1998 rankings · Midsize Cars

Most Fuel-Efficient 1998 Midsize Cars, Ranked

We ranked all 40 EPA-rated 1998 midsize cars by what they cost to fuel. The Volkswagen Passat Diesel leads at about $1,500 a year (37 MPG), while the Bentley Turbo RT is the most expensive to run at $4,938 (12 MPG). The median midsize car costs $2,325 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 Passat Diesel37 MPG $1,500
  2. 2Dodge Stratus27 MPG $1,722
  3. 3Plymouth Breeze27 MPG $1,722
  4. 4Mazda 62626 MPG $1,788
  5. 5Toyota Camry24 MPG $1,938
  6. 6Honda Accord24 MPG $1,938
  7. 7Chevrolet Malibu24 MPG $1,938
  8. 8Oldsmobile Cutlass24 MPG $1,938
  9. 9Chrysler Cirrus22 MPG $2,114
  10. 10Mercedes-Benz E-Class Diesel26 MPG $2,135
  11. 11Buick Century21 MPG $2,214
  12. 12Buick Regal21 MPG $2,214
  13. 13Nissan Maxima21 MPG $2,214
  14. 14Hyundai Sonata21 MPG $2,214
  15. 15Pontiac Grand Prix21 MPG $2,214

All 40 models

#Model Type Combined Range Fuel / yr
1Volkswagen Passat Diesel Diesel 37 MPG — $1,500
2Dodge Stratus Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
3Plymouth Breeze Gas 27 MPG — $1,722
4Mazda 626 Gas 26 MPG — $1,788
5Toyota Camry Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
6Honda Accord Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
7Chevrolet Malibu Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
8Oldsmobile Cutlass Gas 24 MPG — $1,938
9Chrysler Cirrus Gas 22 MPG — $2,114
10Mercedes-Benz E-Class Diesel Diesel 26 MPG — $2,135
11Buick Century Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
12Buick Regal Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
13Nissan Maxima Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
14Hyundai Sonata Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
15Pontiac Grand Prix Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
16Chevrolet Lumina/Monte Carlo Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
17Infiniti I30 Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
18Daewoo Leganza Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
19Oldsmobile Intrigue Gas 21 MPG — $2,214
20Ford Taurus Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
21Mercury Sable Gas 20 MPG — $2,325
22Buick Riviera Gas 19 MPG — $2,447
23Volkswagen Passat Gas 24 MPG — $2,469
24Cadillac Eldorado Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
25Cadillac Seville Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
26Cadillac Catera Gas 18 MPG — $2,583
27Mercedes-Benz E-Class Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
28Volvo S70 Gas 21 MPG — $2,821
29Lexus LS Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
30Lexus GS Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
31Audi A6 Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
32Acura RL Gas 19 MPG — $3,118
33Infiniti Q45 Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
34Mitsubishi Diamante Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
35Lincoln Mark Viii Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
36Oldsmobile Aurora Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
37Jaguar Vanden Plas Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
38Audi A8 Gas 18 MPG — $3,292
39Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Gas 12 MPG — $4,938
40Bentley Turbo RT Gas 12 MPG — $4,938

More 1998 rankings

1998 class rankings

This ranking in other years