What Are the Best-Selling Fuel-Efficient Cars?
If you’re shopping for a new car and want to reduce your spend on fuel, but aren’t ready to go to a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric vehicle, there are still many excellent choices available. Automakers have done an incredible job squeezing even more efficiency out of the internal combustion with and technologies like direct injection, improved transmissions, and slick aerodynamics. Almost all of the best-selling fuel-efficient cars on our list achieve over 40 MPG on the highway. All mileage mentioned are EPA estimates. Here are the top 10.
#10: Nissan Versa
The Versa is Nissan’s smallest and least expensive sedan, but has more than enough room for a young family. The interior is nicely-made and well-equipped, and the in-dash infotainment system offers CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s very easy to use, with physical controls as well as a touch screen. At just over an MSRP of $15,000, you get lots of safety technology like blind spot warning, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. Versa even has intelligent cruise control for longer trips.
Starting MSRP: $15,730
City/Highway MPG: 32/40
#9: Mitsubishi Mirage
The subcompact Mirage, available as a sedan or hatchback, is the least-expensive car available in the U.S., and also one of the most economical to run, capable of 43 MPG on the highway when equipped with the automatic. It has plenty of room in front, and the hatchback has a versatile cargo area that can be expanded by folding down the back seats. Even at its low price, Mirage comes standard with ABS brakes, stability control, automatic braking with pedestrian detection, seven airbags, and a rear-view camera – features optional on many more expensive cars.
Starting MSRP: $16,245
City/Highway MPG: 36/43
#8: Lexus IS
The Lexus IS is a compact luxury sedan that offers all the comfort and features you’d expect from a Lexus along with surprising fuel economy. No wonder that it sells in such large numbers. You get a stylish exterior, a beautifully-finished interior with all of the latest tech, and in the IS300, a fuel-sipping four-cylinder engine that also provides sport-sedan levels of performance and responsiveness. Interestingly for Lexus, which has traditionally been a hybrid leader, only gasoline engines are available. We particularly like the IS’ excellent rear-wheel drive chassis, responsive steering, and great seats.
Starting MSRP: $40,895
City/Highway MPG: 21/31
#7: Hyundai Accent
The subcompact Accent is Hyundai’s cheapest offering, but you still get a lot for the low price. Standard equipment includes an automatic transmission, ABS brakes, stability control, rear-view camera, and six airbags. Inside, you get practical touches like a six-way driver’s seat, power windows and door locks, and more. The infotainment provides a touch-screen portal to your smartphone through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay alongside physical climate controls. All said, the Accent is an appealing as well as an economical package, giving you 41 highway MPG.
Starting MSRP: $16,645
City/Highway MPG: 33/41
#6: Kia Rio
Small on the outside, but big on the inside, Kia’s subcompact Rio actually has more interior space than the top-selling Toyota Corolla. The Rio is also well-equipped, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, rear-view camera, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Standard safety gear includes ABS and stability control along with a strong crash structure and six airbags. Combined with a standard automatic transmission, the 1.6-liter, 120-hp engine produces plenty of pep for city and highway journeys, along with 41 MPG fuel consumption on the highway.
Starting MSRP: $16,750
City/Highway MPG: 33/41
#5: Volkswagen Jetta
The best thing about the compact Jetta is that it has almost as much room as a mid-size sedan. In fact, everything feels like it’s from a class above, including its superb ride quality and quiet cabin. It’s stable and comfortable at highway speeds with great refinement for a car of this price. The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine produces 158 horsepower while sipping gas – it has nearly double the power of the Mitsubishi Mirage, while delivering even better fuel economy. Standard tech includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, multiple USB ports, a back-up camera, and more.
Starting MSRP: $20,665
City/Highway MPG: 29/43
#4: Hyundai Elantra
The compact Hyundai Elantra is a modern-looking and surprisingly spacious sedan with impressive space and features. Even the entry-level SE model comes with a large touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You also get with a wide range of standard safety systems: forward collision assist with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, and more. The 147-hp four-cylinder delivers 42 highway MPG – best in class, and better than many smaller, less comfortable cars.
Starting MSRP: $20,650
City/Highway MPG: 33/42
#3: Kia Forte
The Kia Forte looks and feels more upscale than its price, with a real European touch to its interior and exterior styling, and a high-end feel that belies its sub-$20,000 sticker. It is also economical, with a 2-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 41 highway MPG. Standard tech includes forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic braking assist. Inside, the dash-mounted touch screen infotainment system is clear and easy to use, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and available wireless charging.
Starting MSRP: $19,690
City/Highway MPG: 31/41
#2: Honda Civic
Redesigned for 2022, the ever-popular Civic has more room than ever in its spacious, nicely-made cabin, which has excellent quality, great seats, and intuitive controls. There’s a touch screen on the dash for infotainment – Apple CarPlay is standard – but thankfully, many functions are still operated with knobs and buttons. We are also really impressed by the Civic’s driving experience, which has a responsive, sporty edge that is surprising in a vehicle of this size and price. The base 2.0-liter engine produces 158 hp and 40 highway MPG, but upgrading to the more powerful 180-hp turbo engine in EX and Touring models actually gets you 42 MPG highway as well as more performance.
Starting MSRP: $25,050
City/Highway MPG: 31/40
#1: Toyota Corolla
The Corolla is actually the best-selling car in the world. Millions have been made since the model was introduced in the sixties, and many are still on the road thanks to their bulletproof reliability and impressive resale value. The Corolla’s interior is roomy, and offers a stylish, upscale design. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard, with active cruise control, lane assist, automatic braking, pedestrian detection, and more. New for 2022 is a taller, crossover-shaped Corolla Cross model, which offers some extra ground clearance as well as the option of all-wheel drive.
Starting MSRP: $21,550
City/Highway MPG: 32/40
