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

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars in 2006

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars of the 2006 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 2006 vehicles, including electric

Every 2006 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 42 MPG $1,400
4 Volkswagen Golf 34 MPG $2,400
5 Volkswagen New Beetle 34 MPG $2,400
6 Volkswagen Jetta 33 MPG $2,450
7 Honda Civic 30 MPG $2,000
8 Scion xA 30 MPG $2,000
9 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 29 MPG $2,050
10 Kia Rio 29 MPG $2,050
11 Toyota Corolla 29 MPG $2,050
12 Honda Civic CNG 28 MPG $1,600
13 Hyundai Accent 28 MPG $2,150
14 Scion xB 28 MPG $2,150
15 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 27 MPG $2,200
16 Lexus RX 400h 2WD 27 MPG $2,200
17 Mazda 3 27 MPG $2,200
18 Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD 27 MPG $2,200
19 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cdi 27 MPG $3,000
20 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD 27 MPG $2,200
21 Nissan Sentra 27 MPG $2,200
22 Pontiac Vibe 27 MPG $2,200
23 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2WD 27 MPG $2,200
24 Toyota Matrix 27 MPG $2,200
25 Acura RSX 26 MPG $2,300
26 Lexus RX 400h 4WD 26 MPG $2,300
27 MINI Cooper 26 MPG $2,650
28 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD 26 MPG $2,300
29 Chevrolet Aveo 5 25 MPG $2,400
30 Ford Focus 25 MPG $2,400
31 Ford Focus Station Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
32 Honda Accord 25 MPG $2,400
33 Honda Accord Hybrid 25 MPG $2,400
34 Kia Optima (2006 New Model) 25 MPG $2,400
35 Kia Spectra 25 MPG $2,400
36 MINI Cooper Convertible 25 MPG $2,750
37 Mitsubishi Lancer 25 MPG $2,400
38 Pontiac Vibe AWD 25 MPG $2,400
39 Pontiac Wave 5 25 MPG $2,400
40 Suzuki Swift x 25 MPG $2,400
41 Toyota Camry 25 MPG $2,400
42 Toyota Matrix AWD 25 MPG $2,400
43 Audi A3 24 MPG $2,900
44 Audi A4 24 MPG $2,900
45 Chevrolet Malibu 24 MPG $2,500
46 Ford Fusion 24 MPG $2,500
47 Hyundai Elantra 24 MPG $2,500
48 Hyundai Sonata 24 MPG $2,500
49 Mazda 6 24 MPG $2,500
50 Mazda MX-5 24 MPG $2,900
51 Mercury Milan 24 MPG $2,500
52 MINI Cooper S 24 MPG $2,900
53 MINI Cooper S Convertible 24 MPG $2,900
54 Pontiac G6 24 MPG $2,500
55 Suzuki Aerio 24 MPG $2,500
56 Suzuki Aerio SX 24 MPG $2,500
57 Toyota Camry Solara 24 MPG $2,500
58 Toyota RAV4 2WD 24 MPG $2,500
59 Volkswagen GTI 24 MPG $2,900
60 Volkswagen Passat 24 MPG $2,900
61 Acura TSX 23 MPG $3,000
62 Audi A4 Avant quattro 23 MPG $3,000
63 Audi A4 Cabriolet 23 MPG $3,000
64 Audi A4 quattro 23 MPG $3,000
65 Chevrolet Cobalt 23 MPG $3,000
66 Chevrolet HHR FWD 23 MPG $2,600
67 Honda CR-V 2WD 23 MPG $2,600
68 Mitsubishi Eclipse 23 MPG $2,600
69 Mitsubishi Galant 23 MPG $2,600
70 Nissan Altima 23 MPG $2,600
71 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan 23 MPG $3,000
72 Saab 9-3 SportCombi 23 MPG $3,000
73 Saturn Ion 23 MPG $3,000
74 Scion tC 23 MPG $2,600
75 Suzuki Aerio AWD 23 MPG $2,600
76 Suzuki Aerio SX AWD 23 MPG $2,600
77 Toyota Avalon 23 MPG $2,600
78 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 22 MPG $2,700
79 Chevrolet Optra 22 MPG $2,700
80 Chevrolet Optra 5 22 MPG $2,700
81 Chevrolet Optra Wagon 22 MPG $2,700
82 Chrysler Sebring 4 Door 22 MPG $2,700
83 Chrysler Sebring Convertible 22 MPG $2,700
84 Dodge Stratus 4 Door 22 MPG $2,700
85 Honda CR-V 4WD 22 MPG $2,700
86 Hyundai Tiburon 22 MPG $2,700
87 Hyundai Tucson 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
88 Kia Optima 22 MPG $2,700
89 Kia Sportage 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
90 Lexus GS 300/GS 430 22 MPG $3,150
91 Lexus IS 250 AWD 22 MPG $3,150
92 Lotus Elise/Exige 22 MPG $3,150
93 Mazda 5 22 MPG $2,700
94 Mercedes-Benz C230 22 MPG $3,150
95 MINI Cooper S JCWorks GP Kit 22 MPG $3,150
96 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 22 MPG $2,700
97 Mitsubishi Outlander 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
98 Suzuki Forenza 22 MPG $2,700
99 Suzuki Forenza Wagon 22 MPG $2,700
100 Suzuki Reno 22 MPG $2,700

Most efficient 2006 gasoline cars

The same 2006 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 42 MPG $1,400
4 Volkswagen Golf 34 MPG $2,400
5 Volkswagen New Beetle 34 MPG $2,400
6 Volkswagen Jetta 33 MPG $2,450
7 Honda Civic 30 MPG $2,000
8 Scion xA 30 MPG $2,000
9 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 29 MPG $2,050
10 Kia Rio 29 MPG $2,050
11 Toyota Corolla 29 MPG $2,050
12 Honda Civic CNG 28 MPG $1,600
13 Hyundai Accent 28 MPG $2,150
14 Scion xB 28 MPG $2,150
15 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 27 MPG $2,200
16 Lexus RX 400h 2WD 27 MPG $2,200
17 Mazda 3 27 MPG $2,200
18 Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD 27 MPG $2,200
19 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cdi 27 MPG $3,000
20 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD 27 MPG $2,200
21 Nissan Sentra 27 MPG $2,200
22 Pontiac Vibe 27 MPG $2,200
23 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2WD 27 MPG $2,200
24 Toyota Matrix 27 MPG $2,200
25 Acura RSX 26 MPG $2,300
26 Lexus RX 400h 4WD 26 MPG $2,300
27 MINI Cooper 26 MPG $2,650
28 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD 26 MPG $2,300
29 Chevrolet Aveo 5 25 MPG $2,400
30 Ford Focus 25 MPG $2,400
31 Ford Focus Station Wagon 25 MPG $2,400
32 Honda Accord 25 MPG $2,400
33 Honda Accord Hybrid 25 MPG $2,400
34 Kia Optima (2006 New Model) 25 MPG $2,400
35 Kia Spectra 25 MPG $2,400
36 MINI Cooper Convertible 25 MPG $2,750
37 Mitsubishi Lancer 25 MPG $2,400
38 Pontiac Vibe AWD 25 MPG $2,400
39 Pontiac Wave 5 25 MPG $2,400
40 Suzuki Swift x 25 MPG $2,400
41 Toyota Camry 25 MPG $2,400
42 Toyota Matrix AWD 25 MPG $2,400
43 Audi A3 24 MPG $2,900
44 Audi A4 24 MPG $2,900
45 Chevrolet Malibu 24 MPG $2,500
46 Ford Fusion 24 MPG $2,500
47 Hyundai Elantra 24 MPG $2,500
48 Hyundai Sonata 24 MPG $2,500
49 Mazda 6 24 MPG $2,500
50 Mazda MX-5 24 MPG $2,900
51 Mercury Milan 24 MPG $2,500
52 MINI Cooper S 24 MPG $2,900
53 MINI Cooper S Convertible 24 MPG $2,900
54 Pontiac G6 24 MPG $2,500
55 Suzuki Aerio 24 MPG $2,500
56 Suzuki Aerio SX 24 MPG $2,500
57 Toyota Camry Solara 24 MPG $2,500
58 Toyota RAV4 2WD 24 MPG $2,500
59 Volkswagen GTI 24 MPG $2,900
60 Volkswagen Passat 24 MPG $2,900
61 Acura TSX 23 MPG $3,000
62 Audi A4 Avant quattro 23 MPG $3,000
63 Audi A4 Cabriolet 23 MPG $3,000
64 Audi A4 quattro 23 MPG $3,000
65 Chevrolet Cobalt 23 MPG $3,000
66 Chevrolet HHR FWD 23 MPG $2,600
67 Honda CR-V 2WD 23 MPG $2,600
68 Mitsubishi Eclipse 23 MPG $2,600
69 Mitsubishi Galant 23 MPG $2,600
70 Nissan Altima 23 MPG $2,600
71 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan 23 MPG $3,000
72 Saab 9-3 SportCombi 23 MPG $3,000
73 Saturn Ion 23 MPG $3,000
74 Scion tC 23 MPG $2,600
75 Suzuki Aerio AWD 23 MPG $2,600
76 Suzuki Aerio SX AWD 23 MPG $2,600
77 Toyota Avalon 23 MPG $2,600
78 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx 22 MPG $2,700
79 Chevrolet Optra 22 MPG $2,700
80 Chevrolet Optra 5 22 MPG $2,700
81 Chevrolet Optra Wagon 22 MPG $2,700
82 Chrysler Sebring 4 Door 22 MPG $2,700
83 Chrysler Sebring Convertible 22 MPG $2,700
84 Dodge Stratus 4 Door 22 MPG $2,700
85 Honda CR-V 4WD 22 MPG $2,700
86 Hyundai Tiburon 22 MPG $2,700
87 Hyundai Tucson 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
88 Kia Optima 22 MPG $2,700
89 Kia Sportage 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
90 Lexus GS 300/GS 430 22 MPG $3,150
91 Lexus IS 250 AWD 22 MPG $3,150
92 Lotus Elise/Exige 22 MPG $3,150
93 Mazda 5 22 MPG $2,700
94 Mercedes-Benz C230 22 MPG $3,150
95 MINI Cooper S JCWorks GP Kit 22 MPG $3,150
96 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 22 MPG $2,700
97 Mitsubishi Outlander 2WD 22 MPG $2,700
98 Suzuki Forenza 22 MPG $2,700
99 Suzuki Forenza Wagon 22 MPG $2,700
100 Suzuki Reno 22 MPG $2,700

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset.