The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2012

Have you ever wondered what the most fuel efficient cars manufactured in 2012 are? In this article, we'll list out the best 100 fuel efficient cars from 2012 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 2012 Cars by Miles per Gallon

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Mitsubishi i-MiEV Automatic (A1)112$600
Ford Focus Electric Automatic (variable gear ratios)105$600
Nissan Leaf Automatic (A1)99$650
Tesla Model S Automatic (A1)89$750
Toyota RAV4 EV Automatic (variable gear ratios)76$850
CODA Automotive CODA Automatic (A1)73$900
Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric Van Automatic (A1)62$1,050
Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric Wagon Automatic (A1)62$1,050
BYD e6 Automatic (A1)62$1,050
Toyota Prius c Automatic (variable gear ratios)50$1,250
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)50$1,250
Toyota Prius Automatic (variable gear ratios)48$1,300
Honda Civic Hybrid Automatic (variable gear ratios)44$1,400
Lexus CT 200h Automatic (variable gear ratios)42$1,500
Honda Insight Automatic (variable gear ratios)41$1,550
Honda Insight Automatic (AV-S7)41$1,550
Toyota Prius v Automatic (variable gear ratios)41$1,550
Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Automatic (variable gear ratios)40$1,550
Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Automatic (variable gear ratios)39$1,600
Ford Fusion Hybrid FWD Automatic (variable gear ratios)38$1,650
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid FWD Automatic (variable gear ratios)38$1,650
Chevrolet Volt Automatic (variable gear ratios)37$2,000
Scion iQ Automatic (variable gear ratios)37$1,700
Honda CR-Z Automatic (AV-S7)36$1,750
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Automatic 6-spd36$1,750
Kia Optima Hybrid Automatic 6-spd36$1,750
smart fortwo cabriolet Automatic (AM5)36$2,050
smart fortwo coupe Automatic (AM5)36$2,050
Honda CR-Z Manual 6-spd34$1,850
Lexus HS 250h Automatic (variable gear ratios)34$1,850
Volkswagen Passat Automatic (S6)34$2,250
Nissan Versa Automatic (variable gear ratios)33$1,900
Toyota Yaris Manual 5-spd33$1,900
Audi A3 Automatic (S6)32$2,400
Chevrolet Cruze Eco Manual 6-spd32$1,950
Chevrolet Sonic Manual 6-spd32$1,950
Chevrolet Sonic 5 Manual 6-spd32$1,950
Fiat 500 Manual 5-spd32$2,300
Ford Escape Hybrid FWD Automatic (variable gear ratios)32$1,950
Ford Fiesta FWD Automatic (AM6)32$1,950
Ford Fiesta FWD Manual 5-spd32$1,950
Ford Fiesta SFE FWD Automatic (AM6)32$1,950
Ford Focus SFE FWD Automatic (AM6)32$1,950
Ford Focus SFE FWD FFV Automatic (AM6)32$1,950
Honda Civic HF Automatic 5-spd32$1,950
Hyundai Accent Manual 6-spd32$1,950
Hyundai Elantra Automatic 6-spd32$1,950
Hyundai Elantra Manual 6-spd32$1,950
Kia Rio Manual 6-spd32$1,950
Mazda 3 DI 4-Door Automatic (S6)32$1,950
MINI Cooper Manual 6-spd32$2,300
MINI Cooper Coupe Manual 6-spd32$2,300
Volkswagen Golf Automatic (S6)32$2,400
Volkswagen Golf Manual 6-spd32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta Automatic (S6)32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta Manual 6-spd32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Automatic (S6)32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen Manual 6-spd32$2,400
Ford Focus FWD Automatic (AM6)31$2,000
Ford Focus FWD FFV Automatic (AM6)31$2,000
Ford Focus FWD FFV Automatic (AM-S6)31$2,000
Honda Civic Automatic 5-spd31$2,000
Honda Civic Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Honda Civic Natural Gas Automatic 5-spd31$1,150
Honda Fit Automatic 5-spd31$2,000
Hyundai Accent Automatic 6-spd31$2,000
Hyundai Veloster Manual 6-spd31$2,000
Kia Rio Automatic 6-spd31$2,000
Mazda 2 Manual 5-spd31$2,000
Mazda 3 DI 5-Door Automatic (S6)31$2,000
Toyota Yaris Automatic 4-spd31$2,000
Chevrolet Cruze Automatic (S6)30$2,100
Chevrolet Cruze Manual 6-spd30$2,100
Chevrolet Cruze Eco Automatic 6-spd30$2,100
Chevrolet Sonic Automatic (S6)30$2,100
Chevrolet Sonic 5 Automatic (S6)30$2,100
Fiat 500 Abarth Manual 5-spd30$2,450
Ford Focus FWD Automatic (AM-S6)30$2,100
Honda Fit Automatic (S5)30$2,100
Hyundai Veloster Automatic (AM6)30$2,100
Kia Forte Eco Automatic 6-spd30$2,100
Mazda 2 Automatic 4-spd30$2,100
Mazda 3 DI 4-Door Manual 6-spd30$2,100
Mazda 3 DI 5-Door Manual 6-spd30$2,100
MINI Cooper Automatic (S6)30$2,450
MINI Cooper Clubman Automatic (S6)30$2,450
MINI Cooper Clubman Manual 6-spd30$2,450
MINI Cooper Convertible Automatic (S6)30$2,450
MINI Cooper Convertible Manual 6-spd30$2,450
MINI Cooper Countryman Manual 6-spd30$2,450
MINI Cooper Coupe Automatic (S6)30$2,450
MINI Cooper Roadster Automatic (S6)30$2,450
MINI Cooper Roadster Manual 6-spd30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Manual 6-spd30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Clubman Manual 6-spd30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Convertible Manual 6-spd30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Coupe Manual 6-spd30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Roadster Manual 6-spd30$2,450
Nissan Versa Automatic (variable gear ratios)30$2,100
Nissan Versa Manual 5-spd30$2,100

Best 2012 Regular Fuel Cars by Miles per Gallon

The table below contains the best 2012 regular fuel cars by combined miles per gallon (MPG).

CarCombined MPGFuel Cost
Scion iQ (Automatic (variable gear ratios))37$1,700
smart fortwo cabriolet (Automatic (AM5))36$2,050
smart fortwo coupe (Automatic (AM5))36$2,050
Volkswagen Passat (Automatic (S6))34$2,250
Nissan Versa (Automatic (variable gear ratios))33$1,900
Toyota Yaris (Manual 5-spd)33$1,900
Audi A3 (Automatic (S6))32$2,400
Chevrolet Cruze Eco (Manual 6-spd)32$1,950
Chevrolet Sonic (Manual 6-spd)32$1,950
Chevrolet Sonic 5 (Manual 6-spd)32$1,950
Fiat 500 (Manual 5-spd)32$2,300
Ford Fiesta FWD (Automatic (AM6))32$1,950
Ford Fiesta FWD (Manual 5-spd)32$1,950
Ford Fiesta SFE FWD (Automatic (AM6))32$1,950
Ford Focus SFE FWD (Automatic (AM6))32$1,950
Ford Focus SFE FWD FFV (Automatic (AM6))32$1,950
Honda Civic HF (Automatic 5-spd)32$1,950
Hyundai Accent (Manual 6-spd)32$1,950
Hyundai Elantra (Automatic 6-spd)32$1,950
Hyundai Elantra (Manual 6-spd)32$1,950
Kia Rio (Manual 6-spd)32$1,950
Mazda 3 DI 4-Door (Automatic (S6))32$1,950
MINI Cooper (Manual 6-spd)32$2,300
MINI Cooper Coupe (Manual 6-spd)32$2,300
Volkswagen Golf (Automatic (S6))32$2,400
Volkswagen Golf (Manual 6-spd)32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta (Automatic (S6))32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta (Manual 6-spd)32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (Automatic (S6))32$2,400
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (Manual 6-spd)32$2,400
Ford Focus FWD (Automatic (AM6))31$2,000
Ford Focus FWD FFV (Automatic (AM6))31$2,000
Ford Focus FWD FFV (Automatic (AM-S6))31$2,000
Honda Civic (Automatic 5-spd)31$2,000
Honda Civic (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Honda Civic Natural Gas (Automatic 5-spd)31$1,150
Honda Fit (Automatic 5-spd)31$2,000
Hyundai Accent (Automatic 6-spd)31$2,000
Hyundai Veloster (Manual 6-spd)31$2,000
Kia Rio (Automatic 6-spd)31$2,000
Mazda 2 (Manual 5-spd)31$2,000
Mazda 3 DI 5-Door (Automatic (S6))31$2,000
Toyota Yaris (Automatic 4-spd)31$2,000
Chevrolet Cruze (Automatic (S6))30$2,100
Chevrolet Cruze (Manual 6-spd)30$2,100
Chevrolet Cruze Eco (Automatic 6-spd)30$2,100
Chevrolet Sonic (Automatic (S6))30$2,100
Chevrolet Sonic 5 (Automatic (S6))30$2,100
Fiat 500 Abarth (Manual 5-spd)30$2,450
Ford Focus FWD (Automatic (AM-S6))30$2,100
Honda Fit (Automatic (S5))30$2,100
Hyundai Veloster (Automatic (AM6))30$2,100
Kia Forte Eco (Automatic 6-spd)30$2,100
Mazda 2 (Automatic 4-spd)30$2,100
Mazda 3 DI 4-Door (Manual 6-spd)30$2,100
Mazda 3 DI 5-Door (Manual 6-spd)30$2,100
MINI Cooper (Automatic (S6))30$2,450
MINI Cooper Clubman (Automatic (S6))30$2,450
MINI Cooper Clubman (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
MINI Cooper Convertible (Automatic (S6))30$2,450
MINI Cooper Convertible (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
MINI Cooper Countryman (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
MINI Cooper Coupe (Automatic (S6))30$2,450
MINI Cooper Roadster (Automatic (S6))30$2,450
MINI Cooper Roadster (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
MINI Cooper S (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Clubman (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Convertible (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Coupe (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
MINI Cooper S Roadster (Manual 6-spd)30$2,450
Nissan Versa (Automatic (variable gear ratios))30$2,100
Nissan Versa (Manual 5-spd)30$2,100
Subaru Impreza AWD (Automatic (variable gear ratios))30$2,100
Subaru Impreza Wagon/Outback Sport AWD (Automatic (variable gear ratios))30$2,100
Chevrolet Cruze (Manual 6-spd)29$2,150
Chevrolet Sonic (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Chevrolet Sonic 5 (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Fiat 500 (Automatic 6-spd)29$2,550
Fiat 500 Cabrio (Automatic 6-spd)29$2,550
Ford Focus FWD (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Ford Focus FWD FFV (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Honda Fit (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Kia Forte (Automatic 6-spd)29$2,150
Nissan Juke (Automatic (AV-S6))29$2,550
Nissan Sentra (Automatic (variable gear ratios))29$2,150
Scion xD (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Scion xD (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Corolla (Automatic 4-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Corolla (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Toyota Matrix (Manual 5-spd)29$2,150
Audi A6 (Automatic (variable gear ratios))28$2,650
Chevrolet Sonic (Automatic (S6))28$2,250
Chevrolet Sonic 5 (Automatic (S6))28$2,250
Kia Forte (Manual 6-spd)28$2,250
Kia Forte Koup (Automatic 6-spd)28$2,250
Kia Soul Eco (Automatic 6-spd)28$2,250
Mazda 3 (Manual 5-spd)28$2,250
MINI Cooper S (Automatic (S6))28$2,650
MINI Cooper S Clubman (Automatic (S6))28$2,650
MINI Cooper S Convertible (Automatic (S6))28$2,650

Conclusion

The most fuel efficient car of 2012 is the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. It has a combined MPG of 112 and costs $600 per year to drive it.

The most fuel efficient non-electric car of 2012 is the Scion iQ. It has a combined MPG of 37 and costs $1,700 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 2012." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2012.

  • "The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2012." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2012. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • The 100 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in 2012. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/most-fuel-efficient-cars-in-2012.