The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2003

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 2003 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 2003 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 2003 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
Honda Civic Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)41$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid Manual 5-spd41$1,550
Toyota Prius Automatic (variable gear ratios)41$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)40$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid Manual 5-spd40$1,550
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 Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Toyota Echo Manual 5-spd33$1,900
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 Automatic (variable gear ratios)32$1,950
Toyota Corolla Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Toyota Echo Automatic 4-spd31$2,000
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Honda Civic CNG Automatic (variable gear ratios)28$1,250
Hyundai Accent/Brio Manual 5-spd28$2,250
MINI Cooper Manual 5-spd28$2,650
Nissan Sentra Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Pontiac Vibe Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Toyota Celica Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Toyota Corolla Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Toyota Matrix Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Ford Focus Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Ford Focus Station Wagon Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Hyundai Accent/Brio Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Nissan Sentra Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Pontiac Vibe Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Toyota Matrix Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Acura RSX Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Ford Focus Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Ford Focus Station Wagon Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Honda Accord Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Hyundai Accent/Brio Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Hyundai Accent/Brio Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Kia Rio Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Mitsubishi Lancer Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Mitsubishi Lancer Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Toyota Celica Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Acura RSX Automatic (S5)25$2,500
Chevrolet Cavalier Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Chevrolet Cavalier Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Honda Accord Automatic 5-spd25$2,500
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Kia Rio Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
MINI Cooper Automatic (variable gear ratios)25$2,950
MINI Cooper S Manual 6-spd25$2,950
Oldsmobile Alero Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Oldsmobile Alero Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Grand Am Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Grand Am Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Vibe Automatic 4-spd25$2,950
Pontiac Vibe AWD Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Saturn Ion Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio SX Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio SX Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Toyota Matrix Automatic 4-spd25$2,950
Toyota Matrix AWD Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Toyota MR2 Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Toyota MR2 Manual 6-spd25$2,500
Acura RSX Manual 6-spd24$3,100
Chevrolet Cavalier Dual-fuel Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Chrysler Sebring Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Chrysler Sebring Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Daewoo Lanos Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Dodge Stratus Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Dodge Stratus Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Ford Focus Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Ford Focus Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Ford Focus Station Wagon Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Ford Focus Station Wagon Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Kia Spectra Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Mazda 6 Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Mazda Protege/Protege 5 Automatic 4-spd24$2,600
Mazda Protege/Protege 5 Manual 5-spd24$2,600
Mazda Protege/Protege 5 Automatic (S4)24$2,600

Best 2003 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 2003 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
Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ratios))41$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd)41$1,550
Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ratios))41$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ratios))40$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd)40$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 (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Toyota Echo (Manual 5-spd)33$1,900
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 (Automatic (variable gear ratios))32$1,950
Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Toyota Echo (Automatic 4-spd)31$2,000
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 (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
MINI Cooper (Manual 5-spd)28$2,650
Nissan Sentra (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Pontiac Vibe (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Celica (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Matrix (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Ford Focus (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Hyundai Accent/Brio (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Nissan Sentra (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac Vibe (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Matrix (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Acura RSX (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Ford Focus (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Honda Accord (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Hyundai Accent/Brio (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Hyundai Accent/Brio (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Kia Rio (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Mitsubishi Lancer (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Mitsubishi Lancer (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Toyota Celica (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Acura RSX (Automatic (S5))25$2,500
Chevrolet Cavalier (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Chevrolet Cavalier (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Escort ZX2 (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Honda Accord (Automatic 5-spd)25$2,500
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Elantra (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Kia Rio (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
MINI Cooper (Automatic (variable gear ratios))25$2,950
MINI Cooper S (Manual 6-spd)25$2,950
Oldsmobile Alero (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Oldsmobile Alero (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Grand Am (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Grand Am (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Vibe (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,950
Pontiac Vibe AWD (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Saturn Ion (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio SX (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki Aerio SX (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Toyota Matrix (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,950
Toyota Matrix AWD (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Toyota MR2 (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Toyota MR2 (Manual 6-spd)25$2,500
Acura RSX (Manual 6-spd)24$3,100
Chevrolet Cavalier Dual-fuel (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Chrysler Sebring (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Chrysler Sebring (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Daewoo Lanos (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Dodge Stratus (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Dodge Stratus (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Ford Focus (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Ford Focus (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)24$2,600
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Kia Spectra (Manual 5-spd)24$2,600
Mazda 6 (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
Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor (Automatic 5-spd)24$3,100

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 2003 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 2003 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 2003." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2003.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2003." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2003. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2003. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2003.