1991 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1991 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 45 EPA-rated 1991 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Ford Escort leads at about $1,550 a year (30 MPG), while the Wallace Environmental Wetl 412 is the most expensive to run at $5,925 (10 MPG). The median compact car costs $2,114 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. 1Ford Escort30 MPG $1,550
  2. 2Pontiac Lemans30 MPG $1,550
  3. 3Eagle Summit29 MPG $1,603
  4. 4Isuzu Stylus29 MPG $1,603
  5. 5Volkswagen Jetta Diesel34 MPG $1,632
  6. 6Mercury Tracer28 MPG $1,661
  7. 7Mitsubishi Precis28 MPG $1,661
  8. 8Mazda 323 Protege28 MPG $1,661
  9. 9Saturn SL27 MPG $1,722
  10. 10Toyota Camry26 MPG $1,788
  11. 11Volkswagen Golf/GTI25 MPG $1,860
  12. 12Volkswagen Jetta25 MPG $1,860
  13. 13Plymouth Sundance25 MPG $1,860
  14. 14Ford Probe24 MPG $1,938
  15. 15Buick Skylark24 MPG $1,938

All 45 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Ford Escort Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
2Pontiac Lemans Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
3Eagle Summit Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
4Isuzu Stylus Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
5Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 34 MPG — $1,632
6Mercury Tracer Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
7Mitsubishi Precis Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
8Mazda 323 Protege Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
9Saturn SL Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
10Toyota Camry Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
11Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
12Volkswagen Jetta Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
13Plymouth Sundance Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
14Ford Probe Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
15Buick Skylark Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
16Chevrolet Beretta Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
17Infiniti G20 Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
18Pontiac Grand Am Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
19Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
20Honda Accord Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
21Ford Tempo Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
22Mercury Topaz Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
23Subaru Legacy/Outback Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
24Volvo 240 Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
25Mitsubishi Galant Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
26Saab 900 Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
27Nissan Stanza Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
28Mercedes-Benz 300 Diesel Diesel 26 MPG — $2,135
29Peugeot 405 Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
30Lexus ES Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
31Sterling 827 Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
32Volvo Coupe Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
33Mercedes-Benz 350 Diesel 21 MPG — $2,643
34BMW 5 Series Gas 16 MPG — $2,906
35Mercedes-Benz 200 Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
36Mercedes-Benz 300 Gas 15 MPG — $3,100
37Acura Legend Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
38Alfa Romeo 164 Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
39Toyota Cressida Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
40BMW M Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
41Import Trade Services MB 300E Gas 14 MPG — $3,321
42Jaguar XJ Gas 17 MPG — $3,485
43Import Trade Services ITS 320 Gas 15 MPG — $3,950
44Mercedes-Benz 560 Gas 14 MPG — $4,232
45Wallace Environmental Wetl 412 Gas 10 MPG — $5,925

More 1991 rankings

1991 class rankings

This ranking in other years