The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1998

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 1998 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 1998 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 1998 Cars by Miles per Gallon

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Chevrolet S10 Electric Automatic (A1)55$1,200
Honda EV Plus Automatic (A1)48$1,400
Chevrolet Metro Manual 5-spd40$1,550
Volkswagen New Beetle Manual 5-spd38$2,050
Volkswagen Jetta Manual 5-spd37$2,100
Volkswagen Passat Manual 5-spd37$2,100
Volkswagen Passat Wagon Manual 5-spd37$2,100
Chevrolet Metro Manual 5-spd35$1,800
Suzuki Swift Manual 5-spd35$1,800
Honda Civic HX Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Volkswagen New Beetle Automatic 4-spd33$2,350
Honda Civic HX Automatic (variable gear ratios)31$2,000
Mitsubishi Mirage Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Volkswagen Passat Automatic 4-spd31$2,500
Volkswagen Passat Wagon Automatic 4-spd31$2,500
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Toyota Corolla Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Toyota Tercel Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Chevrolet Prizm Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Dodge Neon Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Mazda Protege Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Nissan Sentra/200SX Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Plymouth Neon Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Suzuki Esteem Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Toyota Tercel Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Chevrolet Metro Automatic 3-spd28$2,250
Chevrolet Prizm Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Chevrolet S10 Electric Automatic (A1)28$2,350
Ford Escort Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Ford Escort Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Hyundai Accent Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Mercury Tracer Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Mercury Tracer Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Mitsubishi Mirage Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Mitsubishi Mirage Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Saturn SC Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Saturn SL Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Suzuki Esteem Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Suzuki Swift Automatic 3-spd28$2,250
Toyota Corolla Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Toyota Paseo Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Dodge Stratus Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Honda Civic CNG Automatic 4-spd27$1,300
Nissan Sentra/200SX Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Plymouth Breeze Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Saturn SC Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Saturn SL Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Saturn SW Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Toyota Paseo Convertible Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Toyota Tercel Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Chevrolet Prizm Automatic 3-spd26$2,400
Daewoo Lanos Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Daewoo Lanos Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Hyundai Accent Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Mazda 626 Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Mercedes-Benz E300 Turbodiesel Automatic 5-spd26$2,950
Saturn SC Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Saturn SL Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Saturn SW Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Saturn SW Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Wagon Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Toyota Corolla Automatic 3-spd26$2,400
Toyota Paseo Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Toyota Paseo Convertible Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Daewoo Lanos Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Daewoo Nubira Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Daewoo Nubira Wagon Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Contour Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Ford Escort Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Escort Wagon Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Mazda Protege Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Mazda Protege Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Mercury Mystique Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Mercury Tracer Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Mercury Tracer Wagon Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Mitsubishi Mirage Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Saturn SC Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Saturn SL Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Saturn SW Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Acura 2.3CL/3.0CL Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Acura Integra Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Acura Integra Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Acura Integra Manual 5-spd24$3,100
BMW 318i/318is Manual 5-spd24$2,600
BMW 318ti Manual 5-spd24$2,600
BMW Z3 Roadster Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Chevrolet Cavalier Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Chevrolet Malibu Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Daewoo Lanos Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Daewoo Nubira Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Daewoo Nubira Wagon Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Dodge Neon Automatic 3-spd24$2,600

Best 1998 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 1998 regular fuel cars by combined miles per gallon (MPG).

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Chevrolet Metro (Manual 5-spd)40$1,550
Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd)38$2,050
Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd)37$2,100
Volkswagen Passat (Manual 5-spd)37$2,100
Volkswagen Passat Wagon (Manual 5-spd)37$2,100
Chevrolet Metro (Manual 5-spd)35$1,800
Suzuki Swift (Manual 5-spd)35$1,800
Honda Civic HX (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Volkswagen New Beetle (Automatic 4-spd)33$2,350
Honda Civic HX (Automatic (variable gear ratios))31$2,000
Mitsubishi Mirage (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Volkswagen Passat (Automatic 4-spd)31$2,500
Volkswagen Passat Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)31$2,500
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Toyota Tercel (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Chevrolet Prizm (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Dodge Neon (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Mazda Protege (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Nissan Sentra/200SX (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Plymouth Neon (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Suzuki Esteem (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Tercel (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Chevrolet Metro (Automatic 3-spd)28$2,250
Chevrolet Prizm (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Ford Escort (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Ford Escort Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Hyundai Accent (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Mercury Tracer (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Mercury Tracer Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Mitsubishi Mirage (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Mitsubishi Mirage (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Saturn SC (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Saturn SL (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Suzuki Esteem Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Suzuki Swift (Automatic 3-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Paseo (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Dodge Stratus (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Honda Civic CNG (Automatic 4-spd)27$1,300
Nissan Sentra/200SX (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Plymouth Breeze (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Saturn SC (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Saturn SL (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Saturn SW (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Paseo Convertible (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Tercel (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Chevrolet Prizm (Automatic 3-spd)26$2,400
Daewoo Lanos (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Daewoo Lanos (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Hyundai Accent (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Mazda 626 (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Mercedes-Benz E300 Turbodiesel (Automatic 5-spd)26$2,950
Saturn SC (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Saturn SL (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Saturn SW (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Saturn SW (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 3-spd)26$2,400
Toyota Paseo (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Toyota Paseo Convertible (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Daewoo Lanos (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Daewoo Nubira (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Daewoo Nubira Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Contour (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Ford Escort (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Escort Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Mazda Protege (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Mazda Protege (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Mercury Mystique (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Mercury Tracer (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Mercury Tracer Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Mitsubishi Mirage (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Saturn SC (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Saturn SL (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Saturn SW (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Acura 2.3CL/3.0CL (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Acura Integra (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Acura Integra (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Acura Integra (Manual 5-spd)24$3,100
BMW 318i/318is (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
BMW 318ti (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
BMW Z3 Roadster (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Chevrolet Cavalier (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Chevrolet Malibu (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Daewoo Lanos (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Daewoo Nubira (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Daewoo Nubira Wagon (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Dodge Neon (Automatic 3-spd)24$2,600
Eagle Talon (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Ford Contour (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Honda Accord (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 1998 is the Chevrolet S10 Electric. It has a combined MPG of 55 and costs $1,200 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of 1998 is the Chevrolet Metro. It has a combined MPG of 40 and costs $1,550 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 1998." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1998.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1998." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1998. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 1998. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-1998.