The 114 Most Fuel Efficient Cars from 2005

Following on my list of most fuel efficient cars of 2008, most fuel efficient cars of 2007, and most fuel efficient cars from 2005, I thought I would look at the most fuel efficient cars from 2005.  It's rather surprising to see how few cars that got over 30 mpg combined.  In alphabetical order, the top fuel sippers are:

• Honda Civic Hybrid
• Honda Civic
• Honda Insight
• Toyota Corolla
  
• Toyota Echo 
• Toyota Prius
• Volkswagen Golf (diesel)
• Volkswagen Jetta (diesel)
• Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (diesel)
• Volkswagen New Beetle (diesel)

And that's it.  A total of 10 cars that receive a combined mpg of 30 mpg or better and 4 of them are diesels.   3 of them are hybrids.

The following list shows the top fuel sippers from 2005.  I've ranked them based on their combined mpg numbers (55% city and 45% highway).  Any cars on the fueleconomy.gov website from 2005 that got better than 25 mpg combined.

Note that many of the cars are the same model, but with different engine or category.  For instance, the top four cars on the list are the Honda Insight.  Obviously it's the same model, but it falls into two different categories and two different engine types.

			MPG*
Ranking	Category	Vehicle	City	Highway	Combined**
1	Small Cars	Honda Insight 3 cyl, 1 L, Manual 5-spd, HEV, Regular	48	58	53
1	Coupes	Honda Insight 3 cyl, 1 L, Manual 5-spd, HEV, Regular	48	58	53
2	Small Cars	Honda Insight 3 cyl, 1 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	45	49	47
2	Coupes	Honda Insight 3 cyl, 1 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	45	49	47
3	Family Sedans'	Toyota Prius 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	48	45	47
4	Small Cars	Honda Civic Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.3 L, Manual 5-spd, HEV LB, Regular	38	45	41
5	Small Cars	Honda Civic Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	39	43	41
6	Small Cars	Honda Civic Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.3 L, Manual 5-spd, HEV, Regular	37	45	41
7	Small Cars	Honda Civic Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV LB, Regular	39	42	40
8	Small Cars	Volkswagen New Beetle 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	32	41	36
8	Small Cars	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	32	41	36
8	Small Cars	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	32	41	36
8	Hatchback	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	32	41	36
9	Small Cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, LEAN BURN, Regular	31	39	35
9	Small Cars	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	31	39	35
9	Hatchback	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, LEAN BURN, Regular	31	39	35
9	Coupes	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, LEAN BURN, Regular	31	39	35
9	Station Wagons	Volkswagen Jetta Wagon 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	31	39	35
10	Small Cars	Toyota Echo 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	30	38	34
10	Small Cars	Volkswagen New Beetle 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel	30	38	34
10	Small Cars	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel	30	38	34
11	Small Cars	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S5), Diesel	28	39	33
11	Small Cars	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S5), Diesel	28	39	33
11	Hatchback	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S5), Diesel	28	39	33
11	Station Wagons	Volkswagen Jetta Wagon 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	28	39	33
12	Small Cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), LEAN BURN, Regular	29	36	32
12	Hatchback	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), LEAN BURN, Regular	29	36	32
12	Coupes	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), LEAN BURN, Regular	29	36	32
13	Small Cars	Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	28	37	32
14	Small Cars	Toyota Echo 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	28	36	32
15	Small Cars	Scion xA 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	27	35	31
16	Small Cars	Scion xA 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	34	30
16	Small Cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	34	30
16	Small Cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, VTEC, Regular	27	34	30
16	Hatchback	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	34	30
16	Hatchback	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, VTEC, Regular	27	34	30
16	Coupes	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	34	30
16	Coupes	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Manual 5-spd, VTEC, Regular	27	34	30
17	Small Cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic 4-spd, VTEC, Regular	26	35	30
17	Small Cars	Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	26	35	30
17	Hatchback	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic 4-spd, VTEC, Regular	26	35	30
17	Coupes	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic 4-spd, VTEC, Regular	26	35	30
18	Station Wagons	Scion xB 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	27	32	29
19	Station Wagons	Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	26	33	29
19	Station Wagons	Toyota Matrix 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	26	33	29
20	SUV	Ford Escape Hybrid 2WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	30	28	29
21	Small Cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	34	29
21	Hatchback	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	34	29
21	Coupes	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	34	29
22	Station Wagons	Scion xB 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	31	29
23	Small Cars	Toyota Celica 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	33	29
23	Family Sedans'	Honda Accord Hybrid 6 cyl, 3 L, Automatic 5-spd, HEV, Regular	25	33	29
24	Small Cars	Honda Civic CNG 4 cyl, 1.7 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Natural Gas	26	31	28
25	Small Cars	Dodge Neon/SRT-4/SX 2.0 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	25	32	28
26	Small Cars	MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Premium	24	33	28
26	Small Cars	Hyundai Accent/Brio 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, I4, Regular	24	33	28
26	Hatchback	Hyundai Accent/Brio 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, I4, Regular	24	33	28
27	Family Sedans'	Volkswagen Passat 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S5), Diesel	23	34	28
27	Station Wagons	Volkswagen Passat Wagon 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S5), Diesel	23	34	28
28	Station Wagons	Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	31	28
28	Station Wagons	Toyota Matrix 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	31	28
29	Small Cars	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	32	28
29	Small Cars	Nissan Sentra 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	32	28
29	Hatchback	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	32	28
29	Convertible	MINI Cooper Convertible 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Premium	24	32	28
30	Small Cars	Chevrolet Cavalier 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	33	28
30	Luxury Sedan	Mercedes-Benz E320 Cdi 6 cyl, 3.2 L, Automatic 5-spd, Diesel	23	33	28
31	Small Cars	Hyundai Accent/Brio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, I4, Regular	25	30	27
31	Hatchback	Hyundai Accent/Brio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, I4, Regular	25	30	27
32	Small Cars	Nissan Sentra 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	24	31	27
32	Family Sedans'	Mitsubishi Lancer 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, SOHC, Regular	24	31	27
32	Sports/Sporty	Acura RSX 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	31	27
33	SUV	Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	28	26	27
34	Small Cars	Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Pontiac Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Pontiac Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Suzuki Swift 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Suzuki Swift x 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Hyundai Accent/Brio 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, I4, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Hyundai Accent/Brio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, I4, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Pontiac Sunfire 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Small Cars	Saturn Ion 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Hatchback	Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Hatchback	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Hatchback	Pontiac Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Hatchback	Pontiac Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Hatchback	Suzuki Swift 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Hatchback	Suzuki Swift x 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
34	Hatchback	Hyundai Accent/Brio 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, I4, Regular	23	32	27
34	Hatchback	Hyundai Accent/Brio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, I4, Regular	23	32	27
35	Small Cars	MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Premium	23	31	27
35	Small Cars	Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Small Cars	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Small Cars	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S4), Regular	23	31	27
35	Small Cars	Pontiac Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Small Cars	Pontiac Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Small Cars	Suzuki Swift 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Small Cars	Suzuki Swift x 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Family Sedans'	Honda Accord 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Family Sedans'	Hyundai Elantra 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Hatchback	Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Hatchback	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Hatchback	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S4), Regular	23	31	27
35	Hatchback	Pontiac Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Hatchback	Pontiac Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Hatchback	Suzuki Swift 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
35	Hatchback	Suzuki Swift x 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	23	31	27
36	Small Cars	Ford Focus 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
36	Hatchback	Ford Focus 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
36	Station Wagons	Ford Focus Station Wagon 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
37	Small Cars	Toyota Celica 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	30	26
37	Convertible	Toyota MR2 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 6-spd, Regular	23	30	26
37	Sports/Sporty	Toyota MR2 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 6-spd, Regular	23	30	26

* MPG based on revised MPG figures from the EPA. The MPG testing was adjusted in 2008 to reflect real world driving.
* Combined MPG Based on 45% Highway and 55% City Driving

Think I missed a car?  Feel like you have something to say?  Then please let me (and everyone else) know in the comments below. If you're right and I missed a car, I'll add it to the list.