Research
2008's most fuel-efficient compact cars
Fuel-efficient cars by body style
- Compact cars
- Sports cars
- Station wagons
- Minivans/vans
Choosing a new compact car? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet. The following small cars and hatchbacks are ranked by city miles per gallon (MPG), followed by highway MPG based on the Environmental Protection Agency's Fuel Economy Guide for the 2008 model year. (For details of the testing, see the notes below.)
| Rank | Model | MPG: city/hwy | Annual fuel cost * | Carbon footprint (tons/yr of CO2) |
Additional info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Honda Civic Hybrid |
40/45 | $1457 | 4.4 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.3 liter, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular gas |
| 2 |
smart fortwo |
33/41 | $1797 | 5.1 tons | 3 cyl, 1 liter, Automatic (S5), Premium gas |
| 3 |
Toyota Yaris |
29/36 | $1916 | 5.7 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.5 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
| 4 |
Toyota Corolla |
28/37 | $1977 | 5.9 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.8 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
| 5 |
Honda Fit |
28/34 | $1977 | 5.9 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.5 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
| 6 (tie) |
Nissan Versa |
27/33 | $2111 | 6.3 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.8 liter, Automatic (CVT), Regular gas |
| 6 (tie) |
Scion xD |
27/33 | $2111 | 6.3 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.8 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
| 8 (tie) |
Hyundai Accent |
27/32 | $2111 | 6.3 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.6 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
| 8 (tie) |
Kia Rio |
27/32 | $2111 | 6.3 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.6 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
| 10 |
Honda Civic |
26/34 | $2111 | 6.3 tons | 4 cylinder, 1.8 liter, Manual (5), Regular gas |
Related link:
2006-2007 Fuel-efficiency guide
Notes:
* Annual fuel cost is based on an assumption of cars driven 15,000 miles annually, 54 percent on the highway, 46 percent in the city, and a fuel price of $ 4.08 per gallon. Visit the EPA's Web site to calculate annual fuel costs using a different fuel price or annual miles for a specific vehicle.
This year, the EPA has changed the way it estimates MPG to more accurately reflect real driving conditions. Estimates reflect the effects of: faster speeds and acceleration; air conditioner use; and colder outside temperatures. The tests lower MPG estimates for most vehicles compared to previous years. Miles per gallon will vary for models with different vehicle specifications. Driving habits will also affect MPG.
Each model is allowed to appear on the list only once, except the Honda Civic, which appears on the list twice because of its availability in both regular gasoline and gasoline-electric hybrid versions.
4 Comments
By ge on October 31, 2008 3:02 PM
Where are the VW tdi's?
By jim johnson on October 31, 2008 3:29 PM
Your telling me that the Toyota Prius didn't even make the top ten? How is that possible?
Jim
By Jeff Holdridge, NWautos Producer on October 31, 2008 3:59 PM
To answer the questions above:
1. Volkswagen did not produce any TDI's for the 2008 model year (or at least none that were rated by the EPA's fuel economy guide), so that is why they do not show up on this list. Expect to see them on the 2009 fuel-efficient lists in the future.
2. The EPA put the Toyota Prius in the family sedan class rather than the compact car class, so it does not show up on this page. However, the Prius is #1 on both our most fuel-efficient sedans page and our most fuel-efficient cars overall page.
By Jane Keller Watson on November 18, 2008 9:43 AM
Note to readers:
We have now posted the EPA's updated list of 2009's most fuel-efficient compact cars.
-- Jane Keller Watson
NWautos senior editor