The 82 Most Fuel Efficient Cars in 2008

Sometimes, it just isn't easy trying to figure out which car to buy. If fuel economy is one of your primary selling points, then you should head on over to the fueleconomy.gov website to get the latest fuel economy (and emissions) from the EPA.

Unfortunately the EPA assumes people come into the site looking to purchase a particular type of car, whether SUV, small car, family sedan or hatchback. Not everyone thinks that way. So I looked through and located every 2008 model year car that gets over 25 mpg and sorted them by their fuel economy.

Not surprisingly, the top five most fuel efficient vehicles on the list are hybrids.

UPDATE (May 30, 2008): I've gone back and updated the list. There are now 99 cars listed that get over 25 mpg combined. As you can see from the list, the MINI(s) has been added in, along with the Saturn Vue Hybrid and a few others.

This Table Represents the Most Fuel Efficient Cars for 2008.

			MPG
Ranking	Category	Vehicle	City	Highway	Combined
1	family sedans	Toyota Prius 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular	48	45	46.7
2	small cars	Honda Civic Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.3 L, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular	40	45	42.3
3	Coupes	smart fortwo coupe 3 cyl, 1 L, Automatic (S5), Premium	33	41	36.6
3	Convertibles	smart fortwo convertible 3 cyl, 1 L, Automatic (S5), Premium	33	41	36.6
4	family sedans	Nissan Altima Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular	35	33	34.1
5	family sedans	Toyota Camry Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular	33	34	33.5
6	SUV	Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	34	30	32.2
6	SUV	Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	34	30	32.2
6	SUV	Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	34	30	32.2
7	small cars	Toyota Yaris 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Man(5), Regular	29	36	32.2
7	small cars	MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	29	36	32.2
7	Hatchback	Toyota Yaris 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Man(5), Regular	29	36	32.2
8	small cars	MINI Clubman 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium	28	37	32.1
8	small cars	Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular	28	37	32.1
9	small cars	Toyota Yaris 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Auto(4), Regular	29	35	31.7
9	Hatchback	Toyota Yaris 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Auto(4), Regular	29	35	31.7
10	small cars	Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Man(5), Regular	28	34	30.7
10	Hatchback	Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Man(5), Regular	28	34	30.7
11	small cars	Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Auto(5), Regular	27	34	30.2
11	Hatchback	Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Auto(5), Regular	27	34	30.2
12	small cars	Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(4), Regular	26	35	30.1
13	small cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(5), Regular	25	36	30.0
13	small cars	Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	25	36	30.0
14	small cars	Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular	27	33	29.7
14	small cars	Nissan Versa 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	27	33	29.7
14	small cars	Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Auto(S5), Regular	27	33	29.7
14	Hatchback	Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular	27	33	29.7
14	Hatchback	Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Auto(S5), Regular	27	33	29.7
14	Station Wagons	Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular	27	33	29.7
15	small cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular	26	34	29.6
15	small cars	MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium	26	34	29.6
15	small cars	MINI Cooper S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium	26	34	29.6
15	small cars	MINI Clubman S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium	26	34	29.6
16	small cars	Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Auto(4), Regular	25	35	29.5
16	small cars	Pontiac G5 XFE 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	25	35	29.5
16	Coupes	Pontiac G5 XFE 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	25	35	29.5
17	small cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(5), RNG=170, Natural Gas	24	36	29.4
18	small cars	Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Man(5), Regular	27	32	29.3
18	small cars	Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Man(5), Regular	27	32	29.3
19	Station Wagons	Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular	26	33	29.2
19	Station Wagons	Toyota Matrix 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular	26	33	29.2
20	small cars	Ford Focus 4 cyl, 2 L, Man(5), Regular	24	35	29.0
21	small cars	Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(4), Regular	26	32	28.7
21	Hatchback	Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(4), Regular	26	32	28.7
21	Station Wagons	Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(4), Regular	26	32	28.7
22	small cars	Nissan Sentra 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	25	33	28.6
22	family sedans	Hyundai Elantra 4 cyl, 2 L, Auto(4), Regular	25	33	28.6
23	small cars	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Man(5), Regular	24	34	28.5
23	small cars	Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Man(5), Regular	24	34	28.5
23	Hatchback	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Man(5), Regular	24	34	28.5
23	Hatchback	Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Man(5), Regular	24	34	28.5
24	small cars	Nissan Versa 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(6), Regular	26	31	28.3
25	SUV	Saturn Vue Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	32	28.2
26	SUV	Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	29	27	28.1
26	SUV	Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	29	27	28.1
26	SUV	Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	29	27	28.1
27	small cars	Ford Focus 4 cyl, 2 L, Auto(4), Regular	24	33	28.1
27	small cars	Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Auto(4), Regular	24	33	28.1
27	small cars	Pontiac G5/Pursuit 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Man(5), Regular	24	33	28.1
27	small cars	Chevrolet Cobalt 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Man(5), Regular	24	33	28.1
27	family sedans	Hyundai Elantra 4 cyl, 2 L, Man(5), Regular	24	33	28.1
27	Coupes	Pontiac G5/Pursuit 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Man(5), Regular	24	33	28.1
28	Station Wagons	Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(4), Regular	25	31	27.7
28	Station Wagons	Toyota Matrix 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(4), Regular	25	31	27.7
29	small cars	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Man(5), Regular	24	32	27.6
29	small cars	Nissan Versa 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Auto(4), Regular	24	32	27.6
29	family sedans	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Auto(4), Regular	24	32	27.6
29	family sedans	Kia Spectra 4 cyl, 2 L, Auto(4), Regular	24	32	27.6
29	family sedans	Saturn Aura Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Auto(4), Regular	24	32	27.6
29	Hatchback	Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	32	27.6
29	Hatchback	Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	32	27.6
30	small cars	Nissan Sentra 4 cyl, 2 L, Man(6), Regular	24	31	27.2
31	small cars	MINI Cooper S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium	23	32	27.1
31	small cars	MINI Clubman S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium	23	32	27.1
31	small cars	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Auto(4), Regular	23	32	27.1
31	small cars	Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Auto(4), Regular	23	32	27.1
31	family sedans	Nissan Altima 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Man(6), Regular	23	32	27.1
31	luxury sedan	Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec 6 cyl, 3 L, Auto(L7), Diesel	23	32	27.1
31	Hatchback	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Auto(4), Regular	23	32	27.1
31	Hatchback	Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Auto(4), Regular	23	32	27.1
31	Coupes	Nissan Altima Coupe 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Man(6), Regular	23	32	27.1
31	Convertibles	MINI Cooper Convertible 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Man(5), Premium	23	32	27.1
32	small cars	Nissan Sentra 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	24	30	26.7
32	Hatchback	Saturn Astra 2DR Hatchback 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	24	30	26.7
32	Hatchback	Saturn Astra 4DR Hatchback 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	24	30	26.7
33	small cars	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Auto(S4), Regular	23	31	26.6
33	small cars	Suzuki SX4 Sedan 4 cyl, 2 L, Auto(4), Regular	23	31	26.6
33	family sedans	Nissan Altima 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	23	31	26.6
33	Coupes	Audi TT Coupe 4 cyl, 2 L, Auto(S6), Premium	23	31	26.6
33	Coupes	Nissan Altima Coupe 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (CVT), Regular	23	31	26.6
33	Sports/Sporty Cars	Audi TT Coupe 4 cyl, 2 L, Auto(S6), Premium	23	31	26.6
34	small cars	Chevrolet Cobalt 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Man(5), Premium	22	32	26.5
34	small cars	Pontiac G5/Pursuit 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Man(5), Premium	22	32	26.5
35	Hatchback	Dodge Caliber 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Man(5), Regular	24	29	26.3
36	family sedans	Kia Spectra 4 cyl, 2 L, Man(5), Regular	23	30	26.2
37	SUV	Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (CVT), HEV, Regular	27	25	26.1
38	small cars	Pontiac G5/Pursuit 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Auto(4), Regular	22	31	26.1
38	small cars	Chevrolet Cobalt 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Auto(4), Regular	22	31	26.1
38	Coupes	Pontiac G5/Pursuit 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Auto(4), Regular	22	31	26.1

Rankings for the Most Fuel Efficient Cars of 2008

The rankings for this list of the most fuel efficient cars in 2008 was based on the combined fuel economy (45% highway, 55% city). Since fuel economy is so dependent on the engine type, the EPA breaks down the vehicle by engine type. So, even though the list seems to be repeating itself, it's not.

The numbers shown are based on the new EPA MPG testing. The old ratings were not very realistic, leading to many complaints about not getting the fuel economy they were promised. And although many predicted that hybrids would be affected more than others, they are still there at the top.

UPDATE (May 30, 2008): The following paragraph is no longer true since I've gone back to update the list. But I would still like to hear from you if you see a car that's not on the list.

All cars on this list are 2008 model year. Notice that the 2008 Saturn Vue Greenline Hybrid is not on the list. For some reason it's not up on the fueleconomy.gov website, yet. If it was, in would be right up there with the top ranked vehicles. But since it's not there, I decided to keep it off the list.

You may notice other vehicles that are not on the list. If you do, please let me know in the comments below. When I come back to update the list, I'd like to get it right.

Update (August, 2008): I have lists up on the most fuel efficient cars of 2006 and the most fuel efficient cars of 2005.