The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2008

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 2008 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 2008 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 2008 Cars by Miles per Gallon

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
MINI MiniE Automatic (A1)98$650
Toyota Prius Automatic (variable gear ratios)46$1,350
Honda Civic Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)42$1,500
smart fortwo convertible Automatic (S5)36$2,050
smart fortwo coupe Automatic (S5)36$2,050
Nissan Altima Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)34$1,850
Toyota Camry Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)34$1,850
Ford Escape Hybrid FWD Automatic (variable gear ratios)32$1,950
Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD Automatic (variable gear ratios)32$1,950
Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD Automatic (variable gear ratios)32$1,950
MINI Clubman Manual 6-spd32$2,300
MINI Cooper Manual 6-spd32$2,300
Toyota Yaris Manual 5-spd32$1,950
Honda Fit Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Toyota Corolla Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Toyota Yaris Automatic 4-spd31$2,000
Honda Fit Automatic 5-spd30$2,100
Chevrolet Cobalt XFE Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Honda Civic Automatic 5-spd29$2,150
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Honda Fit Automatic (S5)29$2,150
Hyundai Accent Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Kia Rio Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Kia Rio Manual 5-spd29$2,150
MINI Clubman Automatic (S6)29$2,550
MINI Clubman S Manual 6-spd29$2,550
MINI Cooper Automatic (S6)29$2,550
MINI Cooper S Manual 6-spd29$2,550
Nissan Versa Automatic (variable gear ratios)29$2,150
Pontiac G5 XFE Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Pontiac Vibe Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Scion xD Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Toyota Corolla Automatic 4-spd29$2,150
Toyota Matrix Manual 5-spd29$2,150
Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD Automatic (variable gear ratios)28$2,250
Ford Focus Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Ford Focus Manual 5-spd28$2,250
Honda Civic CNG Automatic 5-spd28$1,250
Hyundai Accent Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Hyundai Elantra Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD Automatic (variable gear ratios)28$2,250
Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD Automatic (variable gear ratios)28$2,250
Nissan Sentra Automatic (variable gear ratios)28$2,250
Nissan Versa Manual 6-spd28$2,250
Saturn Vue Hybrid Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Scion xD Automatic 4-spd28$2,250
Chevrolet Aveo Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Chevrolet Aveo 5 Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Chevrolet Cobalt Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Hyundai Elantra Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Kia Spectra Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Mazda 3 Manual 5-spd27$2,300
MINI Clubman S Automatic (S6)27$2,750
MINI Cooper S Automatic (S6)27$2,750
Nissan Sentra Manual 6-spd27$2,300
Nissan Versa Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Pontiac G5/Pursuit Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Pontiac Vibe Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback Manual 5-spd27$2,300
Saturn Aura Hybrid Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Toyota Matrix Automatic 4-spd27$2,300
Audi TT Coupe Automatic (S6)26$2,850
Chevrolet Aveo Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Aveo 5 Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Chevrolet Cobalt Manual 5-spd26$2,850
Chevrolet Cobalt Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Dodge Caliber Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Kia Spectra Manual 5-spd26$2,400
Mazda 3 Automatic (S4)26$2,400
Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec Automatic 7-spd26$2,950
MINI Cooper Convertible Manual 5-spd26$2,850
Nissan Altima Automatic (variable gear ratios)26$2,400
Nissan Altima Manual 6-spd26$2,400
Nissan Altima Coupe Automatic (variable gear ratios)26$2,400
Nissan Altima Coupe Manual 6-spd26$2,400
Nissan Sentra Automatic (variable gear ratios)26$2,400
Pontiac G5/Pursuit Manual 5-spd26$2,850
Pontiac G5/Pursuit Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Suzuki SX4 Sedan Automatic 4-spd26$2,400
Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD Automatic (variable gear ratios)26$2,400
Audi A3 Automatic (S6)25$2,950
Audi TT Roadster Automatic (S6)25$2,950
Chevrolet Classic Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Chevrolet Cobalt Automatic 4-spd25$2,950
Chevrolet Cobalt Manual 5-spd25$2,950
Chevrolet HHR FWD Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Chevrolet HHR Panel FWD Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Chevrolet Malibu Automatic 4-spd25$2,500
Chevrolet Malibu Automatic (S6)25$2,500
Dodge Caliber Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Honda Accord Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Honda Accord Coupe Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Hyundai Sonata Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Jeep Compass 2WD Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Jeep Patriot 2WD Manual 5-spd25$2,500
Kia Optima Automatic 5-spd25$2,500

Best 2008 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 2008 regular fuel cars by combined miles per gallon (MPG).

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
smart fortwo convertible (Automatic (S5))36$2,050
smart fortwo coupe (Automatic (S5))36$2,050
MINI Clubman (Manual 6-spd)32$2,300
MINI Cooper (Manual 6-spd)32$2,300
Toyota Yaris (Manual 5-spd)32$1,950
Honda Fit (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Toyota Yaris (Automatic 4-spd)31$2,000
Honda Fit (Automatic 5-spd)30$2,100
Chevrolet Cobalt XFE (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Honda Civic (Automatic 5-spd)29$2,150
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Honda Fit (Automatic (S5))29$2,150
Hyundai Accent (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Kia Rio (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Kia Rio (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
MINI Clubman (Automatic (S6))29$2,550
MINI Clubman S (Manual 6-spd)29$2,550
MINI Cooper (Automatic (S6))29$2,550
MINI Cooper S (Manual 6-spd)29$2,550
Nissan Versa (Automatic (variable gear ratios))29$2,150
Pontiac G5 XFE (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Pontiac Vibe (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Scion xD (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Matrix (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Ford Focus (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Ford Focus (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
Honda Civic CNG (Automatic 5-spd)28$1,250
Hyundai Accent (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Hyundai Elantra (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Nissan Sentra (Automatic (variable gear ratios))28$2,250
Nissan Versa (Manual 6-spd)28$2,250
Scion xD (Automatic 4-spd)28$2,250
Chevrolet Aveo (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Chevrolet Aveo 5 (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Chevrolet Cobalt (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Hyundai Elantra (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Kia Spectra (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Mazda 3 (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
MINI Clubman S (Automatic (S6))27$2,750
MINI Cooper S (Automatic (S6))27$2,750
Nissan Sentra (Manual 6-spd)27$2,300
Nissan Versa (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac G5/Pursuit (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Pontiac Vibe (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback (Manual 5-spd)27$2,300
Toyota Matrix (Automatic 4-spd)27$2,300
Audi TT Coupe (Automatic (S6))26$2,850
Chevrolet Aveo (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Aveo 5 (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Chevrolet Cobalt (Manual 5-spd)26$2,850
Chevrolet Cobalt (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Dodge Caliber (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Kia Spectra (Manual 5-spd)26$2,400
Mazda 3 (Automatic (S4))26$2,400
Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec (Automatic 7-spd)26$2,950
MINI Cooper Convertible (Manual 5-spd)26$2,850
Nissan Altima (Automatic (variable gear ratios))26$2,400
Nissan Altima (Manual 6-spd)26$2,400
Nissan Altima Coupe (Automatic (variable gear ratios))26$2,400
Nissan Altima Coupe (Manual 6-spd)26$2,400
Nissan Sentra (Automatic (variable gear ratios))26$2,400
Pontiac G5/Pursuit (Manual 5-spd)26$2,850
Pontiac G5/Pursuit (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Suzuki SX4 Sedan (Automatic 4-spd)26$2,400
Audi A3 (Automatic (S6))25$2,950
Audi TT Roadster (Automatic (S6))25$2,950
Chevrolet Classic (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Chevrolet Cobalt (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,950
Chevrolet Cobalt (Manual 5-spd)25$2,950
Chevrolet HHR FWD (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Chevrolet HHR Panel FWD (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Chevrolet Malibu (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Chevrolet Malibu (Automatic (S6))25$2,500
Dodge Caliber (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Honda Accord (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Honda Accord Coupe (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Hyundai Sonata (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Jeep Compass 2WD (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Jeep Patriot 2WD (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Kia Optima (Automatic 5-spd)25$2,500
Kia Optima (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 G5/Pursuit (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,950
Pontiac G6 (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Saturn Aura (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki SX4 (Automatic 4-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki SX4 (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Suzuki SX4 Sedan (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Toyota Camry (Automatic 5-spd)25$2,500
Toyota Camry (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Toyota Camry Solara (Manual 5-spd)25$2,500
Toyota Camry Solara (Automatic (S5))25$2,500
Volkswagen GTI (Automatic (S6))25$2,950
Volkswagen Jetta (Automatic (S6))25$2,950

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 2008 is the MINI MiniE. It has a combined MPG of 98 and costs $650 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of 2008 is the smart fortwo convertible. It has a combined MPG of 36 and costs $2,050 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 2008." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2008.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2008." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2008. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2008. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2008.