The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2005

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 2005 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 2005 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 2005 Cars by Miles per Gallon

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Honda Insight Manual 5-spd52$1,200
Honda Insight Automatic (variable gear ratios)47$1,350
Toyota Prius Automatic (variable gear ratios)46$1,350
Honda Civic Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)41$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid Manual 5-spd41$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)40$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid Manual 5-spd40$1,550
Volkswagen Golf Manual 5-spd35$2,200
Volkswagen Jetta Manual 5-spd35$2,200
Volkswagen New Beetle Manual 5-spd35$2,200
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd34$1,850
Volkswagen Jetta Manual 5-spd34$2,250
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon Manual 5-spd34$2,250
Toyota Echo Manual 5-spd33$1,900
Volkswagen Jetta Automatic (S6)33$2,350
Volkswagen New Beetle Automatic (S6)33$2,350
Honda Civic Automatic (variable gear ratios)32$1,950
Volkswagen Golf Automatic (S5)32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta Automatic (S5)32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon Automatic (S5)32$2,400
Toyota Corolla Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Toyota Echo Automatic 4-spd31$2,000
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Scion xA Automatic 4-spd30$2,100
Scion xA Manual 5-spd30$2,100
Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD Automatic (variable gear ratios)29$2,150
Honda Civic Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Pontiac Vibe Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Scion xB Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Toyota Corolla Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Toyota Matrix Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Honda Accord Hybrid Automatic 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
Scion xB Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Toyota Celica Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Chevrolet Aveo Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Chevrolet Aveo 5 Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD Automatic (variable gear ratios)27$2,300
Hyundai Accent/Brio Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Mazda 3 Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Mercedes-Benz E320 Cdi Automatic 5-spd27$2,850
MINI Cooper Convertible Manual 5-spd27$2,750
Nissan Sentra Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Nissan Sentra Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Pontiac Vibe Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Pontiac Wave Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Pontiac Wave 5 Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Suzuki Swift Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Suzuki Swift x Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Toyota Matrix Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Volkswagen Passat Automatic (S5)27$2,850
Volkswagen Passat Wagon Automatic (S5)27$2,850
Acura RSX Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Aveo Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Aveo 5 Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Ford Focus Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Ford Focus Station Wagon Manual 5-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
Hyundai Elantra Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Mazda 3 Automatic (S4)26$2,400
MINI Cooper Automatic (variable gear ratios)26$2,850
Mitsubishi Lancer Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Pontiac Sunfire Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Pontiac Wave Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Pontiac Wave 5 Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Saturn Ion Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Swift Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Suzuki Swift x Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Toyota Celica Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Toyota MR2 Manual 6-spd26$2,400
Acura RSX Automatic (S5)25$2,500
Chevrolet Cavalier Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Chevrolet Classic Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Chevrolet Cobalt Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Chevrolet Malibu Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Kia Rio Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Kia Spectra Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Kia Spectra Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Mazda 3 Manual 5-spd25$2,500
MINI Cooper Convertible Automatic (variable gear ratios)25$2,950
Pontiac Grand Am Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Pontiac Vibe Manual 6-spd25$2,950
Pontiac Vibe AWD Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Toyota Camry Automatic 5-spd25$2,500
Toyota Celica Manual 6-spd25$2,950
Toyota Corolla Manual 6-spd25$2,950
Toyota Matrix Manual 6-spd25$2,950

Best 2005 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 2005 regular fuel cars by combined miles per gallon (MPG).

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Honda Insight (Manual 5-spd)52$1,200
Honda Insight (Automatic (variable gear ratios))47$1,350
Toyota Prius (Automatic (variable gear ratios))46$1,350
Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ratios))41$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd)41$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid (Automatic (variable gear ratios))40$1,550
Honda Civic Hybrid (Manual 5-spd)40$1,550
Volkswagen Golf (Manual 5-spd)35$2,200
Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd)35$2,200
Volkswagen New Beetle (Manual 5-spd)35$2,200
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)34$1,850
Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 5-spd)34$2,250
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (Manual 5-spd)34$2,250
Toyota Echo (Manual 5-spd)33$1,900
Volkswagen Jetta (Automatic (S6))33$2,350
Volkswagen New Beetle (Automatic (S6))33$2,350
Honda Civic (Automatic (variable gear ratios))32$1,950
Volkswagen Golf (Automatic (S5))32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta (Automatic (S5))32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (Automatic (S5))32$2,400
Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Toyota Echo (Automatic 4-spd)31$2,000
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Scion xA (Automatic 4-spd)30$2,100
Scion xA (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD (Automatic (variable gear ratios))29$2,150
Honda Civic (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Pontiac Vibe (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Scion xB (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Matrix (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Honda Accord Hybrid (Automatic 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
Scion xB (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Toyota Celica (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Chevrolet Aveo (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Chevrolet Aveo 5 (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD (Automatic (variable gear ratios))27$2,300
Hyundai Accent/Brio (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Mazda 3 (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Mercedes-Benz E320 Cdi (Automatic 5-spd)27$2,850
MINI Cooper Convertible (Manual 5-spd)27$2,750
Nissan Sentra (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Nissan Sentra (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac Vibe (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac Wave (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac Wave 5 (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Suzuki Swift (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Suzuki Swift x (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Matrix (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Volkswagen Passat (Automatic (S5))27$2,850
Volkswagen Passat Wagon (Automatic (S5))27$2,850
Acura RSX (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Aveo (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Aveo 5 (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Cavalier (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Ford Focus (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Manual 5-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
Hyundai Elantra (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Mazda 3 (Automatic (S4))26$2,400
MINI Cooper (Automatic (variable gear ratios))26$2,850
Mitsubishi Lancer (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Pontiac Sunfire (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Pontiac Wave (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Pontiac Wave 5 (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Saturn Ion (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Swift (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki Swift x (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Toyota Celica (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Toyota MR2 (Manual 6-spd)26$2,400
Acura RSX (Automatic (S5))25$2,500
Chevrolet Cavalier (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Chevrolet Classic (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Chevrolet Cobalt (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Chevrolet Malibu (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Ford Focus Station Wagon (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Kia Rio (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Kia Spectra (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Kia Spectra (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Mazda 3 (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
MINI Cooper Convertible (Automatic (variable gear ratios))25$2,950
Pontiac Grand Am (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Sunfire (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Pontiac Vibe (Manual 6-spd)25$2,950
Pontiac Vibe AWD (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Toyota Camry (Automatic 5-spd)25$2,500
Toyota Celica (Manual 6-spd)25$2,950
Toyota Corolla (Manual 6-spd)25$2,950
Toyota Matrix (Manual 6-spd)25$2,950

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 2005 is the Honda Insight. It has a combined MPG of 52 and costs $1,200 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of 2005 is the Honda Insight. It has a combined MPG of 52 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 2005." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2005.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2005." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2005. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2005. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2005.