No one likes to stop at the gas station all the time, so one of the most important factors you may want to think about when shopping for a car is finding some thing that is fuel-efficient. A great place to start is selecting a small car, and you can find some models that get better miles to the gallon than others.
How Is Fuel Efficiency Measured?
Each automobile manufacturer is responsible for determining its model’s gas mileage using rules set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This agency also audits about 15% of each manufacturer’s figures to ensure that they are accurate. In most cases, pre-production vehicles are put on a special machine and tested in a garage.
What Are Some Factors That Can Affect Your Fuel Mileage?
Many different factors can affect the fuel mileage you will achieve, so numbers should only be used for comparison purposes. One of those that you will want to think about is vehicle variations. The engine size and type of transmission can make a difference. Other factors that can affect your fuel mileage are vehicle maintenance and if the engine is broken in. Your driving habits can also impact how fuel-efficient your vehicle is.
What Are Some of the Most Fuel-Efficient Small Cars?
When it comes to small cars, there are many different fuel-efficient choices available. All have three- or four-cylinder engines to give you the power that you need to reach your destination. Consider these top choices.
Lexus UX
If you are looking for top fuel mileage in a small luxury vehicle, consider the Lexus UX. You should get about 42 mpg when this crossover is equipped with a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine. If you choose the all-wheel-drive option, then you should get about 39 mpg. Therefore, you can expect to go 100 miles on 2.4 to 2.6 gallons of gas. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given this small car a five-star rating for safety.
Mitsubishi Mirage
You may also want to consider the fuel-efficient Mitsubishi Mirage. This car has a three-cylinder 1.2-liter engine. Choose it with an automatic transmission to get 39 mpg. Pick the manual transmission, and you will get about 36 mpg.
When figuring out how much of your budget to allow for gas, you can assume you will need to buy about 2.6 gallons for every 100 miles you will drive. With a base price of under $17,000, this car offers a best-in-class turning radius, which may make it perfect for your commute.
Kia Rio
The Kia Rio is another car worth considering as it gets 36 mpg when equipped with a 4-cylinder 1.6-liter engine and an automatic variable gear ratio transmission. Expect to buy about 2.8 gallons of gas for every 100 miles driven. This small, four-door car offers a color navigation screen to keep you informed and a six-way adjustable driver’s seat.
Hyundai Accent
Another small car with excellent gas mileage is the Hyundai Accent. This compact vehicle comes with a four-cylinder 1.6-liter engine. It is rated at 36 mpg when equipped with an automatic transmission and 33 miles per gallon when equipped with a manual six-speed transmission. A weekend road trip may be cheaper than you think because you will only need to buy between 2.8 and 3.0 gallons of gas for every 100 miles you plan to travel. This car that sits five comfortably has 13.7-cubic feet of cargo space, and the rear seats fold down to give you even more if needed.
Honda Civic
If you are shopping for a two-door small car, then consider the Honda Civic. This vehicle gets between 30 and 35 mpg depending on how it is equipped with some of the best gas mileage coming from the Civic with a four-cylinder, 1.5-liter engine and a viable gear ratio automatic transmission. When you use acceptable driving practices and keep your car in top shape, you should only need to buy about 2.9-to-3.4 gallons of gas for every 100 miles that you drive. This front-wheel-drive vehicle offers plenty of passenger space and 12 feet of cargo space.
Toyota Corolla Hatchback
Hatchbacks offer convenient access to cargo, and the Toyota Corolla Hatchback is no exception. When equipped with a gas-powered, four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine and an automatic transmission, you can expect to achieve 35 mpg. Choosing the manual transmission will lower that figure slightly to 31 mpg. Depending on your desired configuration, you should be able to buy 2.9-to-3.2 gallons of gas and cruise down the highway for 100 miles. This car was the IIHS top safety pick of 2019, and it received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.
Volkswagen Jetta
You can find several fuel-efficient options in the Volkswagen Jetta. The most efficient choices have a four-cylinder, 1.4-liter engine with either a manual or automatic transmission. These options will achieve 34 mpg but finishing right behind them are options with a four-cylinder, 2-liter engine with a six-speed manual transmission. Your weekly budget may look better when you realize you only need to buy about 2.9 to 3.6 gallons of gas for every 100 miles you drive. These cars come with an intelligent crash response system that activates the headlights, unlocks the doors and turns off the fuel pump automatically if you are in a crash.
Mazda 2
Another small car worth considering when looking for gas-saving options is the Mazda 2. Expect to get 35 mpg when equipped with a four-cylinder, 1.5-liter engine and an automatic transmission. Choosing the six-speed manual transmission lowers that figure by one mpg. Don’t worry when it is your turn to drive because you can go about 100 miles on 2.9 gallons of gas. This front-wheel drive hatchback offers 16 feet of cargo space and 87 feet of passenger space, so you can comfortably get where you are going with your stuff.
Mitsubishi Mirage G4
The second Mitsubishi vehicle to make the list is the Mirage G4, which achieves 37 mpg when equipped with a three-cylinder, 1.2-liter engine. Choosing the automatic variable gear transmission will give you the best gas mileage, but picking the manual transmission will only lower your fuel mileage to a very respectable 35 mpg. You can start saving more because you’ll only need to put 2.7 to 2.9 gallons of gas in this car for every 100 miles that you drive. This model comes with a rearview camera and seven airbags to keep you and your passengers safe.
Nissan Versa
Pick the Nissan Versa with a four-cylinder, 1.6-liter engine and a variable gear ratio automatic transmission, and you can pass many gas stations because it gets 35 mpg. If you prefer to drive a manual transmission, then you can expect to achieve about 30 mpg. You’ll only need to put 2.9 to 3.3 gallons of gas in this vehicle to go 100 miles. J.D. Power has named this car the most appealing small car while Consumer Guide has given it the best buy award.
These top 10 fuel-efficient cars will help you get on down the highway. You will only need to buy a little over two gallons of gas to go 100 miles in most of them. Remember that your mileage is likely to be different because of your driving habits and conditions. In addition to helping you pass gas stations, most of these cars come with features to make sure that you arrive at your destination safely. These small compact cars will give you many miles of outstanding performance.
