The 77 Most Fuel Efficient Cars of 2006

If this is your first time here, I have been putting together lists of the most fuel efficient cars in the US. The fueleconomy.gov website, from which all the data comes from, lists out the cars, but does so in such a way that it's very hard to figure out which cars are more fuel efficient.  By categorizing them by type, they've separated out the cars I wanted to compare.

So I've put together the most fuel efficient cars from 2008, the most fuel efficient cars from 2007 and the most fuel efficient cars from 2005.  I would bet most people today would find the list for 2008 the most useful, but I hope that some people find the other lists (perhaps you're looking for a used car that's also a fuel sipper?) useful as well.

For some reason, 2006 had fewer fuel efficient cars than either 2007 or 2008 or 2005.  How strange.

The list shows the cars that get better than 25 mpg combined.  The combined value is based on 45% Highway and 55% city driving.  All the mpg ratings are based on the new system from the EPA, which reflect 'real world' conditions.  Which means these numbers won't match up if you try to look up documentation prior to this year.

Also, please note that each of the cars gets a separate listing based on engine and category.  So, for instance, the Honda Insight shows  up in the first four slots because it has two different categories and two different engines.

			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 Sedan	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, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	40	45	42
5	Small Cars	Volkswagen New Beetle 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	31	40	35
5	Small Cars	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	31	40	35
5	Hatchbacks	Volkswagen New Beetle 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	31	40	35
5	Hatchbacks	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	31	40	35
6	Small Cars	Volkswagen New Beetle 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel	30	38	34
6	Small Cars	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel	30	38	34
6	Hatchbacks	Volkswagen New Beetle 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel	30	38	34
6	Hatchbacks	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel	30	38	34
7	Small Cars	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S5), Diesel	28	40	33
7	Hatchbacks	Volkswagen Golf 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic (S5), Diesel	28	40	33
8	Small Cars	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	30	37	33
8	Hatchbacks	Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 1.9 L, Manual 5-spd, Diesel	30	37	33
9	Small Cars	Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	28	37	32
9	Hatchbacks	Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	28	37	32
10	Small Cars	Scion xA 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	27	35	31
10	Hatchbacks	Scion xA 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	27	35	31
11	Small Cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular	26	36	31
11	Hatchbacks	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular	26	36	31
12	Small Cars	Scion xA 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	34	30
12	Hatchbacks	Scion xA 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	34	30
13	Small Cars	Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	26	35	30
13	Hatchbacks	Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	26	35	30
14	Small Cars	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	26	34	30
14	Hatchbacks	Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	26	34	30
15	Small Cars	Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	35	30
15	Hatchbacks	Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	35	30
16	Small Cars	Honda Civic CNG 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 5-spd, Natural Gas	24	36	29
17	Small Cars	Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	32	29
17	Small Cars	Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	32	29
17	Hatchbacks	Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	32	29
17	Hatchbacks	Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	27	32	29
18	Station Wagon	Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	26	33	29
18	Station Wagon	Toyota Matrix 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	26	33	29
19	SUV	Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular	30	28	29
20	Small Cars	Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	33	29
20	Hatchbacks	Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	33	29
21	Station Wagon	Scion xB 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	26	31	28
22	Small Cars	MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Premium	24	33	28
23	Station Wagon	Scion xB 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	26	30	28
24	Station Wagon	Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	31	28
24	Station Wagon	Toyota Matrix 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	25	31	28
25	Small Cars	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	32	28
25	Small Cars	Nissan Sentra 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	32	28
25	Hatchbacks	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	32	28
25	Convertibles	MINI Cooper Convertible 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Premium	24	32	28
26	Luxury Sedan	Mercedes-Benz E320 Cdi 6 cyl, 3.2 L, Automatic 5-spd, Diesel	23	33	28
27	Small Cars	Nissan Sentra 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular	24	31	27
27	Sports/Sporty	Acura RSX 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	24	31	27
28	SUV	Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular	28	26	27
28	SUV	Mazda Tribute Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular	28	26	27
28	SUV	Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular	28	26	27
29	Small Cars	Saturn Ion 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	32	27
30	SUV	Lexus RX 400h 2WD 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	28	25	27
30	SUV	Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2WD 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	28	25	27
31	Small Cars	MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Premium	23	31	27
31	Small Cars	Ford Focus 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	31	27
31	Small Cars	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S4), Regular	23	31	27
31	Small Cars	Mitsubishi Lancer 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, SOHC, Regular	23	31	27
31	Family Sedan	Honda Accord 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	31	27
31	Family Sedan	Hyundai Elantra 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	31	27
31	Hatchbacks	Ford Focus 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	31	27
31	Hatchbacks	Mazda 3 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S4), Regular	23	31	27
31	Station Wagon	Ford Focus Station Wagon 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	23	31	27
32	Small Cars	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
32	Small Cars	Pontiac Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
32	Small Cars	Suzuki Swift x 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
32	Hatchbacks	Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
32	Hatchbacks	Pontiac Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
32	Hatchbacks	Suzuki Swift x 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular	22	32	27
33	SUV	Lexus RX 400h 4WD 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	27	25	26
33	SUV	Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD 6 cyl, 3.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular	27	25	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

Did I miss any cars? Feel like you have something to add? Then please let me know in the comments below.