Fueleconomy.gov's Most Fuel-Efficient Cars in America: 1984 to 2010

GAITHERSBURG, MD - June 9, 2010: Fueleconomy.gov has released two new top ten lists to help consumers purchase a fuel-efficient vehicle. Unlike other top ten lists that are limited to current model year vehicles, these new lists draw from twenty-six years of EPA and real-world fuel economy data, making them useful for consumers considering a new or used gas miser:

1. Fueleconomy.gov's Top Ten EPA-Rated Fuel Sippers (1984 to present)
2. Fueleconomy.gov's Top Ten Real-World Fuel Sippers (1984 to present)

The first list shows the most fuel efficient vehicles based on EPA fuel economy ratings, while the second list shows the most fuel efficient vehicles based on fuel economy estimates reported by fueleconomy.gov's "Your MPG" members-ten members must provide estimates for a vehicle's real-world mpg to be included in the list, and the list is updated weekly as new data are submitted from members.

It's no surprise that hybrids top both lists, but it may come as a surprise that more than half of the vehicles on each list are not hybrids. Several small cars from the 1980s and 1990s fare well on both lists, and three diesel vehicles make the list based on driver-reported mpg.

A quick glance at the two lists also shows some interesting differences between the EPA estimates and the gas mileage reported by actual drivers. Several vehicles on the real-world list significantly outperformed EPA estimates. 2004-06 Honda Insight drivers averaged about 18 mpg better than the EPA estimate (70.4 mpg vs. 52 mpg), and all three diesel vehicles showed more than a 21-percent improvement in real-world driving over laboratory-based estimates. On the other hand, the average driver-reported estimates for some vehicles, such as the 2010 Toyota Prius, were much closer to the EPA ratings.

Fueleconomy.gov's Top Ten EPA-Rated Fuel Sippers (1984 to present)

1. Honda Insight Model Year 2000
3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
Combined: 53
(City: 49 Highway: 61)

2. Toyota Prius Model Year 2010
4 cyl, 1.8L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular Gasoline
Combined: 50
(City: 51 Highway: 48)

3. Chevrolet Sprint ER Model Year 1986
3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
Combined: 48
(City: 44 Highway: 53)

4. Geo Metro XFI Model Year 1990-1994
3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
Combined: 47
(City: 43 Highway: 52)

5. Honda Civic Coupe HF Model Years 1986-1987
4 cyl, 1.5L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
Combined: 46
(City: 42 Highway: 51)

6. Honda Civic HB VX Model Years 1994-1995
4 cyl, 1.5L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
Combined: 43
(City: 39 Highway: 50)

7. Honda Civic Hybrid Model Years 2006-2010
4 cyl, 1.3L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular Gasoline
Combined: 42
(City: 40 Highway: 45)

8. Honda Insight Model Year 2010
4 cyl, 1.3L, Auto(AV-S7), Regular Gasoline
Combined: 41
(City: 40 Highway: 43)

9. Toyota Prius Model Years 2001-2003
4 cyl, 1.5L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular Gasoline
Combined: 41
(City: 42 Highway: 41)

10. Chevrolet Sprint Model Year 1989
3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
Combined: 41
(City: 38 Highway: 45)

Suzuki Swift Model Year 1989
3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline

Vehicles are ranked based on EPA's unrounded combined rating. In the event of a tie, multiple vehicles may share the same ranking. Only the most efficient configuration of a particular model is presented for a given rank-variants of a ranked model are listed as "similar models" if they would have otherwise made the list. Models classified under different EPA size classes, however, are ranked separately.

Fueleconomy.gov's Top Ten Real-World Fuel Sippers (1984 to present)

1. Honda Insight Model Years 2004-2006
3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
User Average: 70.4
(11 vehicles) EPA Combined: 52

2. Honda Insight Model Year 2010
4 cyl, 1.3L, Auto(AV-S7), Regular Gasoline
User Average: 49.7
(14 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 41

3. Geo Metro XFI Model Years 1990-1994
3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
User Average: 49.4
(12 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 46

4. Toyota Prius Model Year 2010
4 cyl, 1.8L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular Gasoline
User Average: 48.6
(87 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 50

5. Chevrolet Metro Model Year 1999
3 cyl, 1.0L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
User Average: 48.4
(10 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 37

6. Volkswagen Jetta Wagon Model Years 2002-2003
4 cyl, 1.9L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel
User Average: 48.2
(22 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 39

7. Honda Civic Hybrid Model Years 2003-2005
4 cyl, 1.3L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
User Average: 47.8
(20 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 41

8. Honda Civic HB VX Model Years 1992-1995
4 cyl, 1.5L, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
User Average: 47.6
(11 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 43

9. Volkswagen Golf Model Years 2000-2003
4 cyl, 1.9L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel
User Average: 47.0
(50 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 38

10. Volkswagen New Beetle Model Years 1998-2003
4 cyl, 1.9L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel
User Average: 46.2
(47 vehicles)
EPA Combined: 38

Vehicles are ranked based on fuel economy records provided by our users through our Your MPG feature. Vehicles are only ranked if ten or more drivers submitted fuel economy estimates. If a model has variants that are nearly identical (e.g., same number of cylinders, engine displacement, transmission, fuel type, and EPA combined fuel economy rating), those records are combined and averaged. Variants that are not similar enough to be combined are included under "similar models" if they would have otherwise made the list. Only the most efficient configuration of a particular model is presented for a given rank. This list is updated weekly as new data are submitted by Your MPG members.

Fueleconomy.gov will release more Top Ten lists in the near future.