One of the most important things to consider when looking for a new car is its fuel efficiency. While most cars nowadays are significantly more efficient than those of the past, some models still perform better than others. The cost of gasoline remains a significant expense for most Americans, even though it has decreased from its all-time high.
U.S. drivers are once again reaching the daily miles they drove before the pandemic, so the only way to decrease costs is to get a more fuel-efficient car. This article lists the top 15 cars with the best gas mileage based on EPA ratings and official fuel efficiency data.
Top 15 Best-Mileage Cars For 2024
15. 2024 Audi A3
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 31/28/36 mpg
Being the smallest vehicle in Audi’s American lineup, the A3 sedan aims to infuse a premium feel and high content into a small, four-door body, and for the most part, it succeeds. It has good performance and handling qualities, fits the brand’s familial style language nicely, and has a few essential safety and technological features.
The A3’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a 48-volt hybrid system and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission produces 201 horsepower. All-wheel drive is an optional feature; front-wheel drive is standard. The chassis offers a comfortable ride on most terrain while still being dynamic and responsive enough to make traveling enjoyable.
14. 2024 Acura Integra
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 24/21/28 mpg
Those who thought the resurrected Acura Integra wasn’t sporty enough will be glad to discover that a new 320-hp Type S model has been added to the lineup for 2024. The regular 1.5-liter four-cylinder Integra engine produces 200 horsepower with turbocharging. These 200-hp vehicles are all front-wheel-drive and have a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) as standard equipment.
However, A-Spec cars also have the option of a limited-slip differential and a six-speed manual transmission. The 2.0-liter inline-four turbocharged engine in the Type S produces 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, making it far more potent. The Type S has front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission.
13. 2024 Kia Forte
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 34/30/40 mpg
The Kia Forte is a sporty-looking small sedan, but don’t let its sleek exterior deceive you—its best feature isn’t how much fun it is to drive but rather how easy it is on your wallet. Two different engine options are available for the Forte compact sedan: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 147 horsepower and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 201 horsepower that is turbocharged.
The Forte’s ride is smooth and comfy, but even the sportier GT model’s handling isn’t as exciting as its Stinger-inspired looks would lead you to believe. The Forte doesn’t have any big changes from last year’s model to this year’s. Sportier options like the GT are still available, and the base LX continues to have an enticingly low starting price.
12. 2024 Volkswagen Jetta
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 34/29/42 mpg
Even though they aren’t as popular as they once were, the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta is still one of the most reasonably priced small sedans available today. Every Jetta is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The base S comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, although a six-speed manual is also available.
The Jetta comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission, but an eight-speed automatic transmission is available for an additional few hundred dollars. Standard equipment on the base S model includes cloth upholstery, heated power outside mirrors, and a few safety technologies like Autonomous Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning. Excellent entertainment options and upgrades are also available.
11. 2024 Nissan Versa
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 35/32/40 mpg
As its rivals, the Kia Rio and the Mitsubishi Mirage G4, are set to be phased out in the near future, the 2024 Nissan Versa will remain the sole affordable option for consumers. The Nissan’s stylish exterior, fuel-efficient engine, and value-oriented features set it apart from other compact sedans, so it’s no surprise that it’s the last one standing.
A four-cylinder, 122-horsepower engine powers the front wheels of the Versa. Base models come standard with a five-speed manual transmission, but the S model also offers a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The higher SV and SR trim levels have the latter as standard. Even if the Versa seems sluggish when leaving stoplights and driving on highways, its CVT reduces noise by simulating real gear changes.
10. 2024 Honda Civic
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 31/28/37 mpg
The Civic is the classic small car and perhaps what most people picture when they think of affordable, useful for everyday use. It’s stylish, fuel-efficient, and enjoyable to drive. The Civic received an upgrade for 2022; however, the available powertrains are the same as those of the previous generation.
The base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower, while the upgraded engine is still a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower due to turbocharging. There is only one front-wheel-drive model available for the new Civic. Sadly, the Civic sedan’s manual gearbox was discontinued for the 2022 model year, leaving only a CVT available. However, the hatchback variant is still offered with a six-speed manual transmission.
9. 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage G4
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: City/Highway driving: 35/42 mpg
As one of the most affordable sedans available, the 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 feels every bit of its extremely low price. Mitsubishi gives the little Mirage G4 a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder engine that produces 74 pound-feet of torque and only 78 horsepower. Front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) are standard on all Mirage G4 variants.
The small vehicle accelerates slowly when driven in daily traffic. This is particularly apparent when driving on the highway, as strong throttle inputs are required to generate the necessary power for passing maneuvers. The engine isn’t only weak; it also makes a rough noise and becomes really noisy when you crank up the speed.
8. 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 36-39/33-37/41-43 mpg
Despite its name, the 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage is not an optical illusion. It’s an actual car, one of the remaining subcompact hatchbacks on the market. Starting at less than $20,000, the Mitsubishi Mirage is among the least expensive car models on the market today. Even in base trim, this affordable hatchback has a long list of standard comfort and technology amenities.
The 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine of the Mirage produces an insufficient 78 horsepower—far too little to propel the almost 2100-pound (952 kg) hatchback around town, much less on the highway. All models have a CVT, which makes the little car even less appealing. The transmission keeps the engine at a higher rpm to maximize its limited power.
7. 2024 Toyota Crown
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 30/29/32 mpg
Although a sedan with a higher suspension isn’t a new idea, the 2024 Toyota Crown explores it with mixed results. In other parts of the world, it is sold as a regular sedan body, but the version available in the United States is limited to a high-riding configuration. The Crown’s three trim levels offer a more luxurious experience than other Toyota four-doors.
All Crown models have a hybrid drivetrain, but only the top-tier Platinum model is equipped with Toyota’s latest Hybrid Max system, which combines an electric motor mounted on the rear axle with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder to provide 340 horsepower overall. A less potent hybrid powertrain with 236 horsepower that makes use of three electric motors and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder is available for the XLE and Limited trims.
6. 2024 Lexus ES
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 44/43/44 mpg
Since the ES has been available for so long, almost everyone is aware of its place in the Lexus portfolio. It’s a well-appointed, conservatively styled luxury sedan with several engine options and a broad range of trims available at a fair price. Three different powerplant options are available to Lexus ES purchasers. The ES250 is equipped with all-wheel drive and is powered by a 203-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
All ES350 versions include a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 302 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission that transfers power to the front wheels. Although the ES isn’t a car for thrill-seekers, it does a great job of protecting its passengers from the bumpy parts of the road, and for many purchasers, that’s more than enough.
5. 2024 Honda Accord / Accord Hybrid
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 44/46/41 mpg
In this age of SUVs, people still want a reliable and inexpensive mid-size family car, and the 2024 Honda Accord is the best of the bunch. The Accord’s LX and EX grades come standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 192 horsepower.
Just like earlier Accord models, it is not available with all-wheel drive. The hybrid powertrain is now more prominent in the lineup. It has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that work together to make 204 horsepower. This drivetrain comes with the Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring models.
4. 2024 Toyota Corolla
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 36/32/42 mpg
The Toyota Corolla isn’t meant to amaze or thrill people. Rather, it provides a reliable and secure journey, regardless of the distance traveled. The Corolla comes in a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback configuration. You can get the former with a hybrid powertrain that gets amazingly good gas mileage.
The Corolla’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 169 horsepower, which is transmitted to the front wheels by means of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine is the same for all hatchbacks, but the sedan also has a hybrid powertrain. Both the hatchback and sedan versions of the Corolla have a sleek dashboard with soft-touch materials inside.
3. 2024 Toyota Camry
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 25/22/31 mpg
The Toyota Camry is more than just a sedan—it’s an institution because it has performed so admirably for so long. In a market that is infatuated with SUVs and pickups, the Camry has lost ground in sales, but it has been the best-selling sedan in the US for more than 20 years. The LE is the base trim level, but the XLE and XSE offer more options.
While its closest rivals, the Honda Accord and the Hyundai Sonata, have switched to solely using inline-four engines, the Camry has continued to offer six-cylinder powertrains. Thus, the Toyota entices with a V-6 trim level that produces 301 horsepower at one end of the range and a hybrid trim level that offers remarkable fuel economy at the other.
2. 2024 Hyundai Elantra
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 50/49/52 mpg
Many people think of compact sedans like the 2024 Elantra as basic cars because they are good for first-time car buyers, use less gas, and are easy to park in small spaces. But the Hyundai has a lot of style and great value. Although the Elantra has a striking look, it retains many characteristics of a classic compact car.
The Elantra’s cabin is roomy for its size, and the available hybrid drivetrain enhances its fuel-efficient reputation. The nonhybrid Elantra’s base powertrain is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque under the hood of SE and SEL versions. The N Line variant has 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque from 1.6 liters with a turbocharger.
1. 2024 Toyota Prius
EPA FUEL ECONOMY: Combined/City/Highway: 52/52/52 mpg
Avoiding huge gas bills has always been cool, but it hasn’t always looked that way. That is something that the updated Toyota Prius tries hard to change. For the first time, the Prius achieves better fuel economy than earlier models while still being aesthetically pleasing and relatively enjoyable to drive. The Toyota Prius series is powered by a single engine.
The 2.0-liter hybrid inline-four gasoline engine comes from the Corolla Cross hybrid crossover and is paired with a continuously variable automatic gear to make 194 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard. Toyota adds a high-output permanent magnet electric motor to the back axle of all-wheel-drive Priuses. This raises the total output of the powertrain to 196 horsepower.
Conclusion
Fuel efficiency is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a new car. With the rising prices of fuel, everyone wants to save some bucks, which is best possible with a good gas mileage car. We have narrowed down the 15 best gas-mileage cars that you can buy in 2024. If you are looking to buy a fuel-efficient vehicle, you should definitely go through this guide to select the best car for you.
