Are you dreaming about a new, more fuel-efficient car? Perhaps you’ve been thinking about buying an electric car but are concerned about the maximum distance you can travel on one charge. Maybe you are also concerned about the high price of purchasing a new hybrid or electric vehicle.
If so, then you might want to consider a used car with an efficient gas or diesel-powered engine. Many non-hybrid cars can get 40 miles per gallon or more for highway driving. If your current car currently gets 25 miles per gallon on the highway, then you could save up to $500 per year with a car that gets at least 40 miles per gallon in highway driving.
Furthermore, if you were to buy a new car, your vehicle could lose as much as 20% or more of its value to depreciation in the first year alone. You can also expect that new car to decline in value by an additional 10% per year for the next four years. In contrast, a two- or three-year-old used car could cost half as much as a similarly equipped current year model. If you are intrigued, then please read on for a list of five of the most fuel-efficient gas or diesel cars from 2018.
Honda Civic LX
The Honda Civic is at the top of many best car lists for good reason. These vehicles are extremely reliable and durable. In fact, it is possible for a Civic to remain on the road for 200,000 miles or more with proper maintenance.
These compact cars come with four-cylinder, 2.0-liter VTEC engines that put out over 150 horsepower. The Civic achieves 40 miles per gallon on the highway and 31 miles per gallon in the city. Overall, you can expect to get a combined 34 miles per gallon, per Edmunds.
The 2018 Honda Civic models include front-wheel drive, automatic transmissions with continuously variable speed and four-wheel antilock braking systems (ABS). Other safety features include dual front side-mounted air bags, front and rear head air bags and automatic stability control.
The Civic comes in four trim levels, including the LX four-door sedan, the EX four-door sedan and the EX four-door hatchback. All of these trim levels include the safety features described above as well as dusk-sensing headlamps, auto delay off headlamps, tire pressure monitoring, traction control and emergency braking assist. However, the EX sedan and the hatchback also come standard with the blind-spot warning feature and an accident avoidance system.
The Honda Civic LX has a long track record of reliability and fuel efficiency that may make this car a great option for you.
Chevrolet Cruze LS
Chevrolet introduced the Cruze in 2010. Since then, it has gained a reputation for its reliability, practicality and fuel economy. In fact, J.D. Power rates the Cruze as 4.5 out of 5 for reliability as compared to other models in its class.
The Cruze comes standard with a 1.4-liter, four-cylinder turbo gas engine that produces 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The EPA estimates the car’s mileage at 29 miles per gallon in the city and 40 miles per gallon on the highway. This vehicle’s combined fuel efficiency is 33 miles per gallon.
It also features front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. Its fuel tank holds 13.7 gallons of gas, which gives the car an expected range of about 397 miles.
The Cruze has a wide variety of integrated safety mechanisms, including dual front and dual rear side-mounted air bags, front and rear head air bags and automatic passenger air bag deactivation if no one is in that seat. All three of the Cruze trim levels come with a post-collision safety system, four-wheel ABS and auto delay off headlights.
Although relatively new compared to the other cars on this list, the Chevrolet Cruze has already earned a loyal following for its reliability, fuel economy and excellent in-dash entertainment system.
BMW 328d Sedan
There’s a reason why many people refer to BMW as the ultimate driving machine. In addition to its available premium amenities such as leather seats, in-dash navigation and heated steering wheel, the diesel version of BMW’s classic 3 Series is also one of the most fuel-efficient options in its class.
In fact, the EPA rates the 328d’s fuel efficiency at 30 miles per gallon in the city and 40 miles per gallon on the highway. Based upon these ratings, you should anticipate a combined fuel efficiency of 34 miles per gallon. Its four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine generates 180 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.
Unfortunately, there is only one trim level for the 328d. However, it does come standard with a 15-gallon fuel tank that provides an estimated range of 450 miles before needing a fill-up.
Similar to the options above, the 328d also includes dual front side-mounted air bags, the sensor for the passenger air bag that will deactivate it if no one is in the seat and four-wheel ABS. However, its standard equipment also includes an innovative brake-drying solution, traction control and emergency braking assist.
It’s hard to argue with the combination of luxury and performance that the 328d provides to go with its impressive city and highway miles per gallon ratings.
Jaguar XF 20d Sedan
Jaguar’s XF 20d model comes standard with a 2.0-liter, turbo four-cylinder diesel engine. This motor produces 180 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. It also features an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The EPA rates the XF 20d’s fuel economy at 30 miles per gallon when driving in the city and 40 miles per gallon while on the highway. On the surface, these numbers are identical to the BMW 328d discussed earlier. However, this Jaguar model has a 17.4-gallon fuel tank, which means that its maximum range is over 520 miles.
This vehicle also comes with a number of safety features, including stability control, dual front side-mounted air bags, traction control and a post-collision safety system. Some of its unique features include xenon high-intensity lights, self-leveling headlamps and high-pressure washing mechanisms for the headlamps.
The XF 20d has the longest range of any sedan or hatchback on this list, which may make it a great choice if you anticipate a long daily commute.
Mitsubishi Mirage ES Hatchback
You may not have guessed that the Mitsubishi Mirage ES hatchback actually has one of the highest fuel-efficiency ratings across all non-hybrid car models in 2018. This car has a three-cylinder, 1.2-liter gasoline-powered engine that is capable of achieving a combined 39 miles per gallon in total fuel economy. If you primarily drive in the city, then you could see as much as 37 miles per gallon. However, if you mostly have to drive on the highway, then you might get as much as 43 miles per gallon.
This remarkable fuel economy is primarily due to the car’s lightweight design. The three-cylinder gasoline motor puts out 78 total horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque. Furthermore, its gas tank holds 9.2 gallons compared to the BMW’s 15-gallon capacity and the Chevrolet Cruze’s 13.7-gallon tank. Yet, this vehicle’s higher miles per gallon rating means that it still has a total range of about 340 miles per tank.
The Mitsubishi Mirage also includes a number of standard safety features, including four-wheel ABS brakes, dual front side-mounted air bags, front and rear head air bags and stability control. It also has emergency braking assist and traction control.
The Mirage is not only the most fuel-efficient option on this list but also one of the most reasonably priced when you consider the included standard safety features.
Key Takeaways
In the not-so-distant past, you would have had to purchase a hybrid car in order to get highly efficient gas mileage. In some instances, you likely would have had to sacrifice tank size and usable range to lower your costs at the pump. However, continued development in both gasoline and diesel engines means that you can get 40 miles per gallon on the highway without owning a hybrid or a 100% electric vehicle. Options from BMW and Jaguar also mean that you can get premium amenities and comforts while still enjoying top-notch gas mileage.
