The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2002

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 2002 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 2002 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 2002 Cars by Miles per Gallon

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Toyota RAV4 EV78$850
Honda Insight Manual 5-spd53$1,200
Honda Insight Automatic (variable gear ratios)47$1,350
Toyota Prius Automatic (variable gear ratios)41$1,550
Ford Explorer USPS Electric39$1,700
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon Manual 5-spd39$2,000
Volkswagen Golf Manual 5-spd38$2,050
Volkswagen Jetta Manual 5-spd38$2,050
Volkswagen New Beetle Manual 5-spd38$2,050
Honda Civic HX Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Volkswagen Golf Automatic 4-spd33$2,350
Volkswagen Jetta Automatic 4-spd33$2,350
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon Automatic 4-spd33$2,350
Volkswagen New Beetle Automatic 4-spd33$2,350
Honda Civic HX Automatic (variable gear ratios)32$1,950
Toyota Echo Manual 5-spd32$1,950
Chevrolet Prizm Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Toyota Corolla Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Chevrolet Prizm Automatic 4-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Mitsubishi Mirage Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Toyota Corolla Automatic 4-spd30$2,100
Toyota Echo Automatic 4-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Saturn SC Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Saturn SL Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Ford Focus Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Ford Focus Station Wagon Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Honda Civic CNG Automatic (variable gear ratios)28$1,250
Hyundai Accent/Brio Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Mitsubishi Mirage Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Toyota Celica Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Chevrolet Prizm Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Dodge Neon Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Hyundai Accent/Brio Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Mitsubishi Mirage Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Nissan Sentra Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Saturn SC Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Saturn SL Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Saturn SL Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Suzuki Esteem Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Toyota Celica Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Toyota Corolla Automatic 3-spd27$2,300
Acura RSX Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Daewoo Lanos Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Ford Escort Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Ford Escort ZX2 Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Kia Rio Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Mitsubishi Lancer Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Nissan Sentra Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Saturn SC Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Saturn SC Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Saturn SL Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Aerio Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Wagon Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Wagon Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Daewoo Lanos Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Daewoo Lanos Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Honda Accord Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Accent/Brio Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Accent/Brio Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Mazda 626 Manual 5-spd25$2,500
MINI Cooper Automatic (variable gear ratios)25$2,950
Mitsubishi Lancer Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Mitsubishi Mirage Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Oldsmobile Alero Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Grand Am Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Saturn L100/200 Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio SX Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio SX Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Suzuki Esteem Wagon Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Acura RSX Manual 6-spd24$3,100
Acura RSX Automatic (S5)24$2,600
Chevrolet Cavalier Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Chevrolet Cavalier Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Chevrolet Cavalier Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Dodge Neon Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Honda Accord Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Infiniti G20 Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Kia Rio Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Kia Spectra Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Mazda Protege/Protege 5 Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Mazda Protege/Protege 5 Manual 5-spd24$2,600

Best 2002 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 2002 regular fuel cars by combined miles per gallon (MPG).

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd)53$1,200
Honda Insight (Automatic (variable gear ratios))47$1,350
Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ratios))41$1,550
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (Manual 5-spd)39$2,000
Volkswagen Golf (Manual 5-spd)38$2,050
Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd)38$2,050
Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd)38$2,050
Honda Civic HX (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Volkswagen Golf (Automatic 4-spd)33$2,350
Volkswagen Jetta (Automatic 4-spd)33$2,350
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)33$2,350
Volkswagen New Beetle (Automatic 4-spd)33$2,350
Honda Civic HX (Automatic (variable gear ratios))32$1,950
Toyota Echo (Manual 5-spd)32$1,950
Chevrolet Prizm (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Chevrolet Prizm (Automatic 4-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Mitsubishi Mirage (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 4-spd)30$2,100
Toyota Echo (Automatic 4-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Saturn SC (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Saturn SL (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Ford Focus (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Honda Civic CNG (Automatic (variable gear ratios))28$1,250
Hyundai Accent/Brio (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Mitsubishi Mirage (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Celica (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Chevrolet Prizm (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Dodge Neon (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Hyundai Accent/Brio (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Mitsubishi Mirage (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Nissan Sentra (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Saturn SC (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Saturn SL (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Saturn SL (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Suzuki Esteem (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Celica (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 3-spd)27$2,300
Acura RSX (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Daewoo Lanos (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Ford Escort (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Ford Escort ZX2 (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Kia Rio (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Mitsubishi Lancer (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Nissan Sentra (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Saturn SC (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Saturn SC (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Saturn SL (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Aerio (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Esteem Wagon (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Daewoo Lanos (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Daewoo Lanos (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Honda Accord (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Accent/Brio (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Accent/Brio (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Mazda 626 (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
MINI Cooper (Automatic (variable gear ratios))25$2,950
Mitsubishi Lancer (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Mitsubishi Mirage (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Oldsmobile Alero (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Grand Am (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Saturn L100/200 (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio SX (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio SX (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki Esteem Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Acura RSX (Manual 6-spd)24$3,100
Acura RSX (Automatic (S5))24$2,600
Chevrolet Cavalier (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Chevrolet Cavalier (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Chevrolet Cavalier (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Dodge Neon (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Honda Accord (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Infiniti G20 (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Kia Rio (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Kia Spectra (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Mazda Protege/Protege 5 (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Mazda Protege/Protege 5 (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Mazda Protege/Protege 5 (Automatic (S4))24$2,600
Mercury Cougar (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 2002 is the Toyota RAV4 EV. It has a combined MPG of 78 and costs $850 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of 2002 is the Honda Insight. It has a combined MPG of 53 and costs $1,200 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 2002." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2002.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2002." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2002. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2002. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2002.