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

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars in 2004

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars of the 2004 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 2004 vehicles, including electric

Every 2004 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 Honda Insight 47 MPG $1,250
2 Toyota Prius 46 MPG $1,300
3 Honda Civic Hybrid 40 MPG $1,500
4 Volkswagen Golf 36 MPG $2,250
5 Honda Civic 32 MPG $1,850
6 Toyota Echo 31 MPG $1,950
7 Scion xA 30 MPG $2,000
8 Honda Civic CNG 28 MPG $1,600
9 Scion xB 28 MPG $2,150
10 Toyota Celica 28 MPG $2,150
11 Toyota Corolla 28 MPG $2,150
12 Mazda 3 27 MPG $2,200
13 Nissan Sentra 27 MPG $2,200
14 Pontiac Vibe 27 MPG $2,200
15 Toyota Matrix 27 MPG $2,200
16 Acura RSX 26 MPG $2,300
17 Chevrolet Aveo 26 MPG $2,300
18 Daewoo Kalos 26 MPG $2,300
19 Hyundai Accent/Brio 26 MPG $2,300
20 Hyundai Elantra Hatchback 26 MPG $2,300
21 Suzuki Swift 26 MPG $2,300
22 Chevrolet Cavalier 25 MPG $2,400
23 Chevrolet Classic 25 MPG $2,400
24 Chevrolet Malibu 25 MPG $2,400
25 Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 25 MPG $2,400
26 Ford Focus 25 MPG $2,400
27 Kia Rio 25 MPG $2,400
28 Kia Spectra 2.0L 25 MPG $2,400
29 MINI Cooper 25 MPG $2,750
30 MINI Cooper S 25 MPG $2,750
31 Oldsmobile Alero 25 MPG $2,400
32 Pontiac Grand Am 25 MPG $2,400
33 Pontiac Sunfire 25 MPG $2,400
34 Pontiac Vibe AWD 25 MPG $2,400
35 Saturn L300 25 MPG $2,400
36 Saturn LW300 25 MPG $2,400
37 Toyota Matrix AWD 25 MPG $2,400
38 Toyota MR2 25 MPG $2,400
39 Chevrolet Cavalier Dual-fuel 24 MPG $2,500
40 Ford Focus Station Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
41 Honda Accord 24 MPG $2,500
42 Hyundai Elantra 24 MPG $2,500
43 Mazda 6 24 MPG $2,500
44 Mitsubishi Lancer 24 MPG $2,500
45 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan 24 MPG $2,500
46 Suzuki Aerio 24 MPG $2,500
47 Suzuki Aerio SX 24 MPG $2,500
48 Toyota Camry 24 MPG $2,500
49 Toyota Camry Solara 24 MPG $2,500
50 Volkswagen GTI 24 MPG $2,900
51 Volkswagen Jetta 24 MPG $2,900
52 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon 24 MPG $2,900
53 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible 24 MPG $2,900
54 Audi A4 23 MPG $3,000
55 Audi A4 Cabriolet 23 MPG $3,000
56 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor 23 MPG $3,000
57 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe 23 MPG $3,000
58 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 23 MPG $2,600
59 Mitsubishi Galant 23 MPG $2,600
60 Nissan Altima 23 MPG $2,600
61 Saturn Ion 23 MPG $3,000
62 Suzuki Aerio AWD 23 MPG $2,600
63 Suzuki Aerio SX AWD 23 MPG $2,600
64 Toyota RAV4 2WD 23 MPG $2,600
65 Volkswagen New Beetle 23 MPG $3,000
66 Volkswagen Passat 23 MPG $3,000
67 Volkswagen Passat Wagon 23 MPG $3,000
68 Acura TSX 22 MPG $3,150
69 Audi A4 Avant quattro 22 MPG $3,150
70 Audi A4 quattro 22 MPG $3,150
71 Chevrolet Impala 22 MPG $2,700
72 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 22 MPG $2,700
73 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 22 MPG $2,700
74 Chevrolet Optra 22 MPG $2,700
75 Chrysler Concorde/LHS 22 MPG $2,700
76 Chrysler Sebring 4 Door 22 MPG $2,700
77 Chrysler Sebring Convertible 22 MPG $2,700
78 Daewoo Lacetti 22 MPG $2,700
79 Dodge Intrepid 22 MPG $2,700
80 Dodge Stratus 4 Door 22 MPG $2,700
81 Ford Escape 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
82 Honda CR-V 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
83 Hyundai Sonata 22 MPG $2,700
84 Hyundai Tiburon 22 MPG $2,700
85 Kia Optima 22 MPG $2,700
86 Kia Spectra 1.8L 22 MPG $2,700
87 Mazda MX-5 Miata 22 MPG $3,150
88 Mazda Tribute 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
89 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 22 MPG $3,150
90 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 22 MPG $2,700
91 Saab 9-3 Convertible 22 MPG $3,150
92 Saturn Vue FWD 22 MPG $2,700
93 Suzuki Forenza 22 MPG $2,700
94 Toyota Avalon 22 MPG $2,700
95 Toyota Highlander 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
96 Toyota RAV4 4WD 22 MPG $2,700
97 Volkswagen Passat 4motion 22 MPG $3,150
98 Volkswagen Passat Wagon 4motion 22 MPG $3,150
99 Volvo S40 FWD 22 MPG $3,150
100 Volvo V40 22 MPG $3,150

Most efficient 2004 gasoline cars

The same 2004 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 Honda Insight 47 MPG $1,250
2 Toyota Prius 46 MPG $1,300
3 Honda Civic Hybrid 40 MPG $1,500
4 Volkswagen Golf 36 MPG $2,250
5 Honda Civic 32 MPG $1,850
6 Toyota Echo 31 MPG $1,950
7 Scion xA 30 MPG $2,000
8 Honda Civic CNG 28 MPG $1,600
9 Scion xB 28 MPG $2,150
10 Toyota Celica 28 MPG $2,150
11 Toyota Corolla 28 MPG $2,150
12 Mazda 3 27 MPG $2,200
13 Nissan Sentra 27 MPG $2,200
14 Pontiac Vibe 27 MPG $2,200
15 Toyota Matrix 27 MPG $2,200
16 Acura RSX 26 MPG $2,300
17 Chevrolet Aveo 26 MPG $2,300
18 Daewoo Kalos 26 MPG $2,300
19 Hyundai Accent/Brio 26 MPG $2,300
20 Hyundai Elantra Hatchback 26 MPG $2,300
21 Suzuki Swift 26 MPG $2,300
22 Chevrolet Cavalier 25 MPG $2,400
23 Chevrolet Classic 25 MPG $2,400
24 Chevrolet Malibu 25 MPG $2,400
25 Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 25 MPG $2,400
26 Ford Focus 25 MPG $2,400
27 Kia Rio 25 MPG $2,400
28 Kia Spectra 2.0L 25 MPG $2,400
29 MINI Cooper 25 MPG $2,750
30 MINI Cooper S 25 MPG $2,750
31 Oldsmobile Alero 25 MPG $2,400
32 Pontiac Grand Am 25 MPG $2,400
33 Pontiac Sunfire 25 MPG $2,400
34 Pontiac Vibe AWD 25 MPG $2,400
35 Saturn L300 25 MPG $2,400
36 Saturn LW300 25 MPG $2,400
37 Toyota Matrix AWD 25 MPG $2,400
38 Toyota MR2 25 MPG $2,400
39 Chevrolet Cavalier Dual-fuel 24 MPG $2,500
40 Ford Focus Station Wagon 24 MPG $2,500
41 Honda Accord 24 MPG $2,500
42 Hyundai Elantra 24 MPG $2,500
43 Mazda 6 24 MPG $2,500
44 Mitsubishi Lancer 24 MPG $2,500
45 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan 24 MPG $2,500
46 Suzuki Aerio 24 MPG $2,500
47 Suzuki Aerio SX 24 MPG $2,500
48 Toyota Camry 24 MPG $2,500
49 Toyota Camry Solara 24 MPG $2,500
50 Volkswagen GTI 24 MPG $2,900
51 Volkswagen Jetta 24 MPG $2,900
52 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon 24 MPG $2,900
53 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible 24 MPG $2,900
54 Audi A4 23 MPG $3,000
55 Audi A4 Cabriolet 23 MPG $3,000
56 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor 23 MPG $3,000
57 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe 23 MPG $3,000
58 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 23 MPG $2,600
59 Mitsubishi Galant 23 MPG $2,600
60 Nissan Altima 23 MPG $2,600
61 Saturn Ion 23 MPG $3,000
62 Suzuki Aerio AWD 23 MPG $2,600
63 Suzuki Aerio SX AWD 23 MPG $2,600
64 Toyota RAV4 2WD 23 MPG $2,600
65 Volkswagen New Beetle 23 MPG $3,000
66 Volkswagen Passat 23 MPG $3,000
67 Volkswagen Passat Wagon 23 MPG $3,000
68 Acura TSX 22 MPG $3,150
69 Audi A4 Avant quattro 22 MPG $3,150
70 Audi A4 quattro 22 MPG $3,150
71 Chevrolet Impala 22 MPG $2,700
72 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 22 MPG $2,700
73 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 22 MPG $2,700
74 Chevrolet Optra 22 MPG $2,700
75 Chrysler Concorde/LHS 22 MPG $2,700
76 Chrysler Sebring 4 Door 22 MPG $2,700
77 Chrysler Sebring Convertible 22 MPG $2,700
78 Daewoo Lacetti 22 MPG $2,700
79 Dodge Intrepid 22 MPG $2,700
80 Dodge Stratus 4 Door 22 MPG $2,700
81 Ford Escape 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
82 Honda CR-V 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
83 Hyundai Sonata 22 MPG $2,700
84 Hyundai Tiburon 22 MPG $2,700
85 Kia Optima 22 MPG $2,700
86 Kia Spectra 1.8L 22 MPG $2,700
87 Mazda MX-5 Miata 22 MPG $3,150
88 Mazda Tribute 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
89 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 22 MPG $3,150
90 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 22 MPG $2,700
91 Saab 9-3 Convertible 22 MPG $3,150
92 Saturn Vue FWD 22 MPG $2,700
93 Suzuki Forenza 22 MPG $2,700
94 Toyota Avalon 22 MPG $2,700
95 Toyota Highlander 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
96 Toyota RAV4 4WD 22 MPG $2,700
97 Volkswagen Passat 4motion 22 MPG $3,150
98 Volkswagen Passat Wagon 4motion 22 MPG $3,150
99 Volvo S40 FWD 22 MPG $3,150
100 Volvo V40 22 MPG $3,150

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset.