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

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars in 1988

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars of the 1988 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 1988 vehicles, including electric

Every 1988 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 Metro 47 MPG $1,250
2 Honda Civic CRX HF 44 MPG $1,350
3 Chevrolet Sprint 34 MPG $1,750
4 Chevrolet Turbo Sprint 34 MPG $1,750
5 Daihatsu Charade 34 MPG $1,750
6 Ford Festiva 34 MPG $1,750
7 Pontiac Firefly 34 MPG $1,750
8 Pontiac Turbo Firefly 34 MPG $1,750
9 Suzuki Forsa 34 MPG $1,750
10 Suzuki Forsa Turbo 34 MPG $1,750
11 Subaru Justy 33 MPG $1,800
12 Toyota Tercel EZ 33 MPG $1,800
13 Honda Civic CRX 29 MPG $2,050
14 Chevrolet Spectrum 28 MPG $2,150
15 Honda Civic 28 MPG $2,150
16 Isuzu I-Mark 28 MPG $2,150
17 Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 28 MPG $2,900
18 Pontiac Sunburst 28 MPG $2,150
19 Subaru Justy 4WD 28 MPG $2,150
20 Chevrolet Spectrum Turbo 27 MPG $2,200
21 Dodge Colt 27 MPG $2,200
22 Honda Civic Wagon 27 MPG $2,200
23 Mitsubishi Mirage 27 MPG $2,200
24 Plymouth Colt 27 MPG $2,200
25 Chevrolet Nova 26 MPG $2,300
26 Hyundai Excel 26 MPG $2,300
27 Mitsubishi Precis 26 MPG $2,300
28 Pontiac Lemans 26 MPG $2,300
29 Toyota Tercel 26 MPG $2,300
30 Yugo GV 26 MPG $2,300
31 Buick Skyhawk 25 MPG $2,400
32 Buick Skyhawk Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
33 Buick Skylark 25 MPG $2,400
34 Chevrolet Cavalier 25 MPG $2,400
35 Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
36 Dodge Colt Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
37 Mitsubishi Mirage Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
38 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais 25 MPG $2,400
39 Oldsmobile Firenza 25 MPG $2,400
40 Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser 25 MPG $2,400
41 Plymouth Colt Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
42 Pontiac Sunbird Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
43 Subaru XT-DL 25 MPG $2,400
44 Suzuki Samurai Convertible 25 MPG $2,400
45 Suzuki Samurai Hardtop 25 MPG $2,400
46 Toyota Celica Convertible 25 MPG $2,400
47 Toyota Corolla 25 MPG $2,400
48 Toyota Corolla FX 25 MPG $2,400
49 Toyota Corolla Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
50 Acura Integra 24 MPG $2,500
51 Buick Century 24 MPG $2,500
52 Chevrolet Beretta 24 MPG $2,500
53 Chevrolet Celebrity 24 MPG $2,500
54 Chevrolet Celebrity Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
55 Chevrolet Corsica 24 MPG $2,500
56 Dodge Aries 24 MPG $2,500
57 Dodge Omni 24 MPG $2,500
58 Ford Escort 24 MPG $2,500
59 Ford Escort Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
60 Ford EXP 24 MPG $2,500
61 Ford Laser 24 MPG $2,500
62 Honda Accord 24 MPG $2,500
63 Mazda 323 24 MPG $2,500
64 Mercury Tracer 24 MPG $2,500
65 Mercury Tracer Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
66 Nissan Pulsar NX 24 MPG $2,500
67 Nissan Sentra 24 MPG $2,500
68 Nissan Sentra Coupe 24 MPG $2,500
69 Nissan Sentra Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
70 Nissan Sentra Wagon 4WD 24 MPG $2,500
71 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera 24 MPG $2,500
72 Plymouth Horizon 24 MPG $2,500
73 Plymouth Reliant 24 MPG $2,500
74 Pontiac 6000 24 MPG $2,500
75 Pontiac Fiero 24 MPG $2,500
76 Subaru Hatchback 4WD 24 MPG $2,500
77 Subaru XT 24 MPG $2,500
78 Toyota Camry 24 MPG $2,500
79 Toyota Camry Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
80 Toyota MR2 24 MPG $2,500
81 Volkswagen Fox 24 MPG $2,500
82 Volkswagen Fox Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
83 Dacia Coupe 23 MPG $2,600
84 Dacia Sedan 23 MPG $2,600
85 Dacia Station Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
86 Dodge Aries Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
87 Honda Civic Wagon 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
88 Mazda 323 Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
89 Plymouth Reliant Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
90 Red Shift Ltd. Delta 204T 23 MPG $3,000
91 Subaru XT 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
92 Toyota Corolla All-Trac Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
93 Volkswagen Golf 23 MPG $2,600
94 Volkswagen Jetta 23 MPG $2,600
95 Audi 80/90 22 MPG $2,700
96 Bertone X1/9 22 MPG $2,700
97 Buick Century Wagon 22 MPG $2,700
98 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
99 Dodge Dynasty 22 MPG $2,700
100 Dodge Ram 50 Pickup 2WD 22 MPG $2,700

Most efficient 1988 gasoline cars

The same 1988 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 Metro 47 MPG $1,250
2 Honda Civic CRX HF 44 MPG $1,350
3 Chevrolet Sprint 34 MPG $1,750
4 Chevrolet Turbo Sprint 34 MPG $1,750
5 Daihatsu Charade 34 MPG $1,750
6 Ford Festiva 34 MPG $1,750
7 Pontiac Firefly 34 MPG $1,750
8 Pontiac Turbo Firefly 34 MPG $1,750
9 Suzuki Forsa 34 MPG $1,750
10 Suzuki Forsa Turbo 34 MPG $1,750
11 Subaru Justy 33 MPG $1,800
12 Toyota Tercel EZ 33 MPG $1,800
13 Honda Civic CRX 29 MPG $2,050
14 Chevrolet Spectrum 28 MPG $2,150
15 Honda Civic 28 MPG $2,150
16 Isuzu I-Mark 28 MPG $2,150
17 Mercedes-Benz 190D 2.5 28 MPG $2,900
18 Pontiac Sunburst 28 MPG $2,150
19 Subaru Justy 4WD 28 MPG $2,150
20 Chevrolet Spectrum Turbo 27 MPG $2,200
21 Dodge Colt 27 MPG $2,200
22 Honda Civic Wagon 27 MPG $2,200
23 Mitsubishi Mirage 27 MPG $2,200
24 Plymouth Colt 27 MPG $2,200
25 Chevrolet Nova 26 MPG $2,300
26 Hyundai Excel 26 MPG $2,300
27 Mitsubishi Precis 26 MPG $2,300
28 Pontiac Lemans 26 MPG $2,300
29 Toyota Tercel 26 MPG $2,300
30 Yugo GV 26 MPG $2,300
31 Buick Skyhawk 25 MPG $2,400
32 Buick Skyhawk Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
33 Buick Skylark 25 MPG $2,400
34 Chevrolet Cavalier 25 MPG $2,400
35 Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
36 Dodge Colt Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
37 Mitsubishi Mirage Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
38 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais 25 MPG $2,400
39 Oldsmobile Firenza 25 MPG $2,400
40 Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser 25 MPG $2,400
41 Plymouth Colt Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
42 Pontiac Sunbird Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
43 Subaru XT-DL 25 MPG $2,400
44 Suzuki Samurai Convertible 25 MPG $2,400
45 Suzuki Samurai Hardtop 25 MPG $2,400
46 Toyota Celica Convertible 25 MPG $2,400
47 Toyota Corolla 25 MPG $2,400
48 Toyota Corolla FX 25 MPG $2,400
49 Toyota Corolla Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
50 Acura Integra 24 MPG $2,500
51 Buick Century 24 MPG $2,500
52 Chevrolet Beretta 24 MPG $2,500
53 Chevrolet Celebrity 24 MPG $2,500
54 Chevrolet Celebrity Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
55 Chevrolet Corsica 24 MPG $2,500
56 Dodge Aries 24 MPG $2,500
57 Dodge Omni 24 MPG $2,500
58 Ford Escort 24 MPG $2,500
59 Ford Escort Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
60 Ford EXP 24 MPG $2,500
61 Ford Laser 24 MPG $2,500
62 Honda Accord 24 MPG $2,500
63 Mazda 323 24 MPG $2,500
64 Mercury Tracer 24 MPG $2,500
65 Mercury Tracer Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
66 Nissan Pulsar NX 24 MPG $2,500
67 Nissan Sentra 24 MPG $2,500
68 Nissan Sentra Coupe 24 MPG $2,500
69 Nissan Sentra Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
70 Nissan Sentra Wagon 4WD 24 MPG $2,500
71 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera 24 MPG $2,500
72 Plymouth Horizon 24 MPG $2,500
73 Plymouth Reliant 24 MPG $2,500
74 Pontiac 6000 24 MPG $2,500
75 Pontiac Fiero 24 MPG $2,500
76 Subaru Hatchback 4WD 24 MPG $2,500
77 Subaru XT 24 MPG $2,500
78 Toyota Camry 24 MPG $2,500
79 Toyota Camry Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
80 Toyota MR2 24 MPG $2,500
81 Volkswagen Fox 24 MPG $2,500
82 Volkswagen Fox Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
83 Dacia Coupe 23 MPG $2,600
84 Dacia Sedan 23 MPG $2,600
85 Dacia Station Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
86 Dodge Aries Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
87 Honda Civic Wagon 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
88 Mazda 323 Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
89 Plymouth Reliant Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
90 Red Shift Ltd. Delta 204T 23 MPG $3,000
91 Subaru XT 4WD 23 MPG $2,600
92 Toyota Corolla All-Trac Wagon 23 MPG $2,600
93 Volkswagen Golf 23 MPG $2,600
94 Volkswagen Jetta 23 MPG $2,600
95 Audi 80/90 22 MPG $2,700
96 Bertone X1/9 22 MPG $2,700
97 Buick Century Wagon 22 MPG $2,700
98 Dodge Dakota Pickup 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
99 Dodge Dynasty 22 MPG $2,700
100 Dodge Ram 50 Pickup 2WD 22 MPG $2,700

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset.