundai Excel Automatic 3-spd26$2,400
Hyundai Excel Manual 4-spd26$2,400
Mitsubishi Precis Automatic 3-spd26$2,400
Mitsubishi Precis Manual 4-spd26$2,400
Nissan Pulsar NX Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Oldsmobile Firenza Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Pontiac Grand Am Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Pontiac Lemans Automatic 3-spd26$2,400
Toyota Corolla Automatic 4-spd26$2,400

Best 1988 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 1988 regular fuel cars by combined miles per gallon (MPG).

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Chevrolet Sprint Metro (Manual 5-spd)47$1,350
Honda Civic CRX HF (Manual 5-spd)44$1,400
Honda Civic CRX HF (Manual 5-spd)41$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 Festiva (Manual 5-spd)35$1,800
Chevrolet Sprint (Automatic 3-spd)34$1,850
Chevrolet Turbo Sprint (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Daihatsu Charade (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Ford Festiva (Manual 4-spd)34$1,850
Pontiac Firefly (Automatic 3-spd)34$1,850
Pontiac Turbo Firefly (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
Subaru Justy (Manual 5-spd)33$1,900
Toyota Tercel EZ (Manual 4-spd)33$1,900
Ford Escort (Manual 4-spd)32$1,950
Ford Escort Wagon (Manual 4-spd)32$1,950
Honda Civic (Manual 4-spd)32$1,950
Honda Civic (Manual 4-spd)32$1,950
Honda Civic CRX (Manual 5-spd)32$1,950
Dodge Colt (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Isuzu I-Mark (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Mitsubishi Mirage (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Plymouth Colt (Manual 4-spd)31$2,000
Dodge Colt (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Mitsubishi Mirage (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Plymouth Colt (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Pontiac Lemans (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Chevrolet Nova (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Honda Civic CRX (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Honda Civic Wagon (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Pontiac Lemans (Manual 4-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Corolla FX (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Tercel (Manual 4-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Tercel (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Chevrolet Spectrum (Automatic 3-spd)28$2,250
Dodge Colt Wagon (Manual 5-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 (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Honda Civic CRX (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Hyundai Excel (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Isuzu I-Mark (Automatic 3-spd)28$2,250
Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,750
Mitsubishi Mirage Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Mitsubishi Precis (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Nissan Sentra (Manual 4-spd)28$2,250
Nissan Sentra (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Nissan Sentra Coupe (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Plymouth Colt Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Pontiac Sunburst (Automatic 3-spd)28$2,250
Subaru Justy 4WD (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Corolla Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Buick Skyhawk (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Buick Skyhawk Wagon (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 (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Honda Civic Wagon (Automatic 4-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
Mercury Tracer (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Mercury Tracer Wagon (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Mitsubishi Mirage (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Nissan Sentra Wagon (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Oldsmobile Firenza (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Plymouth Colt (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac Sunbird (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac Sunbird Wagon (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Buick Skyhawk (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Buick Skyhawk Wagon (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Nova (Automatic 3-spd)26$2,400
Ford EXP (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Honda Accord (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Honda Civic Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Hyundai Excel (Automatic 3-spd)26$2,400
Hyundai Excel (Manual 4-spd)26$2,400
Mitsubishi Precis (Automatic 3-spd)26$2,400
Mitsubishi Precis (Manual 4-spd)26$2,400
Nissan Pulsar NX (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Oldsmobile Firenza (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Pontiac Grand Am (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Pontiac Lemans (Automatic 3-spd)26$2,400
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 1988 is the Chevrolet Sprint Metro. It has a combined MPG of 47 and costs $1,350 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of 1988 is the Chevrolet Sprint Metro. 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 1988." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1988.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1988." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1988. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1988. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1988.