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Car Gas Mileage | Best & Worst Fuel Efficient Cars
August 6th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under
If you are planning to buy a brand new car, truck, or SUV - you have about 300 to choose from for the 2009 model year. While there are many factors to consider before making your final decision, one that will be high on your list is gas mileage. Car makers and dealers know how important fuel economy is to buyers, which is why it is one of the largest, bolded items on each window sticker.
While most of our time is spent covering hybrids, when you factor MSRP into your buying equation, there are several non-hybrids that get respectable gas mileage without the “green ding”. Even though there are about 20 hybrid vehicles to choose from, less than half of the top 20 best gas mileage winners were hybrid-electrics. If you factor in 2010 models (not yet added below), the 2010 Honda Insight and 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid would enter the top 5, while the 2010 Toyota Prius would move up to 50 mpg.
We’ve put together a list of every new car you can buy this year, along with combined gas mileage estimates from several auto fuel economy resources (fueleconomy.gov, carmpg.net, consumerreports.org). If you need to do a car gas mileage comparison, this chart provides a quick an easy way to compare vehicles side-by-side. MPG ratings are ordered from best to worst with ties listed alphabetically by manufacturer make and model.
Gas Mileage | Best To Worst
| Make & Model | MPG | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Prius | 46 | $22,000 - $24,300 |
| Honda Civic Hybrid | 42 | $23,650 - $26,850 |
| Smart Fortwo | 36 | $12,000 - $17,000 |
| Nissan Altima Hybrid | 34 | $26,700 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | 33 | $26,200 |
| Mini Cooper | 32 | $18,000 - $19,000 |
| Toyota Yaris | 32 | $12,200 - $15,200 |
| Chevy Malibu Hybrid | 30 | $25,600 |
| Chevy Aveo | 30 | $12,000 - $16,000 |
| Ford Escape Hybrid | 30 | $29,600 - $33,750 |
| Honda Fit | 30 | $14,750 - $16,300 |
| Hyundai Accent | 30 | $10,000 - $15,000 |
| Kia Rio5 | 30 | $13,300 - $14,300 |
| Kia Rio | 30 | $11,500 - $14,100 |
| Mazda Tribute Hybrid | 30 | $29,200 - $33,500 |
| Mercury Mariner Hybrid | 30 | $30,000 - $31,900 |
| Mini Cooper Clubman | 30 | $31,000 |
| Pontiac G3 | 30 | $14,000 - $15,000 |
| Saturn Aura Hybrid | 30 | $26,300 |
| Ford Focus | 29 | $15,500 - $18,250 |
| Pontiac G5 | 29 | $16,750 - $20,300 |
| Scion Xd | 29 | $14,700 |
| Chevy Cobolt | 28 | $15,000 - $23,750 |
| Honda Civic | 28 | $15,300 - $25,250 |
| Hyundai Elantra | 28 | $14,100 - $17,100 |
| Mini Cooper S Clubman | 28 | $23,700 |
| Mini Cooper S | 28 | $22,000 - $26,800 |
| Nissan Versa | 28 | $9,900 - $16,500 |
| Saturn Vue Hybrid | 28 | $30,000 - $51,000 |
| Toyota Corolla | 28 | $15,400 - $18,900 |
| Kia Spectra5 | 27 | $16,700 |
| Kia Spectra | 27 | $13,500 - $16,500 |
| Mazda Mazda3 | 27 | $14,700 - $20,900 |
| Nissan Sentra | 27 | $16,700 - $21,200 |
| Hyundai Elantra Touring | 26 | $17,750 |
| Pontiac Vibe | 26 | $16,000 - $21,000 |
| Toyota Matrix | 26 | $16,300 - $20,800 |
| Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 26 | $34,700 - $41,100 |
| Audi TTS | 25 | $45,000 - $48,000 |
| Chevy Malibu | 25 | $21,600 - $27,000 |
| Chevy HHR | 25 | $18,750 - $25,000 |
| Dodge Caliber | 25 | $16,500 - $25,000 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 25 | $18,500 - $26,600 |
| Kia Optima | 25 | $17,500 - $22,200 |
| Scion Xb | 25 | $15,750 |
| Suzuki SX4 | 25 | $13,300 -$18,600 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 25 | $17,500 - $26,000 |
| Acura TSX | 24 | $29,000 |
| Audi A3 | 24 | $27,000 - $37,000 |
| Dodge Avenger | 24 | $20,500 - $22,000 |
| Honda Accord | 24 | $21,000 - $29,000 |
| Jeep Compass | 24 | $18,500 - $24,750 |
| Mazda MX-5 | 24 | $21,750 - $28,200 |
| Mazda Mazda5 | 24 | $18,000 - $22,700 |
| Nissan Altima | 24 | $19,900 - $29,500 |
| Saturn Aura | 24 | $22,000 - $27,000 |
| Scion Tc | 24 | $17,000 - $20,000 |
| Toyota Camry | 24 | $19,200 - $28,700 |
| Toyota Avalon | 24 | $28,000 - $35,500 |
| Volkswagen CC | 24 | $27,000 - $40,000 |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 24 | $18,000 - $27,000 |
| Volkswagen Rabbit | 24 | $16,300 |
| Audi TTS | 23 | $35,000 - $45,250 |
| Audi A6 | 23 | $45,000 - $61,000 |
| Audi A4 | 23 | $31,000 - $49,000 |
| Chrysler Sebring | 23 | $23,000 - $35,250 |
| Honda CR-V | 23 | $21,200 - $27,500 |
| Jeep Patriot | 23 | $17,500 - $24,000 |
| Mazda Mazda6 | 23 | $18,500 - $28,500 |
| Lexus IS 250 | 23 | $31,100 - $34,800 |
| Lexus GS 450h | 23 | $56,500 |
| Lexus ES 350 | 23 | $34,000 - $38,000 |
| Mercury Milan | 23 | $20,350 - $27,000 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 23 | $14,300 - $26,500 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 23 | $20,000 - $24,000 |
| Nissan Rogue | 23 | $20,200 - $23,100 |
| Subaru Impreza | 23 | $17,500 - $27,500 |
| Subaru Forester | 23 | $20,000 - $28,000 |
| Toyota Venza | 23 | $26,000 - $29,300 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 23 | $15,100 - $27,100 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 23 | $21,500 - $27,800 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 23 | $28,000 - $35,000 |
| Chevy Impala | 22 | $23,750 - $31,250 |
| Chrysler PT Cruiser | 22 | $18,000 - $24,500 |
| Ford Escape | 22 | $20,400 - $27,750 |
| Ford Fusion | 22 | $19,000 - $26,000 |
| Hyundai Ezera | 22 | $24,900 - $29,000 |
| Hyundai Genesis | 22 | $32,000 - $37,500 |
| Kia Rondo | 22 | $17,500 - $22,300 |
| Mazda Tribute | 22 | $19,750 - $27,700 |
| Mazda B2300 | 22 | $16,000 - $18,500 |
| Mitsubishi Galant | 22 | $21,250 - $27,500 |
| Nissan Maxima | 22 | $30,100 - $32,900 |
| Pontiac Solstice | 22 | $24,250 - $30,400 |
| Pontiac G6 | 22 | $19,250 - $32,500 |
| Saab 9-5 | 22 | $42,000 - $43,500 |
| Saab 9-3 | 22 | $30,000 - $51,000 |
| Saturn Sky | 22 | $27,600 - $33,700 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 22 | $23,000-$32,000 |
| Acura TL | 21 | $35,000 - $38,500 |
| Audi Q5 | 21 | $37,000 |
| Audi A5 | 21 | $41,000 |
| Buick LaCrosse | 21 | $26,000 - $34,000 |
| Chrysler Aspen Hybrid | 21 | $45,250 |
| Chrysler 300 | 21 | $26,600 - $36,800 |
| Dodge Durango Hybrid | 21 | $45,000 |
| Ford Taurus | 21 | $25,100 - $32,600 |
| Honda S2000 | 21 | $35,000 - $37,000 |
| Honda Element | 21 | $20,300 - $23,250 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 21 | $18,000 - $25,650 |
| Infiniti G37x | 21 | $35,750 - $38,700 |
| Infiniti G37 | 21 | $33,200 - $37,000 |
| Kia Sportage | 21 | $16,700 - $23,400 |
| Lincoln MKZ | 21 | $32,700 - $34,600 |
| Mazda Mazda Speed3 | 21 | $22,750 - $24,500 |
| Lexus LX 600h | 21 | $105,900 |
| Lexus IS 350 | 21 | $36,600 |
| Lexus GS 350 | 21 | $44,500 - $47,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz E350 | 21 | $53,250 - $88,500 |
| Mercury Sable | 21 | $25,100 - $31,250 |
| Mercury Mariner | 21 | $22,600 - $27,500 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 21 | $20,250 - $25,800 |
| Subaru Outback | 21 | $22,300 - $32,100 |
| Subaru Legacy | 21 | $20,800 - $34,600 |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | 21 | $18,800 -�$26,600 |
| Toyota Highlander | 21 | $25,750 - $34,500 |
| Volkswagen Routan | 21 | $25,000 - $34,000 |
| Acura RDX | 20 | $33,000 - $34,000 |
| Audi S4 | 20 | $57,250 |
| Buick Lucerne | 20 | $29,250 - $40,250 |
| Buick Enclave | 20 | $35,000 - $39,000 |
| Cadillac STS | 20 | $46,500 - $58,000 |
| Cadillac Escalade Hybrid | 20 | $73,100 - $87,500 |
| Chevy Tahoe Hybrid | 20 | $50,500 - $53,250 |
| Chevy Silverado 1500 Hybrid | 20 | $38,000 - $47,500 |
| Chevy Equinox | 20 | $24,300 - $31,500 |
| Chrysler Town & Country | 20 | $26,250 - $36,800 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 20 | $22,750 - $28,750 |
| Ford Mustang | 20 | $20,300 - $34,000 |
| GMC Yukon Hybrid | 20 | $51,000 - $53,750 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid | 20 | $38,300 - $47,750 |
| Honda Odessey | 20 | $26,250 - $40,500 |
| Hyundai Sante Fe | 20 | $21,700 - $30,500 |
| Jaguar XF | 20 | $49,000 - $64,000 |
| Kia Amanti | 20 | $26,050 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 20 | $46,400 - $52,100 |
| Lincoln MKX | 20 | $37,850 - $40,000 |
| Linclon MKS | 20 | $38,500 - $40,500 |
| Lexus GS 460 | 20 | $53,400 |
| Mercedes-Benz SLK350 | 20 | $50,000 - $65,700 |
| Mercury Grand Marquis | 20 | $29,000 - $30,000 |
| Nissan Quest | 20 | $26,000 - $35,700 |
| Nissan Murano | 20 | $27,700 - $37,300 |
| Nissan 350z | 20 | $37,000 - $42,000 |
| Pontiac Torrent | 20 | $24,900 - $31,500 |
| Pontiac G8 | 20 | $28,250 - $37,700 |
| Porsche 911 | 20 | $75,000 - $140,000 |
| Saturn Vue | 20 | $23,300 - $31,000 |
| Suzuki Equator | 20 | $17,000 - $28,000 |
| Acura RL | 19 | $46,700 - $54,100 |
| Audi S5 | 19 | $51,500 |
| BMW X5 | 19 | $47,000 - $56,500 |
| BMW X3 | 19 | $37,500 |
| Cadillac XLR | 19 | $86,250 |
| Chevy Traverse | 19 | $29,250 - $42,000 |
| Chevy Corvette | 19 | $48,500 - $104,000 |
| Chevy Colorado | 19 | $16,500 - $27,000 |
| Dodge Charger | 19 | $24,750 - $39,000 |
| Dodge Charger | 19 | $24,750 - $39,000 |
| Dodge Challenger | 19 | $22,250 - $40,300 |
| Ford Taurus X | 19 | $28,200 - $34,250 |
| Ford Ranger | 19 | $16,400 - $25,800 |
| Ford Flex | 19 | $28,500 - $36,900 |
| Ford Edge | 19 | $26,600 - $35,600 |
| GMC Canyon | 19 | $16,700 - $27,500 |
| GMC Acadia | 19 | $32,000 - $40,500 |
| Honda Pilot | 19 | $27,700 - $38,500 |
| Infiniti M45 | 19 | $52,200 |
| Infiniti M35x | 19 | $48,000 |
| Infiniti M35 | 19 | $46,000 |
| Infiniti FX35 | 19 | $42,000 - $44,000 |
| Jaguar XJ | 19 | $65,700 - $94,000 |
| Kia Sedona | 19 | $21,250 - $27,750 |
| Mazda RX-8 | 19 | $26,500 - $32,000 |
| Mazda CX-7 | 19 | $24,000 - $28,500 |
| Land Rover LR2 | 19 | $35,000 - $41,000 |
| Lexus SC 430 | 19 | $66,900 |
| Lexus RX 350 | 19 | $37,700 - $39,200 |
| Lexus LS 460 | 19 | $63,500 - $77,200 |
| Lexus IS-F | 19 | $56,600 |
| Mercedes-Benz CLK350 | 19 | $48,000 - $65,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz C350 | 19 | $33,000 - $56,000 |
| Nissan Frontier | 19 | $17,500 - $29,750 |
| Saturn Outlook | 19 | $30,600 - $36,500 |
| Suzuki XL7 | 19 | $25,800 -�$30,000 |
| Toyota Sienna | 19 | $24,500 - $37,900 |
| Audi A8 | 18 | $74,000 - $120,000 |
| BMW 750 | 18 | $80,250 - $84,250 |
| BMW 650 | 18 | $78,000 - $85,500 |
| BMW 550 | 18 | $60,500 |
| Cadillac XLR-V | 18 | $104,250 |
| Cadillac DTS | 18 | $46,000 - $54,500 |
| Cadillac SRX | 18 | $40,000 - $50,000 |
| Chrysler 300c | 18 | $37,100 - $44,250 |
| Dodge Nitro | 18 | $22,250 - $26,250 |
| Jeep Liberty | 18 | $23,000 - $27,750 |
| Kia Sorento | 18 | $21,500 - $27,250 |
| Mazda CX-9 | 18 | $29,900 - $35,250 |
| Mercedes-Benz R350 | 18 | $47,600 - $49,200 |
| Nissan GT-R | 18 | $76,900 - $79,100 |
| Subaru Tribeca | 18 | $30,000 - $33,600 |
| Acura MDX | 17 | $41,000 - $47,000 |
| Chevy Avalanche | 17 | $35,000 - $46,000 |
| Dodge Dakota | 17 | $22,500 - $31,750 |
| Ford Mustang Shelby | 17 | $43,000 - $48,000 |
| Ford Explorer Sport Trak | 17 | $27,500 - $35,200 |
| Ford Explorer | 17 | $28,500 - $39,200 |
| GMC Envoy | 17 | $30,500 - $38,750 |
| Honda Ridgeline | 17 | $28,100 - $34,250 |
| Infiniti M45x | 17 | $54,700 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited | 17 | $23,000 - $32,100 |
| Jeep Wrangler | 17 | $20,700 - $28,900 |
| Jeep Commander | 17 | $29,000 - $46,000 |
| Lincoln Navigator L | 17 | $56,100 - $59,000 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 17 | $51,100 - $56,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz GL450 | 17 | $58,200 - $81,250 |
| Mercury Mountaineer | 17 | $28,700 - $35,100 |
| Mitsubishi Raider | 17 | $21,100 - $29,500 |
| Nissan Xterra | 17 | $22,300 - $29,500 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 17 | $27,200 - $40,250 |
| Toyota FJ Cruiser | 17 | $23,400 - $25,000 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 17 | $28,500 - $39,500 |
| Audi S6 | 16 | $76,000 |
| Audi Q7 | 16 | $43,000 - $60,000 |
| BMW X6 | 16 | $55,500 - $66,750 |
| BMW M3 | 16 | $54,500 - $66,500 |
| Cadillac STS-V | 16 | $81,800 |
| Chevy Tahoe Hybrid | 16 | $36,750 - $51,500 |
| Chevy Silverado 1500 | 16 | $19,500 - $41,500 |
| Chrysler Aspen | 16 | $35,000- $37,500 |
| Ford F-150 SuperCrew | 16 | $28,600 - $38,750 |
| Ford F-150 | 16 | $21,500 - $36,250 |
| Ford Expedition EL | 16 | $37,700 - $49,900 |
| Ford Expedition | 16 | $34,900 - $47,900 |
| GMC Yukon XL | 16 | $41,250 - $56,000 |
| GMC Yukon | 16 | $37,500 - $53,250 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 16 | $19,300 - $44,000 |
| GMC Savana 1500 | 16 | $24,300 - $32,000 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 16 | $30,500 - $44,900 |
| Mazda B4000 | 16 | $22,150 |
| Lexus GX 470 | 16 | $47,750 |
| Mercedes-Benz ML350 | 16 | $44,500 - $91,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz CL S550 | 16 | $70,500 - $96,300 |
| Audi S8 | 15 | $96,000 |
| Audi R8 | 15 | $114,500 |
| Cadillac ESV | 15 | $64,750 - $86,500 |
| Cadillac Escalade Hybrid | 15 | $62,250 - $84,000 |
| Chevy TrailBlazer | 15 | $29,000 - $39,500 |
| Chevy Suburban 1500 | 15 | $40,000 - $53,500 |
| Chevy Express 1500 | 15 | $24,400 - $32,100 |
| Dodge Durango | 15 | $28,100 - $39,900 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport | 15 | $58,400 - $71,900 |
| Land Rover Range Rover | 15 | $77,600 - $93,400 |
| Land Rover LR3 | 15 | $47,000 |
| Lexus LX 570 | 15 | $75,750 |
| Mercedes-Benz SL550 | 15 | $98,500 - $195,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz S600 | 15 | $89,300 - $199,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz CL600 | 15 | $108,000 - $203,750 |
| Nissan Armada | 15 | $37,200 - $47,900 |
| Porsche Cayenne | 15 | $44,600 - $123,500 |
| Saab 9-7X | 15 | $42,600 - $49,100 |
| Toyota Tundra | 15 | $22,500 - $41,600 |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | 15 | $64,800 |
| BMW M6 | 14 | $102,000 - $108,000 |
| BMW M5 | 14 | $86,000 |
| Infiniti QX56 | 14 | $55,100 - $58,250 |
| Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren | 14 | $495,000 |
| Nissan Titan | 14 | $26,100 - $39,500 |
| Mercedes-Benz G55 | 13 | $100,250 - $119,500 |
If you own one of these cars, we’d love to hear what you are getting for combined fuel economy (based on 50% of time spent driving in the city and 50% on the highway). Add your mileage or comments below.
Notice: If you are researching cars to find those eligible for the Cash For Clunkers program, the above list does not represent official gas mileage estimates for that program. Try cars.gov instead.
Pingback by SUV Gas Mileage Comparison | Best For 2007, 2008, 2009 | HybridSUV on 6 August 2009:
[…] articles: SUV Safety Ratings: Which hybrid SUVs are the safest? View 2009 Cars Gas Mileage & MSRP ratings here. 5 Comments Rick on May 5th, 2008 at 8:17 […]
Comment by tommyflorida on 6 August 2009:
I didn’t buy my Toyota Land Cruiser for it’s gas mileage (even in 2001 when gas was cheaper) but it delivers what I need for towing, camping dogs, safety and comfort. That said, I also keep it tuned, drive conservatively and bet I get better actual mpg than several of other cars/suvs on this list. I drive it and pay my own way - my choice - this is still America, right?
Comment by cm on 12 August 2009:
Where are the clean diesel vehicles on this list??
Comment by tw on 21 November 2009:
Very surprised by the Honda Civic mpg on the list. I have a 2006 Civic EX (non hybrid) and AVERAGE 34 mpg in mixed driving. Has the mileage decreased since then???
Comment by littlejohn on 1 February 2010:
My wife recently bought a new Honda Insight hybrid, which is not on your list. Its EPA rating would put it about even with the Honda Civic hybrid. In actual use, my wife gets about 46 mpg, a little better than advertised. It looks like a Prius, but it’s a bit smaller. I’m 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, and I’m just too big for it. But it fits my petite wife perfectly. A bit rough-riding for long highway trips, but great around town.