1986 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1986 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 49 EPA-rated 1986 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Renault Alliance/Encore leads at about $1,409 a year (33 MPG), while the Rolls-Royce Camargue is the most expensive to run at $5,812 (8 MPG). The median compact car costs $1,938 a year to fuel.

Fuel costs assume 15,000 miles a year at $3.10/gal regular, $3.95/gal premium and 18¢/kWh. Each model is shown in its most efficient configuration.

Top 15

Annual fuel cost (lower is better)
  1. 1Renault Alliance/Encore33 MPG $1,409
  2. 2Ford Escort Diesel38 MPG $1,461
  3. 3Dodge Omni30 MPG $1,550
  4. 4Plymouth Horizon30 MPG $1,550
  5. 5Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel35 MPG $1,586
  6. 6Volkswagen Jetta Diesel35 MPG $1,586
  7. 7Toyota Corolla29 MPG $1,603
  8. 8Ford Escort29 MPG $1,603
  9. 9Mercury Lynx29 MPG $1,603
  10. 10Chevrolet Nova29 MPG $1,603
  11. 11Ford Tempo Diesel34 MPG $1,632
  12. 12Mercury Topaz Diesel34 MPG $1,632
  13. 13Mercury Lynx Diesel34 MPG $1,632
  14. 14Toyota Camry27 MPG $1,722
  15. 15Mazda 32327 MPG $1,722

All 49 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Renault Alliance/Encore Gas 33 MPG — $1,409
2Ford Escort Diesel Diesel 38 MPG — $1,461
3Dodge Omni Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
4Plymouth Horizon Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
5Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
6Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 35 MPG — $1,586
7Toyota Corolla Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
8Ford Escort Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
9Mercury Lynx Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
10Chevrolet Nova Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
11Ford Tempo Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
12Mercury Topaz Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
13Mercury Lynx Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
14Toyota Camry Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
15Mazda 323 Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
16Buick Skyhawk Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
17Oldsmobile Firenza Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
18Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
19Volkswagen Jetta Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
20Mazda 626 Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
21Ford Tempo Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
22Mercury Topaz Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
23Nissan Stanza Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
24Toyota Camry Diesel Diesel 29 MPG — $1,914
25Pontiac Grand Am Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
26Cadillac Cimarron Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
27Oldsmobile Calais Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
28Buick Somerset/Skylark Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
29Volvo 240 Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
30Peugeot 505 Diesel Diesel 26 MPG — $2,135
31Saab 900 Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
32Ford Thunderbird Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
33Mercury Cougar Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
34BMW 5 Series Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
35Acura Legend Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
36Mitsubishi Galant Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
37Dodge GLH-S Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
38BMW 5 Series Diesel Diesel 23 MPG — $2,413
39Nissan Maxima Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
40Merkur XR4Ti Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
41Peugeot 505 Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
42Lambda Control Systems 300E Gas 17 MPG — $2,735
43BMW 7 Series Gas 16 MPG — $2,906
44Mercedes-Benz 300 Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
45Toyota Cressida Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
46Bitter Gmbh and Co. Kg Bitter SC Gas 16 MPG — $3,703
47Texas Coach Company 500SEC Gas 12 MPG — $3,875
48Mercedes-Benz 560 Gas 14 MPG — $4,232
49Rolls-Royce Camargue Gas 8 MPG — $5,812

More 1986 rankings

1986 class rankings

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