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

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars in 2009

The 100 most fuel-efficient cars of the 2009 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 2009 vehicles, including electric

Every 2009 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 Toyota Prius 46 MPG $1,300
2 Honda Civic Hybrid 42 MPG $1,400
3 smart fortwo convertible 36 MPG $1,900
4 smart fortwo coupe 36 MPG $1,900
5 Nissan Altima Hybrid 34 MPG $1,750
6 Toyota Camry Hybrid 34 MPG $1,750
7 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 32 MPG $1,850
8 Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD 32 MPG $1,850
9 Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD 32 MPG $1,850
10 MINI Clubman 32 MPG $2,150
11 MINI Cooper 32 MPG $2,150
12 Toyota Yaris 32 MPG $1,850
13 Honda Fit 31 MPG $1,950
14 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 30 MPG $2,000
15 Kia Rio 30 MPG $2,000
16 Nissan Versa FE 30 MPG $2,000
17 Pontiac G5 XFE 30 MPG $2,000
18 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid 29 MPG $2,050
19 Honda Civic 29 MPG $2,050
20 Hyundai Accent 29 MPG $2,050
21 MINI Cooper Convertible 29 MPG $2,400
22 MINI Cooper S Convertible 29 MPG $2,400
23 MINI John Cooper Works 29 MPG $2,400
24 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman 29 MPG $2,400
25 MINI John Cooper Works Convertible 29 MPG $2,400
26 Nissan Cube 29 MPG $2,050
27 Nissan Sentra FE 29 MPG $2,050
28 Pontiac G5 29 MPG $2,050
29 Pontiac G5 GT 29 MPG $2,050
30 Saturn Aura Hybrid 29 MPG $2,050
31 Scion xD 29 MPG $2,050
32 Chevrolet Aveo 28 MPG $2,150
33 Chevrolet Aveo 5 28 MPG $2,150
34 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 28 MPG $2,150
35 Ford Focus FWD 28 MPG $2,150
36 Honda Civic CNG 28 MPG $1,600
37 Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD 28 MPG $2,150
38 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD 28 MPG $2,150
39 Nissan Versa 28 MPG $2,150
40 Pontiac G3 Wave 28 MPG $2,150
41 Pontiac G3 Wave 5 28 MPG $2,150
42 Saturn Vue Hybrid 28 MPG $2,150
43 BMW 335d 27 MPG $3,000
44 Dodge Caliber 27 MPG $2,200
45 Hyundai Elantra 27 MPG $2,200
46 Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback 27 MPG $2,200
47 Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback 27 MPG $2,200
48 Audi TT Coupe 26 MPG $2,650
49 Chevrolet Malibu 26 MPG $2,300
50 Hyundai Elantra Touring 26 MPG $2,300
51 Kia Spectra 26 MPG $2,300
52 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec 26 MPG $3,100
53 MINI Clubman S 26 MPG $2,650
54 MINI Cooper S 26 MPG $2,650
55 Nissan Altima 26 MPG $2,300
56 Nissan Altima Coupe 26 MPG $2,300
57 Nissan Sentra 26 MPG $2,300
58 Pontiac G6 26 MPG $2,300
59 Saturn Aura 26 MPG $2,300
60 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD 26 MPG $2,300
61 Audi A4 25 MPG $2,750
62 Audi A4 Cabriolet 25 MPG $2,750
63 Audi TT Roadster 25 MPG $2,750
64 Chevrolet Cobalt 25 MPG $2,400
65 Honda Accord 25 MPG $2,400
66 Honda Accord Coupe 25 MPG $2,400
67 Jeep Compass 4WD 25 MPG $2,400
68 Jeep Patriot 4WD 25 MPG $2,400
69 Kia Optima 25 MPG $2,400
70 Mazda 3 25 MPG $2,400
71 Suzuki SX4 Sedan 25 MPG $2,400
72 Toyota Corolla 25 MPG $2,400
73 Volkswagen CC 25 MPG $2,750
74 Volkswagen Eos 25 MPG $2,750
75 Volkswagen GTI 25 MPG $2,750
76 Audi A3 24 MPG $2,900
77 Audi A3 quattro 24 MPG $2,900
78 Audi TT Coupe quattro 24 MPG $2,900
79 Audi TT Roadster quattro 24 MPG $2,900
80 Chevrolet HHR FWD 24 MPG $2,500
81 Chevrolet HHR Panel FWD 24 MPG $2,500
82 Chrysler Sebring 24 MPG $2,500
83 Dodge Avenger 24 MPG $2,500
84 Ford Escape FWD 24 MPG $2,500
85 Jeep Compass 2WD 24 MPG $2,500
86 Jeep Patriot 2WD 24 MPG $2,500
87 Mazda 5 24 MPG $2,500
88 Mazda MX-5 24 MPG $2,900
89 Mazda Tribute FWD 24 MPG $2,500
90 Nissan Rogue FWD 24 MPG $2,500
91 Pontiac Vibe 24 MPG $2,500
92 Porsche Boxster 24 MPG $2,900
93 Porsche Cayman 24 MPG $2,900
94 Scion xB 24 MPG $2,500
95 Suzuki SX4 24 MPG $2,500
96 Suzuki SX4 Sport 24 MPG $2,500
97 Toyota Matrix 24 MPG $2,500
98 Volkswagen Jetta 24 MPG $2,500
99 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen 24 MPG $2,500
100 Volkswagen Rabbit 24 MPG $2,500

Most efficient 2009 gasoline cars

The same 2009 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 Toyota Prius 46 MPG $1,300
2 Honda Civic Hybrid 42 MPG $1,400
3 smart fortwo convertible 36 MPG $1,900
4 smart fortwo coupe 36 MPG $1,900
5 Nissan Altima Hybrid 34 MPG $1,750
6 Toyota Camry Hybrid 34 MPG $1,750
7 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 32 MPG $1,850
8 Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD 32 MPG $1,850
9 Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD 32 MPG $1,850
10 MINI Clubman 32 MPG $2,150
11 MINI Cooper 32 MPG $2,150
12 Toyota Yaris 32 MPG $1,850
13 Honda Fit 31 MPG $1,950
14 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 30 MPG $2,000
15 Kia Rio 30 MPG $2,000
16 Nissan Versa FE 30 MPG $2,000
17 Pontiac G5 XFE 30 MPG $2,000
18 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid 29 MPG $2,050
19 Honda Civic 29 MPG $2,050
20 Hyundai Accent 29 MPG $2,050
21 MINI Cooper Convertible 29 MPG $2,400
22 MINI Cooper S Convertible 29 MPG $2,400
23 MINI John Cooper Works 29 MPG $2,400
24 MINI John Cooper Works Clubman 29 MPG $2,400
25 MINI John Cooper Works Convertible 29 MPG $2,400
26 Nissan Cube 29 MPG $2,050
27 Nissan Sentra FE 29 MPG $2,050
28 Pontiac G5 29 MPG $2,050
29 Pontiac G5 GT 29 MPG $2,050
30 Saturn Aura Hybrid 29 MPG $2,050
31 Scion xD 29 MPG $2,050
32 Chevrolet Aveo 28 MPG $2,150
33 Chevrolet Aveo 5 28 MPG $2,150
34 Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 28 MPG $2,150
35 Ford Focus FWD 28 MPG $2,150
36 Honda Civic CNG 28 MPG $1,600
37 Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD 28 MPG $2,150
38 Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD 28 MPG $2,150
39 Nissan Versa 28 MPG $2,150
40 Pontiac G3 Wave 28 MPG $2,150
41 Pontiac G3 Wave 5 28 MPG $2,150
42 Saturn Vue Hybrid 28 MPG $2,150
43 BMW 335d 27 MPG $3,000
44 Dodge Caliber 27 MPG $2,200
45 Hyundai Elantra 27 MPG $2,200
46 Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback 27 MPG $2,200
47 Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback 27 MPG $2,200
48 Audi TT Coupe 26 MPG $2,650
49 Chevrolet Malibu 26 MPG $2,300
50 Hyundai Elantra Touring 26 MPG $2,300
51 Kia Spectra 26 MPG $2,300
52 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec 26 MPG $3,100
53 MINI Clubman S 26 MPG $2,650
54 MINI Cooper S 26 MPG $2,650
55 Nissan Altima 26 MPG $2,300
56 Nissan Altima Coupe 26 MPG $2,300
57 Nissan Sentra 26 MPG $2,300
58 Pontiac G6 26 MPG $2,300
59 Saturn Aura 26 MPG $2,300
60 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD 26 MPG $2,300
61 Audi A4 25 MPG $2,750
62 Audi A4 Cabriolet 25 MPG $2,750
63 Audi TT Roadster 25 MPG $2,750
64 Chevrolet Cobalt 25 MPG $2,400
65 Honda Accord 25 MPG $2,400
66 Honda Accord Coupe 25 MPG $2,400
67 Jeep Compass 4WD 25 MPG $2,400
68 Jeep Patriot 4WD 25 MPG $2,400
69 Kia Optima 25 MPG $2,400
70 Mazda 3 25 MPG $2,400
71 Suzuki SX4 Sedan 25 MPG $2,400
72 Toyota Corolla 25 MPG $2,400
73 Volkswagen CC 25 MPG $2,750
74 Volkswagen Eos 25 MPG $2,750
75 Volkswagen GTI 25 MPG $2,750
76 Audi A3 24 MPG $2,900
77 Audi A3 quattro 24 MPG $2,900
78 Audi TT Coupe quattro 24 MPG $2,900
79 Audi TT Roadster quattro 24 MPG $2,900
80 Chevrolet HHR FWD 24 MPG $2,500
81 Chevrolet HHR Panel FWD 24 MPG $2,500
82 Chrysler Sebring 24 MPG $2,500
83 Dodge Avenger 24 MPG $2,500
84 Ford Escape FWD 24 MPG $2,500
85 Jeep Compass 2WD 24 MPG $2,500
86 Jeep Patriot 2WD 24 MPG $2,500
87 Mazda 5 24 MPG $2,500
88 Mazda MX-5 24 MPG $2,900
89 Mazda Tribute FWD 24 MPG $2,500
90 Nissan Rogue FWD 24 MPG $2,500
91 Pontiac Vibe 24 MPG $2,500
92 Porsche Boxster 24 MPG $2,900
93 Porsche Cayman 24 MPG $2,900
94 Scion xB 24 MPG $2,500
95 Suzuki SX4 24 MPG $2,500
96 Suzuki SX4 Sport 24 MPG $2,500
97 Toyota Matrix 24 MPG $2,500
98 Volkswagen Jetta 24 MPG $2,500
99 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen 24 MPG $2,500
100 Volkswagen Rabbit 24 MPG $2,500

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset.