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, ...

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.

Hot in Week

Popular

Archive

item