1996 rankings · Compact Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1996 Compact Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 44 EPA-rated 1996 compact cars by what they cost to fuel. The Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel leads at about $1,461 a year (38 MPG), while the Rolls-Royce Corniche/Continental is the most expensive to run at $4,938 (12 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. 1Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel38 MPG $1,461
  2. 2Volkswagen Jetta Diesel38 MPG $1,461
  3. 3Ford Escort30 MPG $1,550
  4. 4Mercury Tracer30 MPG $1,550
  5. 5Mazda Protege30 MPG $1,550
  6. 6Toyota Corolla29 MPG $1,603
  7. 7Geo Prizm29 MPG $1,603
  8. 8Saturn SL29 MPG $1,603
  9. 9Dodge Neon28 MPG $1,661
  10. 10Hyundai Accent28 MPG $1,661
  11. 11Plymouth Neon28 MPG $1,661
  12. 12Kia Sephia27 MPG $1,722
  13. 13Chevrolet Cavalier26 MPG $1,788
  14. 14Chevrolet Beretta26 MPG $1,788
  15. 15Pontiac Sunfire26 MPG $1,788

All 44 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel Diesel 38 MPG — $1,461
2Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Diesel 38 MPG — $1,461
3Ford Escort Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
4Mercury Tracer Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
5Mazda Protege Gas 30 MPG — $1,550
6Toyota Corolla Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
7Geo Prizm Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
8Saturn SL Gas 29 MPG — $1,603
9Dodge Neon Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
10Hyundai Accent Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
11Plymouth Neon Gas 28 MPG — $1,661
12Kia Sephia Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
13Chevrolet Cavalier Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
14Chevrolet Beretta Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
15Pontiac Sunfire Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
16Subaru Legacy/Outback Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
17Honda Accord Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
18Ford Contour Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
19Mercury Mystique Gas 25 MPG — $1,860
20Chevrolet Corsica Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
21Nissan Altima / Stanza Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
22Hyundai Elantra Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
23Infiniti G20 Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
24Volkswagen Golf/GTI Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
25Volkswagen Jetta Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
26Buick Skylark Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
27Mitsubishi Galant Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
28Oldsmobile Achieva Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
29Pontiac Grand Am Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
30Dodge Avenger Gas 23 MPG — $2,022
31Mercedes-Benz E-Class Diesel Diesel 27 MPG — $2,056
32Chrysler Sebring Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
33Lexus ES Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
34Mercedes-Benz C-Class Gas 23 MPG — $2,576
35Acura TL Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
36Mazda Millenia Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
37Audi A4 Gas 20 MPG — $2,962
38Volvo 960 Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
39Mitsubishi Diamante Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
40Mercedes-Benz E-Class Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
41Audi A6 Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
42Jaguar XJ Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
43Jaguar XJR Gas 14 MPG — $4,232
44Rolls-Royce Corniche/Continental Gas 12 MPG — $4,938

More 1996 rankings

1996 class rankings

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